The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Unusual spring pack

Good evening. I am definitely not an expert, but I don't think my 1954 Chevy 1/2t has the original spring pack in the rear. It looks very thick compared to other pictures I've seen and does not match anything I've seen in the assembly manual including up to the school bus models. Width is 1 3/4" and hangers and shackles look like the assembly manual. I count 15 leaves.

Can anyone confirm this is not correct and if it's not, any guesses what it is? Were multiple packs combined into one? Old aftermarket? Thank you in advance.

Patrick

That is not a 1954 3100 original/standard rear spring pack.

Here is some information about original springs.

get standard - stock ride height (to match original)

1954
Chevrolet Truck
3100 (1/2 ton)
your body style
L6 - 3.9L - 235 engine

The rear springs on a 1/2 ton from 47 thru 55 first series contain only 8 leaves per the Master Parts Catalogue. My ‘52 3100 has 8 leaves.

That's WAAAAYYYYY too much spring for a 1/2 ton- - - - -both frame and wheel bearing-wise, not to mention tires. Somebody has done the equivalent of adding one super heavy chain link to the middle of a string of paper clips- - - -it does nothing for the overall load carrying capacity.
jerry

Looks like someone has doubled up on at least 5 of the leaves. You can see the photos that there are leaves that are the same length, which is not original. You could put it back to original by removing those extra leaves. You'd need to put new intermediate clips on it, and shorten the u-bolts and spring pack center bolt.

If you do decide on splitting the spring pack and eliminating the additional leaves, do yourself a favor and install the teflon or plastic liners between the leaves. It quiets the spring and softens the ride. It will increase the spring pack height and require a u-bolt that is longer then stock, but you need to replace or shorten your existing one anyway, so thats not a problem. Here is what I used.
[LINK]

For what it's worth, I have some teflon liner material listed in parts for sale

I had a 1940 old farm truck like that. The guy used to haul his bull in it.

George

The first thing I would do is check the bottom leaf for the last four digits of the spring part number. Looks like you have the heavy duty 10 leaf springs.
8 Leaves 3683317
10 leaves 3705452
The clips on the spring are junk, they are not spring clips. Your springs used four clinch clips. They are riveted to the first leaf in the clip. This keeps the clip from moving around when the spring flexes. They also help determine the deflection rate (spring rate). Whatever clips you use, bolt or clinch make sure it has a pin for the hole in the first leaf.
I personally would not add anything between the leaves, paint, Teflon or plastic liners. Over time they will wear out and loosen the spring pack. They do not “soften” the ride. The spring rate will determine the softness.
I would have a good spring shop rebuild the spring. It shouldn’t cost a lot because you have all the leaves.

Thank you all for the assistance and advice so far.

I cannot see any numbers on the bottom spring now but it may be easier to see with it removed. I will update the thread with what I find. Each pack has 5 pairs of nearly identical length springs so removing the doubles would give me 10 springs per pack. The only springs I see with a hole in them for a clip are currently the 6th from the top, which is where the existing "clips" are.

Thanks again all, this has been very helpful.

All that added thickness looks to put a lot of steel below the bottom of the rim (and very close to the pavement, think puncture).
New springs are not that expensive if you research ‘all’ the usual suppliers, reconditioning springs also works but I’m a fan of new USA “made to match originals” if you can afford it.

Eaton-Detroit makes great springs for virtually every vehicle ever made.