Leaf springs magic number
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,005
Likes: 2
From: Santa Clarita
Leaf springs magic number
I'm running four leafs on the rear springs and plan to pull one more making it three. I know three is as far as you want to go. Anyone running three and notice a big difference in ride quality from three to four leafs? I'm looking for a 1/2 to one inch drop, hopefully. Also trying to possibly save me some work here.
Then again, I could call my buddy with his gas torch to help me out.
Then again, I could call my buddy with his gas torch to help me out.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
Ed
I ran four for awhile but thought it was a little on the light side. I'd recommend the drop shackles. I believe they are made by No-LImit. The drop shackles are pretty simple install, but you might want an air chisel to knock out the pins. With the correct tools, it was around an hour job, two at the most.
I ran four for awhile but thought it was a little on the light side. I'd recommend the drop shackles. I believe they are made by No-LImit. The drop shackles are pretty simple install, but you might want an air chisel to knock out the pins. With the correct tools, it was around an hour job, two at the most.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,958
Likes: 1
Don't know if I can link here, but fatfenders is correct. No limit makes them.
http://http://www.nolimit.net/index....PROD&ProdID=65
Apparently we can link stuff.
http://http://www.nolimit.net/index....PROD&ProdID=65
Apparently we can link stuff.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 929
Likes: 0
From: S.C.
I,m running stock spring stacks in the rear of my 54. I achieved a 1-1/2 inch drop without loosing any springs so I could still haul to the dump once in a while.
I used the so called two inch drop shackles as the rear hanger...this actually gave me a 1-1/5 inch drop when measured from stock. Then I cut the rivets from the forward hanger and moved them up on the frame rail 1-1/2 inches and redrilled and bolted on. I had to use alot of lube and a brass drift to drive the pins out...man were they rusted in!
I was able to keep the pinion angle the same by doing this and got a nice modest drop while keeping the strength of the whole leaf pack.
With the reverse mono's in the front (4-7/8 inch drop) the truck has a real sweet rake!
Ed
I used the so called two inch drop shackles as the rear hanger...this actually gave me a 1-1/5 inch drop when measured from stock. Then I cut the rivets from the forward hanger and moved them up on the frame rail 1-1/2 inches and redrilled and bolted on. I had to use alot of lube and a brass drift to drive the pins out...man were they rusted in!
I was able to keep the pinion angle the same by doing this and got a nice modest drop while keeping the strength of the whole leaf pack.
With the reverse mono's in the front (4-7/8 inch drop) the truck has a real sweet rake!
Ed
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
I'd be a little leary about running only three leaves. You may want to look into monoleaf springs or consider de-arching...
Vern
Vern
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
Ed -
John's F-Fun Hundreds also sells the drop shackles. Cheap. Getting the old stuff apart is the hardest part of the swap. Find the hole thru the frame rail from the inside that opens on the end of the spring shackle pin. Drive it out (after removing the cross-lock pin). Swap in the new shackle hardware. It really is an easy job. It's pretty self-explanitory once you get under there and check it out. The shackles come with new wrist pins and cross pins.
Happy whacking!
John's F-Fun Hundreds also sells the drop shackles. Cheap. Getting the old stuff apart is the hardest part of the swap. Find the hole thru the frame rail from the inside that opens on the end of the spring shackle pin. Drive it out (after removing the cross-lock pin). Swap in the new shackle hardware. It really is an easy job. It's pretty self-explanitory once you get under there and check it out. The shackles come with new wrist pins and cross pins.
Happy whacking!
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