Removing a leaf from the rear springs?

[ChevDog1]

Have any of you tried removing a single leaf from the rear spring pack? After driving mine today (finally!), I think I would like to soften up the ride in the rear a bit. The dropped coils on the front ride really nice, but the rear is pretty harsh unloaded, and I wont be hauling anything heavy in this truck.

Anyone have success (or failure) doing this?

[Keith Seymore]

Yep.

You'll need to clamp the leafs together to get the center bolt out so be careful when you get to that part (the leafs in the pack are under pressure).

K

[tinydb84]

I pulled the overload plus 2 more out of mine (but I have a C20 with 8 leafs). Instant difference in ride.

[ChevDog1]

I think that mine is a 4 leaf pack if i remember right. So should I just start with one? I know how to do it, as i did the same thing with the lifted springs on my Jeep YJ. Just looking for personal experiences here as to the results of doing it on a C10.

[Gregski]

don't mean to hijack your thread, but to put in lower shackles do I need to jack up the diff to remove the old bracket, how do I do it without gettin' kiewld?

[Speeding Dakota]

I did it years ago and it does soften the ride. I remove the 1 leaf above the overload spring (the short bottom one) I then reinstalled the overload just to make sure it didn't get over loaded when putting something in the bed.

[ChevDog1]

Gregski - You will need to support the rear of the truck at the frame on jackstands. Then you can use a floor jack to take the weight of the rear axle so that you can remove the bolts from the shackles.

[ChevDog1]

Originally Posted by Speeding Dakota

I did it years ago and it does soften the ride. I remove the 1 leaf above the overload spring (the short bottom one) I then reinstalled the overload just to make sure it didn't get over loaded when putting something in the bed.

Thanks - I will try that leaf first and see how much it helps. I was also planning on keeping the overload "just in case".

[slotard]

I ought to do the same. I have a C20 Camper Special and it's pretty rough, even with a utility bed (with quite a few tools in it).

[ChevDog1]

I'm also hoping it will lower it a bit more. Still trying to get the truck close to level.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by ChevDog1

I think that mine is a 4 leaf pack if i remember right. So should I just start with one? I know how to do it, as i did the same thing with the lifted springs on my Jeep YJ. Just looking for personal experiences here as to the results of doing it on a C10.

I should probably be a bit more verbose. "Yep" = did it 35 years ago with great success and no problems.

This one was one leaf (maybe two) removed and relocated spring hangers. Was my daily driver for 6 years with no issues.

You lose a little load carrying capability, but I never hauled with this truck (only flat towed).

The good news is that it is a "reversible" change. If you take too many out and don't like it you can always put one back in.

K

[ChevDog1]

Turns out I had a three leaf pack in there. I pulled the bottom leaf but left the overload. Ride height is perfect now. Not much improvement in ride though. It seems to hit the overload real easy and firm up. I need to replace the shocks before I decide what to do next.

[newmexicosaint]

I have done this on quite a few pickups. I remove the overload spring and one more. The one spring with the alignment clamp I cut behind the rear end mount and re install. So you will basically have two and a half springs total. This will typically bring down the rear end 2-3 inches depending on how worn your springs are. I would NOT recommend this if you plan on pulling a trailer or carrying a load over 300 LBS. The ride is nice too. This is also an option to the flip kit if you combine the leaf removal with a drop shackle.

[ChevDog1]

Originally Posted by newmexicosaint

I have done this on quite a few pickups. I remove the overload spring and one more. The one spring with the alignment clamp I cut behind the rear end mount and re install. So you will basically have two and a half springs total. This will typically bring down the rear end 2-3 inches depending on how worn your springs are. I would NOT recommend this if you plan on pulling a trailer or carrying a load over 300 LBS. The ride is nice too. This is also an option to the flip kit if you combine the leaf removal with a drop shackle.

I think I'll try this. I have some extra leaves, so If I'm not happy with it - I can always go back. I tried 2 leaves with the overload, and the ride was not good. Pulled the overload out and re installed the third leaf, and it rides much better, but is still sitting a bit too high for my tastes. I'll take a shot at the 2-1/2 leaf setup later this week and see how I like it.

[Bigstevex4]

Ive taken the over load sping out took to spring shop had it flattened out so your off the thing but still there if haul something.

[superwade57]

I pulled my over load spring... wheel hop and axle wrap like mofo put it back in and I'm much happier now. It'd even wheel hop on slight loss of traction on wet pavement
I wasn't happy at all with the results
Mild 355 3.73 gears at that time and manual tranny c10 swb

[ChevDog1]

I finally settled on 2-1/2 leaves as noted above with no overload. Got it at the height I wanted and rides pretty good.

[newmexicosaint]

Originally Posted by superwade57

I pulled my over load spring... wheel hop and axle wrap like mofo put it back in and I'm much happier now. It'd even wheel hop on slight loss of traction on wet pavement
I wasn't happy at all with the results
Mild 355 3.73 gears at that time and manual tranny c10 swb

Wow man, that is crazy! I have a 454/700r4 and the motor is fairly mild with the usual mods...cam, intake, good set of iron heads and tranny has the typical shift kit and I have had zero wheel hop or axle wrap. Interesting. Do you think it could have been weak leafs?

[superwade57]

Not sure what caused it. I just know I hated it. Lol and the only one I pulled was the overload. Put it back in and it either hooks or spins through second til I let off with a solid squeal on Third and a bark into fourth

[ChevDog1]

Mine is only a little straight six with an open diff. Wheel hop should never be an issue