The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Shocks on a 2 ton

Has anyone added shocks to an AD-vintage 2 ton? I'd like to do this to my 52 6100. Thanks for any info.

Joe Padavano

It would be a waste of time and money. There isn't enough bounce in that heavy of a truck for shocks to work and you would never know the difference.
Scott

My 1957 10500 (2-1/2 ton) Fire Truck has factory front shocks...don't know if they really help, but it's neat to talk about!

Mike B

About the only places you might feel an improvement is over stutter-bumps and possibly speed bumps,where they might reduce the bouncing (especially the rear) to one or two hops instead of a series of 'em. If you have the shocks and some time to burn up,I'd say go for it! Every little bit helps,and a little help is better than no help. Helpful Hint-it might be good to use shocks that are relatively easy to get and not too expensive,maybe gas (Rancho) shocks for a Chevy one ton 4X4;they should be beefy enough to hold up for a good while,but if they tend to go south often,you won't wanna blow a lot of money on big dollar parts.
Just my opinion...
Speed

I don't have any on the rear of my extra heavy stiff sprung 1 ton, same wheel base as yours.
When I rebuild my truck into a 2 ton I will add shocks.
When empty and on a gravel road you really need them, unless you go really slow....
Grigg

Grigg - don't put too much effort into the shocks, or any money - GM never put shocks on the heavier trucks because they're really non-functional, loaded or not - the springs are so heavy on the 1 tons and up that there's just no chance for shocks to work to 'dampen' sudden movement

Bill

They may not have done it back then....
So why do Semi trucks with even stiffer springs have shocks now?
A railroad car will even have shocks, and they are really heavy.
I still think that rear shocks will help on my truck, I'll let you know if they don't.
Grigg

I don't think I've seen a semi w/ conventional shocks other than on the front - just like your truck should already have - on the back you'll usually find various configurations of air suspension, particularly air cushioned walking beams for use on rough roads

shock absorbers work more to dampen the bounce of the vehicle on the chassis, where on a truck what is needed is something that keeps the wheels on the rough road - shocks won't do it w/ the giant stiff spring packs on heavier trucks

Bill

Heck if it bounces....add some weight!

Shocks won't do a bit of good on an unladen heavy duty truck; when you hit a bump the spring rebounds back to the maximum and basically stays there, if it deflects at all. This is also why trucks ride better at near their rated weight, the spings are actually able to work.

Shocks, were indeed, a seldom used option, on Advance Design/New Design G.M. Trucks. Out of all the 2 ton '47-'55 trucks, I've had. Only one of them had Factory Shocks. I've got a 1951 Chevrolet Truck filmstrip, that shows, these shocks.

they didn't put the shocks on rear of spring mounted semis at least thru the early 90's they do put them on airride suspensions on both the tractors and trailers.

if you can figure a way to mount airride suspension that will make more difference

Hello Everyone,Firestone makes an air ride suspension system called "Ride Rite" that looks like it would work.It can be purchased through A W Direct in Connecticut.Check it out @ www.awdirect.com.I was thinking of useing it on my '53 6500 wrecker but never did.My new wrecker has an air ride seat that solved that problem lol.

Chevrolet had optional shocks for the 1.5 ton trucks and were mostly used with a panel trucks that carried light loads; you could get reduced load leaf springs for these vehicles. I have a 1935 1.5 ton stake truck that was bought by the US Forestry Dept and it has 157" wheel base and has overlaod springs in the rear (They were an option) and it has double action optional shocks all the way around. They maybe help a little bit on washboard roads when running light.

I am considering an air only rear suspension for the rear of my 48 2 ton, no springs. But that will be a few years off yet. I'll test all my other modifications out on the new leaves I got last year, then think about air when I run out of other things to do to the truck. I'll be sure to have shocks then. I'll also keep the 16,000 pound GVW.
Grigg

Just a note on the Firestone air spring kits for trucks.
As far as I know they don't make a full air suspension kit for pickup sized trucks. What they do offer is air helper springs. They allow you to put air in them to carry more weight, or to level your truck with the same weight you normally carry, but they will not improve your empty ride unless you loose some of your original springs and rely on the air springs for the weight capacity.

At http://www.keldermanairride.com/index.php
they offer many different kinds of air suspension kits, some that use air springs to smooth out the ride but retain your leaves, some that replace the leaves all together.

I have a 46 1.5 Ton, and have been removing one spring at a time to 'soften' the ride just a bit.
As I will NEVER carry a load on the flatbed, I am guessing it will be ok.
I have now taken out 2 in the front and 3 in the rear. (added some spacers to keep deck height) and I can finally start telling some difference. I may take out one more front and one more rear.
I did start noticing it wanting to 'bounce' a little on the highway going about 55 or so.
I was thinking shocks might be the answer AFTER I take out a couple more leafs.
Anyway, a 1.5 ton is not for 'soft rides' anyway, just don't want it breaking my spine hitting a few bumps in the road.