The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Make a 1-ton ride softer without loosing payload?

So I've been thinking about how to make a 1-ton ride softer without sacrificing the payload they can hold...

I like the idea of the main springs and auxiliary springs where you can have two different spring rates based on deflection. Why did Chevy make the main springs ~75% of the force and the auxiliaries just add another ~25%?
Why not do this the other way around... Have a real soft spring for the first 1-2 inches of travel and then have the big springs kick in... This way in normal driving you have a soft ride and then once you add anything to the bed you engage the big boys...

So I've thought of two ideas:
1) Go to a spring shop and have then remake the stack with the same total number of springs but pitch them so there's ~4 on the main springs and ~7 on the auxiliaries.
2) Break apart the current stack and just swap positions to get as close as you can to option (1). I'm just not sure if there is a max difference in length between two adjacent springs that support each other without concerns of cracking one.

Sort of like this:

Current Stack

New ordering of same springs

...wonder if the "new order" would increase the chance of one of the bottom springs cracking?? Just a thought.

Why not remove some leaves, and put some air bags in place? Smooth ride, but still able to pump up, and carry big loads? You can get less expensive kits with no compressor at FLAPS for $350 or so, at least here. They come with brackets and stuff, a little adapting and away you go! You just air up at the shop, or gas station. This is my plan for my 1/2 ton panel truck, so I can tow, stay level, and still have a cushy ride the rest of the time.

I found, with a yard of gravel or sand in the back of my 1-Ton, it rode smooth like a Caddy. It was a bit slower though......

I agree about the cracking concern. That's why I figured I'd ask on here... It could be set up so that the travel before the auxiliary stack kicks in isn't very much though. Maybe only 1".
I've seen long springs with no shorters under them before... Hmm.

Good point about the air bags- maybe I'm over thinking this...

I sort of like the look of the auxillarys though...

Anyone have a compressor that's driven off the PTO? Prob more pain than it's worth but it would be cool!

I bet if I did air bags I'd need to get shocks on it too ( plan on it anyway) as they wont have the inherent slight damping affect of the springs that rub against each other as the flex.

Also if you went airbags and soft springs if you'd get more misalignment between body and axles during unloaded acceleration doe to torque. No torque tube so that stack of springs is what's resisting the driveshaft torque. from twisting hte axle orientation.

Tj M, You're right about those points!
I saw on "TRUCKS!" once, they put air bags on a new 1 Ton. If you took out even one or two leaves, it would soften the ride I bet.

Put the "payload" in the bed and it'll ride soft, its that simple.

Grigg

I'm not gonna ride around with 2000 lbs in the bed just to soften the ride! Well I don't want to anyway...

prob wouldn't help the gas mileage any...

You're on the right track with the second picture. . .But you'll need a couple of brackets on the frame to contact the secondary leaf pack. You can attach them wherever you want - to contact with 1" of spring compression or whatever you want. Then, when you put a load on, the second spring pack is the spring rate you are using. While driving empty, the first spring pack is the rate you are using.

Without the brackets, you would have to arch that bottom spring pack a long way before the top pack is doing any work.

Craig

The frame already has the brackets. It's a concave shape a few inches above the ends of the upper leaf springs. I would hope to just use them as is.

see pic below:

auxillary bracket

amen to that

Tj_M - that last picture is exactly what I was talking about. I don't know why your idea shouldn't work. . .Have you ever thought of becoming an engineer for GM? Heaven knows the ones they have now are lacking in practical experience!!

Craig

Ironically I am a Mechanical Engineer and I worked in automotive design (Interior) until we moved back to NY to be around family...

Disassemble all of the springs, blast them and paint them with a graphite paint made for springs. This will help them flex and slip over each other instead of being a solid, rigid, rusty stack of springs, hence softening the ride
Scott

You could remove some of the leaves and then install Gabriel hi jacker shocks and air up when needed. the only run about $75.00 a pair.

I believe the specs on my 51 1 Ton describe the rear springs as progressive. From what I understand, progressive leaf springs have gaps between some of the lower leaves and the ones above, when there is no payload. As the springs compress, the lower leaves come in to play. My springs are not configured that way and I have no overloads. I think the progressive feature would make for a better ride.

Not worth the trouble on these trucks but one answer is new much longer spring packs.

I added firestone air helper springs over the axle between the frame on my 48 2 ton. Used stock firestone brackets for the axle side and made the uppers. Springs I'm using are new and made for my one ton, actually had them made stouter than stock for that. I put about 8,000 miles on them on the 1 ton and it rode very nicely, did a cross country trip and then some.

So not sure I see the point in doing anything... they're not bad to start with, just drive it.

I agree with Grigg. A 1 ton is going to ride like a 1 ton with the short springs you have no matter what you do. If you are determined to get a better ride, go with air ride or find a very late model 3/4 ton in a salvage yard. If you buy spring hangers and all, you can bolt the hangers with longer, wider leaves to your frame. It won't look original, but it will ride better and it will carry a load.

I think i'll likely either go with the "just drive it" or remove some leaves and add air bags.

I don't know if i want to do the bags though just because the helper springs look so cool

You'll get used to it pretty quick. Riding in a truck, that rides like a truck, is great!!