The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk smoother ride

I have a 46 chevy 1/2 ton. Can I remove some of the leaf springs to get a smoother ride? Also is there any way to add tube shocks? Any advice would sure help

As anyone here will tell you, with enough time and money, you can do anything.

Before making drastic changes to your suspension, there are some things you can check.

Radial Tires make a HUGE difference in the ride. They also help with the steering.

Check to make sure all of your current shocks are connected to the axles and that they are free and have fluid in them.

Tube shocks might be interesting to mount in a '46. Knowing how they are mounted in modern cars, I don't know as (a) there's room for them and (b) there's really no way to hide the mount points. You could, I suppose, drop in an IFS off of something newer, but this could be more than you want to do.

Someone else may have found a good way to pull the shock installation off.

Thanks, I will try the tires. The truck already has an open drive shaft, but, still has the old shocks. It will be interesring to find out if there is a way eo switch. I am not ready for the ifs yet.
thanks for the reply

No problem.

Now that I'm a little more awake...

They did make dual action knee shocks, but they were on the larger trucks. They shouldn't be too hard to adapt to your truck, should you decide to go that route.

Removing a leaf from the springs will give you a little smoother ride but will reduce your load carrying capacity. As Brendan says the tires are the best to change. As your truck goes down the road the small cracks, lumps, and bumps are almost entirely absorbed or transmitted by the tires. Old 6 or 8 ply, high pressure, bias tires are very good at transferring these jolts through the springs, which do not flex much, directly to your back side. Radials can carry the same load but will deform easer to absorb the impact. The springs come into play when you run over larger lumps and in Michigan POT HOLES. The shocks really do not come into play except to retard bouncing of the axel as the springs like to bend and rebound.

Thanks for the info. I will start with tires

John46 - Tube shocks are not a real problem to install. I did it on my 46. You can get upper and lower brackets that just bolt on. I think I had to drill two new holes in the frame, and modify the holes on the lower brackets but it's a pretty easy job.

With tube shocks and radials my truck rides and handles much better.

I can send you pictures of what I did if you want. Sorry can't post them here.

George

thanks George! I will send you my e-mail address.
John