The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Rear Shock Size??

I am sitting here 50 miles away from my 55.1 and was wondering if anyone knew the size shock I would need that also had the helper spring on it for the rear of my truck? I failed to measure the other night cuz I wasn't thinking about it til now.

My driver's side sags 3/4 of an inch. It isn't the bed mounts, checked them, or the cab mounts, also checked. The front of the truck is level, new front leaves.

I really don't want to replace the rear leaves yet and thought a shock with a helper spring might level her out, since I am not carrying a lot of heavy weight back there.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Chris

Hey Chris, just a thought...In the old days they had air shocks, don't even know if they make them anymore..Well, a couple of those on the back, and you could adjust each side to make it level for now..Good Luck, Steve

I think all those coil overs would do is give you a harsher ride. You really need to find out why it sags. Is one side of the truck heavier than the other? Is the frame bent? Arc on the springs different from side to side? Assuming both your new shocks are identical, you will still have a sag (maybe less, but it will still be there).

My truck had the same problem and the PO put a coil over shock on the sagging side only to try and even it up. The bump stop on that side was bent from severe overload, so I know how the sag got there! I have new springs and rear end now.

If the springs need to be re-arced, maybe there's a shop near you who can do it cheaper than replacing the springs?

Shocks aren't meant to "level" anything out. They're just dampers to control the springs. Your leaves set the ride height. An air shock won't really solve the issue, either. It'll actually worsen the ride with different pressures on each side.

Next time you get near it count the leafs. Sometimes guys replaced the spring with the wrong amount. Also you could just remove 1 or 2 on the high side for now. Also it could be the front on the opposite side.Put the front on jack stands so the tires dont touch,now measure the rear. RF is correct shock only control spring freq not hold up or down.
DJ

Hey Chris55.1 the springs on my '48 were ok except for the wear in the loop of the springs where the shackles attached to the frame were egg shape instead of round. Check the bushings and shackles. Good Luck, Mike

Hey Chris,
How much do you weigh and/or how much does the PO weigh. I have always noticed that classic/older vehicles seem to list regularly on the driver side. There is always a driver when it's driven (I hope) but not always a passenger. Just a thought.