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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,049 Posts1,055,741 Members48,426 | | Most Online14,466 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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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 | OK guys I have 15X10's on 275/60/15, rears rub with light load. My question is this what are some ways I can increase height by 2". I have leafs in rear and shocks. Perhaps stiffer shocks? any way to adjust current shocks and leafs to gain that height?
1959 CHevy Apache
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Shocks themselves have no bearing on ride hights, that's all in the springs. There is one exeption, and that's air shocks. Those may be the solution, since you state that it only happens under load. You may have to do some matching up of lengths and end styles to get some to fit.
Bill Burmeister | | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 | THats what I figured  YOu mention springs, what can I do with the leafs to increase height?
1959 CHevy Apache
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Re arch them, lift blocks, or add a few leaves.
Bill Burmeister | | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 | Thank you kindly for the reply.
1959 CHevy Apache
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | I assume you are rubbing the top of the tire on the fenderwell. If it is rubbing the sidewalls inside, you can use spacers. I am running 275-40-with 20 inch wheels and I don't rub the tread on the rear.. even after notching the frame with air bags deflated. the front would rub if I didn't have stops installed.
Last edited by gazim; 07/06/2010 12:18 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 | top part of sidewalls is being rubbed by fender well yes. Not necessarily the top of tire although a small part of the top of tire does get rubbed, but mostly top part of sidewall. So the spacer would help this? I can notice that under a small load it does rub top part of sidewall near thread area. Is it difficult to put spacers? How did you manage to put 20's with no rubbing, you using spacers. I plan to go wider maybe 295 or 305 so want to give self plenty of room
1959 CHevy Apache
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 576 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 576 | I agree with longbox on the airshock idea....might be your easiest soultion........dave 1949 Chevrolet 3100 "When this thing hits 88 miles an hour, you're going to see some serious sh%t." -Doc Brown
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | You can order wheels with different back spacing which should eliminate the rub. If the rub is on the inside you could ad a 1/4" spacer. I also found my diff. was not centered and it was rubbing on one side. (Track or pannard bar) needed adjusting. I had no clearance problem on the top(tread) area even with the 20" wheels. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | If you go as wide as you stated, the pannard bar will be your best friend.  I had to build a longer one to minimize the side movement when the springs compressed. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 179 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 179 | You probably should sort out the back spacing or wheel tire combo even if you stiffen the springs or add air shocks. If your stops remain the same there will still be times it could rub with heavier loads or over larger bumps.
Joe McNeel
http://mcneelnet.com/~jmcneel/59.html
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 10 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 10 | You can get a set of helper springs. They fit between frame and the axle.You install them when you need to caring a load
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 | Take a look in my photbucket ..I am runnin 10"s on the rear of mine with Monroe air shocks ...just jack up the pressure a bit for a small load. NOW if ya gonna run 10" wheels on the rear ya gotta expect ya cannot haul a ton of Manure/rocks/and such ...or ya will have probs. But to look cool an haul light loads air shocks are the way to go. if ya want to HAUL a load of Mulch ya wont be able to with 10" wheels cut back to 8" an they should clear just slightly 7" would be better...I am runnin 7" on the front of mine an they look pretty good. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 Master Gabster | | Master Gabster Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 | You can have your springs rebuilt if you believe they have gone south.
~Jim
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 | Thanks for all replys thus far good ideas i went to 4 wheel parts yesterday and they did not have anything that would work on my leafs the guy said they are small and narrow hard to match, but offered number to a shop nearby that rebuilds and build leafs springs etc.. gonna hit them up today. He also suggested to get some performance shocks that extend further. Starting to get pricey looks like, especially if they have to go messing with my existing leafs they may crack once messed with.
1959 CHevy Apache
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | I did think of another option, the base 3/4 ton springs are a bolt in, and might raise the rear up a bit. They were offered as a factory option on the 1/2 ton, mine has a set. They have 8 leaves instead of the base spring sets 7.
Bill Burmeister | | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 | Does anyone know where I can get some air shocks for 59 Apache 3200 fleetside? I do not know what height length i need any suggestions links etc??
1959 CHevy Apache
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 | | | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 89 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 89 | maybe they've improved in the past 20 years, but I don't like the idea of airshocks. Seem to leak air at the most inoppertune time. I'd use lift blocks and longer u-bolts or longer/adjustable shackles to get some height. Either of these has little to do with the width of the existing springs. another idea although prob a little more $ would be coil over shocks to get a little more load carrying ability. The elcheapo helper springs at the local autozone are pretty narrow. might work well placed as the bottom leaf in the pack. That's what i did on my ranger to get 1 1/2" lift and a little stiffer spring rate.
Keep an eye on your driveshaft angles.
it ain't YOURS 'till it ain't stock!
1951 chevy 3100
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