Coil or leaf preference?

[sjarrett71]

I know the differences between the coil and leaf spring rear suspensions but which would you rather have and why?

[67ChevyRedneck]

Coil. My truck is for cruising, Much more comfy ride than leafs.

[Longhorn Man]

coils. They ride better, hook up better, and virtualy no wheel hop

['72customdeluxe]

^plus you can fit wider tires easier

[sjarrett71]

I knew I liked coils better for a reason. Thanks guys. I might have come upon a frame 72 frame that has leafs but he has another 70 I think with coils. I think I'll stick with the coils.

[dieselarmy13]

I have a leaf rear and wouldn't suggest it. Pain to lower, rides like crap, ect...

[Mordachai]

Coils will def ride better, very easy to bag, etc etc.
but if you ever do any hauling, you'll want leafs.
I've carried two cubes of paving bricks, full loads(top of bedsides) of soil, rock etc. my truck is a half ton with leafs, and it hauls alright.
If I could have my cake and eat it, I'd make the c-10 a coil set up, and find an old c/k-20/30 for hauling...

[sick69]

Definetly coils for all the reasons posted above. As for hauling the factory leaf over loads could be added to a coils truck pretty easy. You know the ones the mount to the frame behind the axle with a half leaf that contacts a pad on the rear of the trailing arm?


Just my thoughts though
Frank

[71HUGGER396]

When I bought my 70 short cst chevy, I thought cool leafs, that's kinda different. After driving it for a few years, I wish it were springs.

[hgs_notes]

Even if you use the truck to haul heavy loads, unless you're doing it all the time, the coils are still the better way to go. You won't sacrifice the ride for the small percentage of time you haul stuff, and you can still haul stuff. I've pulled a 3000 lb boat, plus the weight of the trailer, with mine and it has 3.5" lowering springs. I've also had big loads in it, weighed it down a lot and never had any problems with the way it felt on the road.

[Longhorn Man]

the coils are rated the same as the leafs, and while leafs are better for marginal overloads, coils are still better when you overload them in an insane way.

[Mordachai]

^ interesting. So if GM rated them the same, why did they even put leafs in some trucks? or coils for that matter.
There has dot to be some reason. Wasn't the leaf suspension an option?

on my SPID it lists rear leaf suspension along with other stuff.
do you know GM's reasoning for the leaf option? just curious

you're the guy to ask, so I'm askin!

[ChevLoRay]

I prefer coils, because that is what it came with....and because of my '96 having leaf springs I have come to appreciate the ride quality of the coils. It handles better, takes bumps in stride and in comparison, the leaf springs on the '96 make my bride fuss about how rough the street is when she didn't with the '69.

Check out Early Classic Enterprises website. The had customer truck pix and used to have one of a '60-66 LWB that was loaded and didn't have any issues and it was coil sprung.

Besides, and it has been mentioned more than once, NASCAR uses the same basic geometry and trailing arm rear set up for their racecars. If it is good enough for NASCAR to adopt, it's good enough for me to keep.

[MrBeast]

*raises hand* Um... Air bags all the way!

[cadillacart]

Kind of related, I hope I'm not hijacking.
How easy is it to convert to coil / trailing arm setup from leaf springs?

[sjarrett71]

Originally Posted by MrBeast

*raises hand* Um... Air bags all the way!

If I ever do bag it, it won't be for a long time due to financial reasons. I will probably static drop it before I drive it though.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by cadillacart

Kind of related, I hope I'm not hijacking.
How easy is it to convert to coil / trailing arm setup from leaf springs?

I wouldn't say it's hard, but it will take some time. There's several
crossmembers and braces that you have to add. It's pretty much bolt on, but you will have to drill holes. The best way to do it is find a donorr chassis, that way you will have all the parts and something to reference for the necessary drilling.

I like coils because of the smooth ride. Does anyone have an opinion on the factory overloads that you find on some coil spring trucks? Would this be the best of both worlds?

[powerbench]

Originally Posted by cadillacart

Kind of related, I hope I'm not hijacking.
How easy is it to convert to coil / trailing arm setup from leaf springs?

It's not to hard , like it has been said , measure, record all the bolt hole placements ,and if ya have a spare frame to reference from it will be a heck of a lot easier than running back and forth to a junk yard to measure things..( i would know that part)

[WorkinLonghorn]

Yeah? Well I like my leaves. Nice ride too, when there's 1,000 or more lbs back there that is. Anyway I hate a truck with a smooth ride. I prefer the bouncy stiff ride of a real truck.

[tranz am]

Im going to be the odd ball here about this. I have leafs in my 69 SWB and I like it. The ride doesn't bother me, it doesnt seam that bad at all, although I have removed 2 of the leafs form the pack of 5.
The coil spring and leaf spring debate has gone on for a long time. Each set up has its own draw backs and benefits.
I prefer the simplicity of leaf springs.
Coils spring set ups require more fabrication to dial in the suspension geometry correctly (pan hard bar & ladder bars etc.)
The draw backs to the leaf spring design is the springs weight, size and twist.
Accelerating and braking makes the axle hosing to want to twist and distort. To Counter this effect You add more springs but in doing so you also raise the spring rate. The solution to this is to add half springs to the front section of the leafs.
I think that its rally a mater of what one is after when someone asks whats better. To me a leaf spring set up is better because I like simplicity.

[69GMCLonghorn]

I've had a '69 C/20 coil spring and now a '69 c3500 leaf set up. The coil spring set up had that funky looking overload spring the went from around the rear bumper toward the axle. GREAT set up.

I don't mind a firm ride, but the leaf's I have now really bounce me around. I just drove about 75 miles to a Cars n Coffee cruise. Riding the truck lane through Burbank on I-5 is horrible. The back end actually skips around a little... Go with coils unless you're going to put a cab over camper on it. Hell, even then the coils will take it...

[Huck]

Leafs are more stable especially under load. (all newer trucks are leaf---why?) Coils give a car like ride but need help on curves or with heavy load--thus 3/4 ton use leafs. So big truck type usage--leaf, car like ride--coil.

[Gray Ghost]

Not true actually. I have 3/4 ton coils and helpers on mine and would much rather haul with coils than leafs. Much more stable ride than the 73 I had with leafs.

[westofb]

Originally Posted by Huck

Leafs are more stable especially under load. (all newer trucks are leaf---why?) Coils give a car like ride but need help on curves or with heavy load--thus 3/4 ton use leafs. So big truck type usage--leaf, car like ride--coil.

I would say why all the newer trucks use leaf springs and not coils are becasue of simplicity and cost. Leaf springs don't require the panhard bar, can use one piece drive shaft (eliminating carrier bearing, two yokes and one u joint), trailing arms and its associated cross member.

[Camper Power]

i havent driven or ever ridin in a coiled truck. but the leafs on my C20 do toss me around, and i feel every bump in the road. but they actually ride pretty good on dirt roads. in my opinion they are good for hauling and simplicity. the reason the newer trucks have leafs is because its cheaper, simpilar, allow the use of air bags to increase payload capability, and allow for more space for the gas tank and exhaust. but it seems coils are coming back, take a look under the 09 dodge ram