07-16-2021, 07:21 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: New Palestine In
Posts: 932
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Leaf spring length
My 77 SWB C10 Silverado has a weak spring on the pass. side. I went to the local spring shop and they measured my springs at 56" long, 26" from the front spring eylet to the center bolt, 30" from rear spring eye to the center bolt. I've been told the spring on a 1/2 ton SWB is 52" long and 56" for the LWB 1/2 ton. This is a factory SWB frame and the hangers are riveted to the frame, haven't been moved, and the frame hasn't been shortened. The spring shop can make me new ones no problem but I'm curious if any other guys out there have the same length spring on their SWB 1/2 ton. Could one order the heavier springs back in the day? It is a puzzlement to me. I hope Keith Sizemore, the square body guru will chime in
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Phil "Money is only a tool to create and achieve what you want most in life" PayPal: rodnrudy@comcast.net |
07-16-2021, 08:00 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: horseheads,ny rust belt
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Re: Leaf spring length
seen them both ways in 1/2 ton .
atleast you had them measured before you tore in to it and found this . good news is if you wish to convert to 52" rears there prob cheeper and easy to do . remove rear hangers and slide them up the 4" and rebolt with new 7/16" grd 8 hardware and go as normal as can be . no other changes should be needed .
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77-k30lb BIG truck build . 87-k30lb budget beater build . 85-k30lb the plow machine build . 85-c10sb summer fun toy . ----------------------------- HOLLEY SNIPER efi = worst case of p.i.t.a i ever had . EDELBROCK pro flo 4 = best deal going so far . love my setup works great. |
07-17-2021, 06:51 PM | #3 |
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Location: New Palestine In
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Re: Leaf spring length
I appreciate the response sweetk30. I'm inclined to have the shop tweak the spring or add a leaf for now and in the winter months do as you suggested and move the rear hangers forward. After closer inspection it looks like the holes in the frame are already there. It's always something with these old squares.
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Phil "Money is only a tool to create and achieve what you want most in life" PayPal: rodnrudy@comcast.net |
07-23-2021, 09:24 AM | #4 |
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Location: SW Ontario
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Re: Leaf spring length
Find a new spring shop 26" x 30" is a factory spring size, not as common as 26 x 26, but 26 x 30 is in any spring catalog. Leaf count and pack thickness will tell you what the capacity of the springs you have is. (gotta be accurate with the pack thickness measurement, get under it and measure it where its clamped in the spring hanger).
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07-23-2021, 11:08 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colfax-California
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Re: Leaf spring length
Don't worry about it-- a longer spring will give you a smoother ride
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07-24-2021, 12:40 PM | #6 |
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Location: Maine
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Re: Leaf spring length
Like kwmech said, I thought longer springs were preferred.
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07-26-2021, 05:13 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Portland, OR
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Re: Leaf spring length
I am under the impression a half ton BIG 10/HEAVY HALF have 56" rear springs. Is your truck a BIG 10? A Heavy Half is the GMC version.
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07-26-2021, 07:10 PM | #8 |
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Location: New Palestine In
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Re: Leaf spring length
My truck is a Silverado. It does have a later bed on it I think as the trim is stuck on with double sided tape and it has square gas doors which I think are not 77? From what I'm learning one could order a 1/2 ton with the longer springs. I'm looking at Ride Tech's leaf spring conversion kit, Street Grip, and may convert it this winter.
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Phil "Money is only a tool to create and achieve what you want most in life" PayPal: rodnrudy@comcast.net |
07-26-2021, 07:37 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 274
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Re: Leaf spring length
Your Silverado may have the F44 Heavy Duty Chassis option, also called a BIG 10. Here is some info on it. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=155294
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