Removing a leaf or two?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Waynesboro, Virginia
Removing a leaf or two?
My 54 pickup: would like to lower the rear a little.
Wasn't planning on it, wanted to raise the Volare front up some to get the right stance, but, with the lowering spindles I put on the front when the frame was under my panel, the rear still sits a tad too high.
Q: If I wanted to lower the rear about and inch or so...how many and which leafs should I remove? I figure I'd ask you guys first.
This truck, Mutt, is a daily driver also, so I don't want it too low since I actually might use the bed for light hauling; it would look better with more drop and fine tuning the angle with the front torsion bars otherwise.
Thanks, Paul
Wasn't planning on it, wanted to raise the Volare front up some to get the right stance, but, with the lowering spindles I put on the front when the frame was under my panel, the rear still sits a tad too high.
Q: If I wanted to lower the rear about and inch or so...how many and which leafs should I remove? I figure I'd ask you guys first.
This truck, Mutt, is a daily driver also, so I don't want it too low since I actually might use the bed for light hauling; it would look better with more drop and fine tuning the angle with the front torsion bars otherwise.
Thanks, Paul
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,005
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From: Santa Clarita
G Man - we had several posts on this subject a while back. I'm running with 4 leafs on my rear and it lowered it about 1". The ride will be effected especially if you plan on hauling anything heavy. Mid Fifty's website has a tech article on how to do it. I removed every other leaf, 1,3,5,7. I only had to remove two because I had six when I got my truck. I personally like the ride better with 4. some even go to 3. Other options are mono leafs, rear hangers, and you can do what I did. I raised the front hanger higher up on the frame rails, that gave me an additional 1" lowering. When you remove that many leafs, you'll have to either purchase new U bolts that are shorter, or use spacers such as washers because threads will be much longer because the distance is much less without the leafs. Quite a few people I know remove leafs to lower their truck. Good luck.
Last edited by imlowr2; Apr 17, 2005 at 08:43 PM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,497
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From: Tucson AZ
Paul, try removing the bottom leaves, this will reduce the height of the spring pack and still leave you a little bit of hauling capacity.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,005
Likes: 2
From: Santa Clarita
fatfenders56 - I was told to remove every other spring on the pack. If you remove the two bottom then the spring gets real mushy, with every other spring removed, you still retain the tension of the spring.
If you don't want to remove leafs, several spring places will re-arch the spring for you. It's under a $100 to have arched. They can arch it up to a 3" drop.
XFordman - I simply moved it up to where the hanger is flush with the top of the frame rail. If you measured it, it would be about an inch. I think I posted a pic in my gallery. If not, I can send you a pic. Hardest part was getting the rivet out. As far as the pitch angle, it didn't change at all. or if it did is every so slight where I didn't need to wedge the rear end to compensate. Actually, it rides nice.
Here's a pic of the front hanger:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal.../58433.520.390
If you don't want to remove leafs, several spring places will re-arch the spring for you. It's under a $100 to have arched. They can arch it up to a 3" drop.
XFordman - I simply moved it up to where the hanger is flush with the top of the frame rail. If you measured it, it would be about an inch. I think I posted a pic in my gallery. If not, I can send you a pic. Hardest part was getting the rivet out. As far as the pitch angle, it didn't change at all. or if it did is every so slight where I didn't need to wedge the rear end to compensate. Actually, it rides nice.
Here's a pic of the front hanger:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal.../58433.520.390
Last edited by imlowr2; Apr 18, 2005 at 09:35 AM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
Originally Posted by imlowr2
fatfenders56 - I was told to remove every other spring on the pack. If you remove the two bottom then the spring gets real mushy, with every other spring removed, you still retain the tension of the spring.
If you don't want to remove leafs, several spring places will re-arch the spring for you. It's under a $100 to have arched. They can arch it up to a 3" drop.
XFordman - I simply moved it up to where the hanger is flush with the top of the frame rail. If you measured it, it would be about an inch. I think I posted a pic in my gallery. If not, I can send you a pic. Hardest part was getting the rivet out. As far as the pitch angle, it didn't change at all. or if it did is every so slight where I didn't need to wedge the rear end to compensate. Actually, it rides nice.
Here's a pic of the front hanger:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal.../58433.520.390
If you don't want to remove leafs, several spring places will re-arch the spring for you. It's under a $100 to have arched. They can arch it up to a 3" drop.
XFordman - I simply moved it up to where the hanger is flush with the top of the frame rail. If you measured it, it would be about an inch. I think I posted a pic in my gallery. If not, I can send you a pic. Hardest part was getting the rivet out. As far as the pitch angle, it didn't change at all. or if it did is every so slight where I didn't need to wedge the rear end to compensate. Actually, it rides nice.
Here's a pic of the front hanger:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal.../58433.520.390
Unless that picture is distorting reality, you might consider adding new springs to your wish list. The main leaf don't look good from Iowa. I think FF56 is suggesting the pack of three leafs that sit under the main five pack be removed. That works fine. These three leaves are already gone on half our trucks from a previous owner, (including the one I bought from some guy in VA) and we don't even realize it since they don't sit within the clamp system. I have run the main five, and currently run the main four. Four is more comfy, five needed for light hauling in my opinion. With four, the main leaf will go flat pretty easy. It would bend the other way with a load. Not an expert, but I think that is supposed to be avoided. (These observations apply to a couple sets of used springs that appear to be in good condition).
And BTW, the remove every other spring method has been done by many as well. I think we just have to dial it in for our own truck weight and personal ride preference. I do think that anything under four leafs is stressing the spring more than desired though.
Last edited by fatfenders; Apr 19, 2005 at 05:56 AM.
Jag
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,005
Likes: 2
From: Santa Clarita
Fatfenders - Do you think my leaf spring is defective? Actually I was concerned about the bend in it. It actually looks bad even in California. It runs OK, I'll eventually change them out with maybe the reverse eye main spring. Thanks for being observant. LOL.... Ed
