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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 112 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2007 Posts: 112 | Hi guys,
The trucks what use double rear leaf spring package, what is the purpose, to carry on more load although the capacity is 3/4ton(for example)?
thanks | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | They are called helper springs. They engage brackets on the frame after some weight has been added, then they continue to help carry more weight. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | Those springs help to stabilize a loaded truck as much as anything else.
If the truck is never loaded they may never be used, but as you load the truck, those so called 'over-load springs' add roll stiffness thus improving handling. Without them the truck could be scary going around corners.
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble... | | | | | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 93 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 93 | Everything said so far is true but another added feature is it allows you to carry more weight with out having the stiffness (and rough ride) that it would actually take if the springs were up graded in a single set deal.
Basically they allow you to keep your nice ride (or semi-nice ride if you have a 2-ton truck like me) while empty but still be-able to haul a lot of weight without squatting the truck. | | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 112 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2007 Posts: 112 | Ok guys, thanks. ¿but this package was not RPO?. Why not all the trucks use it? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,144 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,144 | They were optional on some models such as my 38. mine is the long wheel base without helper springs but I have seen short and long wheel base with them. less equipment standard meant lower cost buyer could add what they wanted. My grandfather said he intially tried to get by with adding leaves to the helper springs to increase the capacity on his 47.2 chevrolet tractor but when he loaded it the helper springs caught the brackets and broke them off. better to build up main spring. Can't imagine how rough that would ride empty. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | the auxillary spring pack was optional based on the GVW rating of the specific truck .... note in your manual that any nominal rating has a range of GVW's, the lower GVW is the "base" truck, higher ratings had different tires and/or wheel sizes and for some of the nominal ratings, the highest GVW has "aux rear springs" under 'equipment' ... commonly called 'helper springs' or 'overloads' in the day
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