The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1958 1 Ton Rear Suspension

I'm looking for some parts, but having NO luck with vendors. The rear leaf springs are 2 1/2" wide. They pivot in the front, and are held on with shackles in the rear. All of these connections are with locked pins. The rear shackles are the cast iron type (called a clevis in the tech book).

There are bushings between the leaf spring and the pin that connects it to the frame. The pin is 7/8" diameter and 4 1/4" long. The bushing are 1 1/8" OD and 7/8" ID and are 2 1/2" long.

The shackle bushings are 1" OD by 7/8" ID and are 2 1/2" long.

Does anybody have any suggestions on where to get this stuff? It is stock Chevy for this 1 ton.

Check with your local spring shop or a shop that specializes in large trucks. They should be able to either provide the parts or tell you where they get theirs. You might try Napa as well, the one here carries parts for heavier trucks and they do have listings for at least back to the '40's.

If all else fails ive got a 59 one ton chassis with the rear axle and springs under it im not using, and going to junk.

How bad is it? I have all the original stuff on my 59 and I have never touched it, other than to grease it. I have towed with it, and hauled up to 3600 lbs at a go with it.

Longbox - Spring shops no. Semi Truck repair shops order them on an as needed basis (good tip though!). I can order mine from the same source.

Weed - Thanks for the offer. I hope it doesn't come down to that. I don't really want to replace used with used.

TooMany - St. Louis spring does not carry. Localy Chevy dealer said "Huh...?" when I asked for parts.

Arnswine - The bushings and pins are not terrible (they would still work in a pinch), but they are bad. Seems like one side (outside?) is badly oval and the other nicely round. Leaf spring bushings are not bad, but the shackle bushings need replacing. I'm of the mind set to do things right (when you can) and will replace to correct fit. You put nearly 2 tons on yours... do you have the auxiliary rear springs? You don't have a dually. I'm starting to wonder what mine can carry once its all working.

It looks like Jim Carter Chevy has some of the parts I need (spring pin and bushing). I'll keep you informed when the pieces arrive and if they work. I've located a source for the shackle bushing and will purchase that elsewhere. Once again, I'll keep you informed.

I'll post a pretty pick when all the springs are on. 8 main springs + 6 auxiliary springs = BOUNCY BOUNCY BOUNCY!

Any machine shop worth a pound of salt can provide and install bushings in the shackles for you. St. Louis Spring can definately install spring bushings.

No auxilliary springs - just used what it had. The older vehicles were always underrated for what they could do, then again, I did air the tires up to max PSI and drove it pretty slow!

My springs are really stiff. I added shocks in back but I doubt if they have ever seen more than 2 inches of travel.