The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Replacing Leaf Springs. Which ones do I buy?

My 54 3600's leaf springs are shot. Front one has some steel bar spacers in it from someone trying to level out the front end (driver's side is sagging). Most of the 2nd stage leaves on the rear are cracked/rusted off at the U-bolts. I /have/ to buy new ones.

Doing some googling, it looks like I have a few options:

1) sdtrucksprings.com: Rear in 4/3 leaf config - $243, Fronts 8 leaves - $142 *does not state if eye bushings included
2) thesuspensionking.com: Rear in 5/3 leaf config - $215, Fronts 8 leaves - $149.50 *states that eye bushings are included
3) eatondetroitspring.com: Rear in 4/3 leaf config - $378.75, Front 8 leaves - $230.25 *does not state if eye bushings included

Fronts are available from several other places since they're the same as the 1/2 ton, but it seems like those might be my only choices for the rears. Eaton is obviously the big price outlier. I guess I'd MAYBE be willing to spring (hehe) for those if there's an objectively good reason to, but from the reading I've done, they all have a good reputation. I'm leaning towards the SD truck springs as the 4/3 configuration is likely plenty of spring rate for what I'm going to use the truck for... technically I can't put more than 500 lbs in it with Wisconsin Collector plates, but in rural country.... I'll probably push that here and there

This truck is going to be used semi-regularly /as/ a truck still, so I'm not willing to reduce it's capacity much if at all. My intent is to keep it fairly original. New shackles/pins/etc for front and rear are coming from classicparts.

Anyhow, just looking for opinions or suggestions on places I may have missed. Thanks!

Call your local truck spring shop, they should be able to make them for you and it might be cheaper than buying/shipping a set to you.

Mike B

Shipping is a huge cost, so closer to home might save money. I purchased new springs from Chevs of the 40's, they came from https://www.oregonautospring.com/ . They had all the parts included need to install them. I replaced them for a better ride, there was nothing wrong with them, just a really stiff spring rate ( '37 trucks had heavy springs ).

I replaced the above springs with springs from Eaton Detroit. The Eaton springs have teflon ( type ) buttons on the ends for smoother quieter ride, had all the bushings, and sold me the matching u-bolts. It was a lot of money,but I was happy with the quality and ride. I had custom made spring rates, so the cost was higher.

When I did mine, a Heavy truck spring shop did them,replaced the main leaf with the eyes on both ends and re arced the springs. Was cheaper than buying new and didn't have to pay shipping. Best thing was next day they were ready.Been on the truck for 17 yrs. no problems.

Thanks for the suggestions all. I found a (sorta local) heavy truck spring shop that does new/repair/custom work, so I contacted them. I like the idea of just replacing the main leaves and re-arcing the others if that fits the bill. I was prepared to spend $1000 on leaves for all 4 corners, but would of course prefer not to. I'll update with what I find out from that shop.

Check with St. Louis Spring, just received complete new front springs for my 1950 1 ton last week - couldn't be happier with the product, and great pricing too. The have very quick turn around time, the spring eye's included the bushings. Worth a call to them! Tom

The main spring and second support spring are the main two you need to worry about. If the local shop replaces them, and re-arches the rest, you end up with like new. The lower leaves are just support.

Ordered front springs and u-bolts for front/rear from my local spring shop this morning.

I'm going to go the route of just removing the cracked overload spring pack from the rear axle for now, the factory springs appear to be in good condition actually. I did order new shackle pins and bushings for all 4 corners.

The only thing I'm having trouble locating is u-bolt top plates for the front and rear. Spring dealer only has 2.5" wide plates for later chevys in his catalog and doing some googling, I couldn't come up with much either. Maybe these Early CJ/M38 plates for the rear. The axle dimensions seem correct anyhow (Eaton HO52 is a 3.25" axle diameter). Is there a vendor that sells top plates of the correct dimensions for the front and rear of these trucks? Couldn't find anything on classicparts.com where I ordered the rest of my parts from.