67-72 leaf spring stopper.

[Dale99]

I just replaced the front leaf springs on my k5 with some 2" lift ones. I noticed once its on the ground, the left front spring is hitting some type of stopper back by the shackle. There is not one on right. Would it be ok to remove this, or make a different one with some angle iron that gives it a little bit of moving space?

This will be just a nice day driver, not an off road mud slinger or rock crawling.

[mongocanfly]

Are you talking bout the spring bump stop?

[Dale99]

I guess so. It looks like metal angle iron. Not the rubber bump stop above the axle.

[mongocanfly]

Got a pic?

[B. W.]

Do not remove that piece. It is installed to prevent the spring from shifting to the rear if parts break. With broken / loose parts , the spring will move forward & backward when you turn the steering wheel instead of the wheels turning, can cause accident.

There should also be a strap across the front spring hanger to prevent forward movement.

[Dale99]

Originally Posted by B. W.

There should also be a strap across the front spring hanger to prevent forward movement.

I have one across one side, but not the other. Cant remember which one.

[Dale99]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Got a pic?

Will get one tonight, cant find a pic of it on google

[mongocanfly]

I looked at mine and it doesn't have what your describing.....does it look original or po added?..

[special-K]

You're talking about the limiting brackets that came along sometime late in '71. I forget the reasoning for these now, but they aren't on anything else of the same design. I think they are more about GM's liability than anything else. But with your spring hitting I would want to at least move that stop. I wonder why your springs hit. They sound a bit long, and that's before they settle out any.

[Dale99]

Ok, here is the stopper I'm talking about.

[Dale99]

Originally Posted by special-K

But with your spring hitting I would want to at least move that stop. I wonder why your springs hit. They sound a bit long, and that's before they settle out any.

These are aftermarket tuff country 2" lift springs. So IMO, its likely putting the shackle at a different angle and causing the hitting. The right side is not hitting the frame, so I'm thinking of taking this off for the test drive and see how it acts. Maybe design something slightly different with a rubber bump stop in this place.

[mongocanfly]

Ok .. mine doesn't have that..but I'd take it off...the spring eye will hit it hard when you hit a bump.....
Like s-k said..are the springs the same eye to eye as your old ones?

[Dale99]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Like s-k said..are the springs the same eye to eye as your old ones?

I never measured eye to eye on this set. I had/have another set of the HD ones and they lined up when set side by side.

[travisch]

Is the spring installed backwards? I can't remember if the fronts from tuff country have a longer/shorter distance from spring eye to center pin or if the are equal lengths. I know the Tuff Country rears are different and the longer distance eye goes to the front.

[Dale99]

Originally Posted by travisch

Is the spring installed backwards? I can't remember if the fronts from tuff country have a longer/shorter distance from spring eye to center pin or if the are equal lengths. I know the Tuff Country rears are different and the longer distance eye goes to the front.

The eye bolt size is different for front springs. So not really a way to install backwards.

I installed stock replacement rears with 2" blocks(already had all the hardware for that).

I removed the stopper for now and have been test driving it. All suspension was replaced while replacing my rear axle that went out. I plan to make a different bracket with some movement space. So if anyone has another one of these that was removed, Id consider buying it to chop up.

[kwmech]

If you are going to keep the 'stopper' in place there are slots in it for adjustment. You can loosen the bolts and move it back. GM found no reason for this part from 73 up to 91 with the same suspension

[Dale99]

It was already moved all the way back.

[A1971Blazer]

Take it off...or else your springs will not work properly
the stock springs are arched upward...therefore the shackle travels forward under compression....
the 2" lift springs are arched downward and the shackle MUST move rearward to allow the spring to compress.
The stop was added by GM to prevent a catastrophic incident in case the spring failed while driving

[B. W.]

Originally Posted by kwmech

GM found no reason for this part from 73 up to 91 with the same suspension

Yeah, I was thinking about that, I know I said don't remove it but how many square bodies are running around without that piece? After thinking about it, I'd be inclined to remove it.

On a side note, both my 70 & 71 have the bracket, my 79 doesn't. I wonder if the earlier years had them & why GM decided they were needed , then decided they weren't?

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by B. W.

Yeah, I was thinking about that, I know I said don't remove it but how many square bodies are running around without that piece? After thinking about it, I'd be inclined to remove it.

On a side note, both my 70 & 71 have the bracket, my 79 doesn't. I wonder if the earlier years had them & why GM decided they were needed , then decided they weren't?

My vague recollection is that there was a recall to add the front strap at least in 70 or 71. My mom's 71 K-10 had it done before she bought it new, but I don't think my 1973, 1980, or current 1991 had/have it. I guess the thinking was that the 1973++ had some other means of preventing that catastrophe but I don't recall hardly any substantial difference underneath between the 71 and 73 4wds.

Maybe GM had a panic attack over a lawsuit and then later decided that it was much ado about nothing ???

I should go out and look at my 1991. Come to think about it, the 1980 and 1991 both had the plastic shrouds under the bumper so the front front spring mounts are hidden unless you get down and look underneath.

[special-K]

They only did those stops in '71 and '72 I believe. No such thing before or after and same situation throughout. I forget why they did it. Probably a way of getting around some legal thing where someone was hurt by a freak accident where the leaf spring came up through the floor. Figure all brands of 2wd trucks once had this suspension, too, and who has heard of springs coming through the floor? I think these stops are like a mattress label

[travisch]

If you use the truck offroad then remove that piece. It wasn't used on all years even with the exact same spring setup so its not critical IMO.

[nonstop]

So just throwing this out there, I seem to recall a military wrap on my front factory leaf springs on my 1985 (been a long time since I had the factory springs on there). I am unsure, but thought the 67-72 did not have the wrap - that would likely explain the bracket. Of course, I could be wrong.