The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop lowering a 53 chevy 3/4 ton stake bed

i was told that you can remove some of the leaf springs to lower the front and rear, how many and which ones do i need to remove. have i got to put spacers in the place or something. i dont think the u bolts will tighten up. ideas?

If you lower the truck by removing springs it gets lower in two ways. One by lowering the frame closer approx 1/4" per spring removed (spring over axle setup only). And by letting the remaining springs sag while they try to carry the weight of the truck.
This approach reduces the load capacity of the truck.
If you take out to many the axles will be close to the bump stops on the frame and could be a pretty poor ride when they bottom out.
As you suggested, you may need new shorter U-bolts. It is also strongly recommended that u-bolts be discarded and replaced whenever they are removed.

Why do you need to lower it? Or what are your plans for using the truck?

Grigg

just thinking, lowering it a little, wont be doing any hauling. they say that a 3/4 rides rough, and was trying to take that part out also

Then sounds like removing a few springs would help the ride, and only slightly lower the truck.

Remember that these old trucks never did ride extremely smooth. I just accepted that and drove my 1 ton truck for what it is. I eventually had new springs made a little heavier then factory, It rides nice, but still like a truck.

Grigg

Any spring shop worth its salt can make new u bolts. Just take your old ones in and tell them to make the new ones the same but shorter.

I removed 3 leaves on my '51 3/4 ton pickup. It sits about 1.75" lower and definitely rides smoother, and there is still plenty of space before the bump stops. If I remember right, there are 7 or 8 leaves on the 3/4 tons. The shortest ones don't really do anything unless you get alot of weight on the truck. I removed 2 of the short ones and the 2nd to longest and I'm happy with it. Like others have said, it does lower the load capacity of the truck. And yes, you will need shorter bolts if you take out 3 leaves.

I think if you take the shorter leaves off and re-install them on top of the longer ones you won't need shorter U bolts. They ofcourse will not function but I think you still drop the height while using the same U bolts. or have I out smarted myself?

Keith

SR, you almost got me on that one. Yes the front will still be lower by the spring sag and lower because of the removed spring leafs, and the bolts will still work.