The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Least amount of rear leaves can I run?

I tried the search but didn't really find anything.
I have taken out some rear leaf springs on my '49 3/4 ton and am down to 4 leaves and wanted to know if I could take out one more to make 3 leaves and get away with it? I don't want to end up busting any by not having enough. I can't really do a axle flip yet without notching the frame either. Thanks!

lazy j, i have a 57 with a rear out of a 1980 chevy 1/2 ton.
it had 7 leafs in the rear.
i took out 4, leaving me only 3, and it works fine, giving me a 2 inch drop. i also added longer shackles for another 1 inch drop.
i also couldnot flip the rear, because i didnt want to c-notch the frame.
i think someone on here has talked about putting the leafs they removed, putting them on top of the main leaf, to keep the strength.
hope this helps.
leonard
got any pics of your truck ?

I took 4 leaves out of the rear of my 1/2 ton suburban,and added inch and a half lowering blocks. Sets perfect. Also removed 4 leaves from the front. Still rides good,,i think the new shocks have a lot to do with that tho.

I took 3 out of 7 on my 4t6 and placed the shortest leaf on top. The short leaf on top wasn't my idea as Bolter Waldo 53 suggested that. I haven't got it on the wheels yet so I don't know how much it dropped. Or how it rides! Pics here of old and new. Good luck and have fun
Dan

yea, it was waldo53 who put the shorter leafs on top...
my memory is going bad. LOL.
leonard

Putting the shorter leafs on top wouldn't do anything for a 3/4 ton since the spring rides on top of the axle. Works good for the AD 1/2 tons though (springs under the axle) and work like poor mans lowering blocks.

Hope this helps. On my 55 2nd series I took out 4 of the 7 leaves and run it that way for a couple years. No problems whatsoever.I eventually got a spring lowering kit from TCI,flipped the rearend and installed new 5 leaf springs.

Ok, that's what I was really wanting to hear is someone else that has run only 3 leaves and have had no probs. I feel better about taking out one more then. Thanks!
Jeremy

dale937 how low are you from bumper to ground in front rear did you use drop axle lmk thanks

I can also say that I removed 4 on a 57 I used to have, and it rode great with no problems. It's good to see a bolter that is close by.

Spencer

This all depends on how worn out your springs are! I've pulled appart sets of springs that had some broken in the pack. This deal is all trial and error, just hope you don't break a spring going down the road. Better get AAA towing!!!!!!!

I have converted over to all mono-leafs front and rear with a 3" drop axle in the front with 2" lowering blocks in the rear on top of the mono-leafs- You can run three in the rear but with no weight in the bed- I tried it all. The longest three will sag and eventually break-the front is worse though. Even with 4 leafs I had sag and it was too close to the frame. So If you are going the cheap route use the top 4 springs with blocks from jim carter. I think they are like 40$ with hardware. And if not invest in mono-leafs pricey but worth it!

hey bolted54, you got a cool looking truck. i love the wide whites.
eventually i will go with mono or lowered muti rear leafs. you guys talking about snapping leafs is scaring me with my 4 removed of the original 7.

leonard

Those pics are before the drop front axle and it looks way better now I am waiting on new steering components right now so I dont know how it drives yet. I have tried taking out leafs but the old leafs dont have good tension and tend to loose their spring and start to sag. So you can either take out some springs and add lowering blocks or go with the mono-leafs. I am satisfied how mine turned out so far. As far as snapping leaf springs I wouldnt worry just use your best judgment when installing them but if you get into that area you might have to replace shackles and spring eye bolts because of wear. I did so I just replaced everything that I could. Its costly but well worth it.

thanks..please post some pics of your truck the way it is now, lowered..thanks.
leonard

I have it up on jack-stands right now because I am waiting on a few steering items but I will definately when she gets back on the ground.

cool... cant wait for the pics..you got one heck of a cool looking truck.
leonard

hey guys love the idea of low rides I have a 46 in the works and want it as low as she'll go.any photos or suggestions would be apprciated this is my first build and it will be frame up.thanks

My '56 has 4 springs in the rear. When the muffler shop had it on the rack I noticed the springs were bowed the wrong way. I'm going to remove them and replace them with 6 from another truck.

If you have reservations on dropping down to 3 leaves on your springs you can do what I did and use a set of air adjustable shocks for the rear, you can then tune the rear suspension to whatever heighth you like when needed and the air shocks will compensate for the missing leaves absorbing the load.
just a thought
Tim