The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Leaf spring Mods

I've been speaking with a fellow Bolter that removed 2 leafs from his springs before re-installation. He claims a better ride. Dropped the front about 1 1/2" but left the back at stock height. Would like to add sway bar to front though.
Patrick's out of Arizona has a spring replacement kit for about a grand that has also removed a couple of leafs. Shakles, shocks, etc. come in the kit along with lowering blocks. Patrick was selling a mono-leaf up until last year but customers complained about harsh return. So they went to this reduced leaf spring assembly.
Has anyone else experimented with removal of one, two, three....leafs? What is a lowering block? Spend the bucks with Patrick or disassemble, sandblast, repaint/powder coat originals?
One thing that bothered my about Patrick was that when I asked about finish on the new springs (painted) he wasn't sure but thought so. It would seem since this is his catalogued product, that he felt was a marked improvement, that he would know it backwards anf forwards.

Rattletrap,
A lowering block would work on an axle that is OVER the leaf spring, as in the rear axle of these trucks. It is a chunk of iron or steel that has provisions for the centerbolt cast in it...it is a spacer! You stick it between your springs and rearend and it lowers the truck. The front axle rides UNDER the spring pack. You could put a lowering block here, but it would become a "raising" block, making the front end higher.


Stuart.

Thanks Stuart,
I get it now.
Have you or anyone purchased Patrick's new leaf spring kit?
I spoke with the stock spring manufacturer Eastman. 53 year old metal will not, can not perform like new metal.(that's why the reason for a sway bar) My old springs could be placed back in the oven an retempered. That would do it. They would still be rusty though. New 'stock' springs could be ordered from they but would actually cost a bit more than Patrick's.

Rattletrap,
Although I haven't purchased Patrick's spring kit, I have had old springs rearched. I think the process is to heat them, bend them on some sort of a caul to factory specs, then temper them. They put the truck back at a factory stance...not too cool of a look. I think the standard finish from a spring shop is to paint the springs with a nasty black paint. I have always felt that a spring should look like a spring, not a Chip Foose paint job!

Removing leafs (?) from the pack will definitely lower the rig..the spring is shorter in height, and will lay more flat. I think you will notice this in a negative way in your ride.


Stuart.

Rattletrap,

I did have a set of Patricks springs and I returned them because I didn't want to lower my truck. The set that I had were not painted and had just a black metal finish. I went with regular springs from Chevy Duty and in my opinion the ones from Patricks were made a lot better then the ones from CD.

I don't live to far from Patricks and I have made friends with Patrick and Phillip. I know that it may be a little slow on parts at times but I know that they take pride in doing things right.

I removed three leafs from the front of my 37 with no problems. The ride was better, but lowered the truck less then a inch. Each spring is only a 1/4" thick, and takeing off the bottom three did little to lower it. I was after the better ride. No matter where you by springs from, take them apart and add Teflon liner to each spring. Most aftermarket shops sell it. Its just a roll of teflon you cut to fit for each spring. It will improve the ride and noise 100%.
Joe

I have patricks stuff on my truck,,(from po) looks good but the ride is somewhat stiff/bumping on a rough road, on the hi-way, all is well,, I would probably leave it stock, I bought mine lowered and the stance looks good, corners good but like I said stiff as you know what.............Fred

OK, let me ask the "mono-leaf" question. Any advantage to a single piece of metal as opposed to reduced leaf count or full stock? Sway bar needed on a mono-leaf?
If you have this set-up on your truck, who would be a good source?
Thanks ahead of time,
-jeff

I've heard that you can swap the shackles front to reat and vs versa. Making the front sit higher and the rear lower. It all depends on what you have done leaf spring wise too.

Take a picture after you do this cause we'd love to see it done. I have not...

I pulled out 3 or 4 leaves on my 55 rear,Lowered it about 3 in.Ride is OK.I have since purchased a new setup for the rear,new 5 leaf springs,mounts shocks,perches,etc.Will install it this winter.My rearend sits below the springs so lowering blocks were not an option.When I install the new setup I will put the rear on top of the springs. If you are looking for a lower stance,great handling and good ride,either sub frame it or go with an M2 frontend.I put the TCI M2 frontend in mine.