1/2 ton leaf question

[68c10owner]

Just got my new LMC and was looking up rear springs because the PO removed a bunch of leafs to lower it. I saw a listing for a 4 leaf set, a 6 leaf set and a 8 leaf set. How do I figure out what springs I need? Want to go back to stock leafs and use my flip kit to lower it correctly. I need to double check but a quick peek under the truck today I see 3 leafs still in play.

[68post]

I'd check here too ;
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index....776&x=145&y=15

The more leaves (generally) the stronger the capacity. Your truck will be light in the rerar also - being a swb.

Didn't looked in my LMC catalog first, but the above site has capacities listed and good prices too.

[68c10owner]

Great link but still doesn't tell me what I want to know. Guess I'm asking, what Springs am I supposed to have on the rear? I know the more leafs the higher the truck will sit most likely and also be stiffer. Just want to make sure I get the correct springs. I don't use this as a truck so I think it's safe to rule out he 8 leaf springs, probably the 7 leaf too. Not sure if 4 is correct or 6 from LMC.

[68c10owner]

Tried to link to the rockauto listings but only went to the hom page.

They have even more listings. This is going to be interesting trying to figure out which ones to get.

[68post]

Could have been either on a long bed , but I doubt a six leaf was an option on a short bed. I think my '85 3/4 ton is six leafs, but couldn't tell you if they are original - I strongly suspect they are.

[68post]

RockAuto :




CHEVROLET 1985 C10 PICKUP 4.3L 262cid V6 Suspension Leaf Spring

Price




DAYTON 22525
Rear; w/ 52" Long Leaf Springs; 3/1 = 4 Leaf, 1-1/2" Pack Thickness, 1290lb Per Spring Rating

$149.79



UCF 22547 8/1 = 9 Leaf, 3-3/16" Pack Thickness, 2600lb Per Spring Rating One of our most popular parts
Rear; w/ 56" Long Leaf Springs; 8/1 = 9 Leaf, 3-3/16" Pack Thickness, 2600lb Per Spring Rating

$184.79



DAYTON 22547
Rear; w/ 56" Long Leaf Springs; 8/1 = 9 Leaf, 3-3/16" Pack Thickness, 2600lb Per Spring Rating

$197.79



DAYTON 22613
Rear; w/ 52" Long Leaf Springs; 4/1 = 5 Leaf, 1-7/8" Pack Thickness, 1950lb Per Spring Rating

$218.89



DAYTON 22459
Rear; w/ 56" Long Leaf Springs; 7/1=8 Leaf, 2-9/16" Pack Thickness, 1950lb Per Spring Rating

$273.79




Leaf Spring Bolt

[Gregski]

4 is what my '74 1/2 ton got

[bhc41051]

I would find a local spring shop, they can pretty much make anything you want. LMC would always be my last possible option. Just my two cents.

[Fhunter1]

There were a couple of options for springs in the the 1/2 ton. The first thing you need to know is the spring length 52 or 56 inches. The difference is on the backside of the axle. Both are 26" forward of the axle.

The normal suspension was a 4 leaf pack. If you had the A "Big 10" or "Heavy Half" the suspension had more leaves. I believe it was 6.

If you can decode you VIN you might be able to tell which suspension it came with originally by the option codes. I can't help wioth an '85 but someone here might be able to do that.

I've owned 2 trucks now in the Short bed version. A '79 Heavy Half and a '80 normal half ton. It might be a bit different on your 85 but I bet the same guidelines apply.

[65standard]

My '85 C/10 SWB has 4 leaf springs.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by bhc41051

I would find a local spring shop, they can pretty much make anything you want. LMC would always be my last possible option. Just my two cents.

Im curious why you wouldnt use LMC. I`ve bought a few little things from then but nothing like this.


Thanks for the input guys. I`m just afraid to buy the wrong spring and have it sit either too low or too high once I do my flip kit. I`d like to keep the ride height I`m at but the suspension on this thing sucks.

[MalibuSSwagon]

I'd avoid LMC as well. They have some nice stuff, but they mostly just re-sell or drop ship stuff with their profit tacked on top. Plus, shipping on leaf springs is gonna be a killer. I ended up buying new rear springs from my local spring shop, they had them in stock and ready to go, bent up new u-bolts on site in a couple mins and I was good to go! Saved alot of money this way vs buying the same parts online.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by MalibuSSwagon

I'd avoid LMC as well. They have some nice stuff, but they mostly just re-sell or drop ship stuff with their profit tacked on top. Plus, shipping on leaf springs is gonna be a killer. I ended up buying new rear springs from my local spring shop, they had them in stock and ready to go, bent up new u-bolts on site in a couple mins and I was good to go! Saved alot of money this way vs buying the same parts online.

I'll have to look into that. Don't know of any shops off hand but I haven't looked for any. I'm sure there are a few shops in my area.

[tommy217xxx]

Not tryin to hijack your thread but I had the same question. My trucks suspension is super stiff. I'm startin to think that it has at least 3/4 ton leafs. What do u guys think?

[Ski-me]

I was just looking at specs for 1/2 ton suburbans and 3/4 ton suburbans......they listed 6 leafs for 1/2 tons, 8 leafs for 3/4 tons. I suspect you have 3/4 ton leafs there (tommy).

To OP: I also just went to my local shop and got some new rear leafs. Rides like stock and much better than worn out ones.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by Ski-me

I was just looking at specs for 1/2 ton suburbans and 3/4 ton suburbans......they listed 6 leafs for 1/2 tons, 8 leafs for 3/4 tons. I suspect you have 3/4 ton leafs there (tommy).

To OP: I also just went to my local shop and got some new rear leafs. Rides like stock and much better than worn out ones.

Suburban would have a different spring than a truck wouldn't it? I need to do a search for a local spring shop. Gotta replace fronts too, chopped to many coils I think. Like riding a old hard tail Harley

[HotRod C/10]

I had 6 leafs plus an overload on my heavy 1/2 SWB 77'.........When I did the flip kit I removed all but 4 leafs.........SMOOOOOOOTH!

[tommy217xxx]

Is there a system to takin out the leafs? Meaning do I take out the 3rd ad 5th or something like that. I don't want to Lowe the truck 2 much more.

[bigblock73]

What some of you guys are missing...is 1/2 ton short beds did come with the 56" HD springs from the factory. Calling them 3/4 ton leafs is confusing and implying someone swapped the leafs from a 3/4 ton truck. If the rear hangers on the truck are all the way back to the bumper brackets, then the truck has the 56" HD leafs. If the rear hanger is forward of the rear bumper brackets, then the truck has the standard leafs, 4 typically.

[D13]

Look at your GVW and / or brake system for guidance. My base (inline 6, no ac) trucks have 4 leafs and 2" rear brakes, my fully loaded 6.2 diesel has the big rear brakes and 5 leaves, my base 3/4 has a 9.5 axle with the big brakes and 8 leafs. In general, more leafs is more load capacity but rougher ride. people that put extra leafs in and think theyve made a 3/4 ton forget that the brakes (and frame on 2wd) are the limit.

[RootBeerFXS]

My 77 short bed has 8 leafs. Tag says heavy duty chassis. Its been in the family since new so I know they haven't been swapped. I would think you could swap in just about any stock replacement leaf pack you wanted as long as it corresponds to the weight you are wanting to carry right?

[lilpoindexter]

'78 short step..250 / 3ott...4 leafs. The leaf closest to the axle is like an overload leaf or something.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by RootBeerFXS

My 77 short bed has 8 leafs. Tag says heavy duty chassis. Its been in the family since new so I know they haven't been swapped. I would think you could swap in just about any stock replacement leaf pack you wanted as long as it corresponds to the weight you are wanting to carry right?

I`m not planning to really use my truck as its original intended purpose. Maybe a few hundred pounds a year will find its way back there but most of the time its my daily transportation. I am also looking for a certain stance and doing a 4.5/6 lowering job. I wanted to know what leaks to go with and it sounds like a 4 pack is what I need. I am thinking the more leafs it has the higher it will sit.

Since I decided to go with the 4 leaf set up my next question is about spring rates. I`ve seen so many different ratings listed for different manufacturer`s 4 leaf set ups. I`m not sure what to get. After reading another thread I decided to go with some Moog 1 ton springs and cut 1 coil but not sure what rear leaf set up will match those the best. Right now I`m on the bump stops thanks to the PO hack job lowering job. I`m looking for a much better ride, similar to what my stock 97 GMC C1500 offered.

[RootBeerFXS]

If it sits higher I would assume it would be because of the heavier spring pack. This is of course if you have a flip kit. Since the axle is on top of the main spring, it should net the same drop either way, give or take a c-hair. If there is no flip then you would have to take the pack height in account for the drop when you compare a 8 leaf to a 4 leaf. I am waiting to hear back from SD Spring for info on ride quality and such. I will post my results here too just for information.