The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline How many leaf in rear springs?

Was trying to get a smoother ride in my 37 1/2 ton
So I Changed to radials and
The rear spring pack had 10 leaves - I took out 3 and also loaded up the bed with some timber slabs to get a bit of weight there

Ride still rock hard

Thinking about removing one or more leafs?

Are 10 leafs standard

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii568/37Chev/Truck/Suspension/20150729_073924_zpsehootzr4.jpg

8 leaves (front and rear) a 1937 1/2 ton
9 on the front and 10 on the rear of 1.5 ton

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/3720.htm

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/do...hevrolet-Trucks/1937-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf
Stock 1/2 ton without overloads have 8 front and rear.
I was down to six on mine, leave the two longest and remove every other one. Polish the spring surfaces and remove any steps from wear. Add Poly-liner between each leaf, it will ride better. Do not grease or oil the leaves, it will only last a short time. Poly-liner is available from most street rod shops. Or take your springs to your local spring shop and have teflon buttons added to each end.
The springs need to be able to slide, or it will ride terrible. Poly-liner is a thin teflon type material with short sides that lays the entire length of the leaf. It is stacked between each leaf to quite and smooth out the springs.

Also, the '37s were over sprung from the get go, meaning the rates were much higher then needed. The '41 and newer trucks used the same length and width, on a heavier truck, yet had about 1/2 the spring rate. The deflection rate is the spring weight. This means it takes 475 lbs of weight to compress the spring 1" on the front of a '37 1/2 ton . The '41 has same number of leaves, yet the rate is only 260 lbs per 1" compression. Rears are 200 for '37, 190 lb for '41 per 1" of compression.

I had custom spring mades for mine, rears are now 140 lb per 1" compression, fronts are 260 lbs per 1" compression. Ride is much better.

Thanks for your replies Im beginning to understand how heavy duty these trucks were
So on stock springs with 1/2 ton on the back springs would only compress by about 2 inches

One more query when I refurbished the front springs i noted that there was only a castor shim on one side. I reassembled it the way i found it ..... seems to drive ok......... Im guessing that some one left out the shim on purpose to compensate for some other defect?

I'd be interested in hearing how/why only one shim (on one side) would be needed?

Twisted axle or twisted/bent frame?

I suspect it should have two shims, but if it's driving ok, I would leave it alone. With having it on a alignment machine to see how it measures out, seat of the pants feel is about you have to go on.

Joe