The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 2-Ton spring leaf removal

I just picked up my Bigbolt, and while waiting for my forum registration approval, Ive acquired a few questions...sorry for the barrage.

I've noticed the 'gi-normous' pack of rear leaf springs on these 2 Tonners...considering that I will never have a load on this beast when she is finished, I was considering dropping out a few leaves to improve the ride. Im sure it's been done, if so how many, from your experience provides better 'empty' ride without excessive road bounce??

I'll second that. Don't worry about it, it is a truck, it will ride like a truck, and if and when you do haul something heavy you'll be glad to have the full complement of springs.

Grigg

Half of the springs in the stack are booster or heavy load springs. They don't even come into play till you have at least 3 tons on.

Yeah Jim, I looked at that aspect of it after the dump bed was off. It was mostly obscured by the mammoth bed, and of course by weeds and overgrowth. Now that its a clear shot to the drive train, I can see the upper pack of overloads. Most likely, I'll pull them off, replace the U-bolts and move on...
Thanks for the input, everyone!
-Luke

I had Eaton Detroit put together new spring stacks for the rear of my 1.5 ton because of two issues.

1. Super bouncy, harsh, hard ride. I had them cut the rate in half, from 4000 to 2000 pounds and dropped the ride height by 2" (it sat that much higher in back).

2. New pins, U-bolts and bushings all around (after nearly seventy years, they were predictably tired & worn).

NOTE...I am also adding shocks (which it never had in back) to help smooth things out.

Im sure the pins and bushings are worn in mine as well, when in doubt- replace it! I would like to see a picture of the shock mount fabrication when its completed. Seems like a great upgrade.

I have a 1.5 ton. I removed the overload springs. The truck still rides like a bit like a forklift. I am thinking about removing a leaf but I have the following points which people may have info on.
1. Something has to hold that massive rear end in place, probably 250 kg of unsprung weight. Less leaves equals more stress on those left.
2. With eleven leaves it doesnt need shocks (much). Its not the friction that does it although this helps. For every leaf that wants to bounce at its natural resonant frequency there is another that will have the opposite resonance and will oppose it. So it doesnt have any "boing" like a coil sprung car with no shocks. Removing leafs will make it more bouncy. The rebound action is still "fast".
Can anyone tell me if fitting telescopic shocks will improve the ride and how much?
Has anyone removed leaves, if, which ones, and did it help?
Cheers

Really ,as Tango said above...changing the actual spring rate is the only real solution.
All of your points are very valid, Anyoldiron. I've mulled over the process since I bought my bigbolt. Something definitely needs to contain that massive rear end.
I too, would like to see the shock add-od...and hear about the improvements. I may be contacting Eaton Detroit.

Shocks will make no appreciable difference with the stock suspension.

Truck design back then was just the opposite of what it is today. Then it was stiff springs and flexible frames.
The springs don't even start to deflect until you have 2-3000 lbs on the bed. The spring travel, in any load condition, is so small there is nothing for the shock to dampen.

If you are running empty most of the time, reduce the air pressure in the tires.

Or you could strap a couple thousand lbs of something on the back to get the springs to start moving.