The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop front suspension problem on lowered truck

Bought a 1952 Chevy truck recently and have had to straighten out some problems a few at a time. I have problem with the front end bottoming out, upon a closer inspection the shocks are leaking and the bumper stops are about an 1 1/2" from the frame. It was suggested to replace the 4" shackle with a 6" shackle to increase clearance in this area or remove the rubber stop. Is 3" between the frame and stop with proper gas shocks sufficient to preclude this from happening again, also is the small metal assembly that is shaped like a pyramid that holds the stop removable from the top of the spring, as that part also holds the top of the u bolts as they goe over the top of the leaf spring. I am in Corpus Christi and shop assist is really non existant, hope you guys can help. Thanks HUGH

Hugh,
I looked over your posts lists and cannot find enough info.
A couple of questions; stock type front end on your 52? If you are talking shackles, I assume your truck still has front leaf springs? Regardless, shocks won't fix your problem. Sounds like someone took out too many springs, trying to put the truck in the dirt? If you are going to keep the leaf setup, you will need to get the springs re-worked. Are you running a stock 6 or? Again..not sure it matters, a stock 6 or a small block still require enough spring to support the weight. Adding a longer shackle just raises the truck...maybe. Sounds to me like the leaves are flattening out..If this is a Mustang II or Volare, the spring rate is not high enough to support the weight.

Not sure about stock front end, but no front clip. Leaf springs front, 5 count. Truck dropped 4" rear and 6" front (I think). Bought truck this way, was built by someone else. Have a 283 v8, turbo 350 tranny. Not enough room between the bump stop and frame, looks like I need atleast another 1 1/2 inch to make the 3" clearance needed, maybe using the 6" shackle to raise it a bit. Maybe the springs need to be re arched just a small bit. One of my recent photo bucket pics show this truck as it sits now, I don't know how to link it and my daughter's not here to help me, maybe I can get some up close pics and have her help me post them later today.

Ok here with some pics of my front end bumpstop area.

http://s898.beta.photobucket.com/?postlogin=true

Find a photo upload site and you can get the link from there to post here. It sounds like you just to low without enough support. Maybe doing a 4" instead of a 6" in the front? What kind of shock are you running in the front?

Most if the time people do a 4" in the front and 6" in the rear.... Or 2/4 or what ever because of the rake being higher in the rear.

No shocks, took them off as they were leaking, also they were to long and were just about bottomed out at rest. Once I get this problem ironed out will go with a set of doesch nitro slamers all the way around. No shocks on the rear at this time either.

I was compairing my front axle with some of the dropped units online, and it appears to be a 3" or 4" drop.

Looks like dropping the front end has exceeded the engineering ability of the stock setup.

Dropped axle combined with new springs are the ticket to restoring the spring action.

Will look at some replacement springs or at the least take it to a spring shop(yes we have one of those atleast) and see what they charge to re-arch my springs. Short term could look for a 6" shackle kit to fit or remove bumpstops altogether to increase the clearance in that area. Is the whole bumpstop assembly easilly removed by loosening up the u-bolts, and if it is, will removing it cause any problems with resecuring to u-bolts since they are held inline with that same assembly piece? From what I see that assembly is 2 pieces, the rubber and the metal pyramid shaped housing that holds the rubber. Thanks HUGH

If it were me, I would leave the bump stops in place. They are doing the job they were put there for. While it sounds terrible with them in place, it will be metal on metal without them. With the symptoms you are describing, the springs will bottom out with or without the bump stop. With bump stop in place is prob better than without.

I agree about not removing it.... The springs are flat so there is really no spring rate at all. Removing the stop would probably make it worse. If anything I would buy a good set of lowering shocks.

Kahoys;

I have a 58 Suburban, so I don't have first hand experience with your model year truck. That being said, I do have a couple of comments.

1. I would not recommend trying to get your springs re-arched. If they are original and have been de-arched already, they won't have enough life left in them to hold up after being reheated and rebent. It also looks like someone removed several leaves from your spring pack if they are original. They just don't have enough meat in them to hold up your truck. I recommend getting some new springs that are either OEM type replacements or aftermarket springs that are specifically designed to support the weight and performance of your truck.

2. You mention that you don't have any shocks on the truck front or back. I don't mean to insult your intelligence, but I hope you aren't driving it. Driving on the road without shocks is a recipe for disaster. Without the shocks, there is nothing holding your tires to the road. If you try to brake hard without shocks, your tires will just skip down the road like stones on a pond and you'll plow right into whatever is in front of you. I just want you to be safe!!

by the looks of your pics, 1. you need a new set of springs, and they should be 7 leafs, 2. if you want to keep it low, i would suggest a 3in. drop axle, and definitely please put some shocks on the front before you hurt someone or yourself,

Truck is presently garaged and will stay that way until I square away some of my suspension problems. Plan on ordering Posies d441 dual leafspring 3" setup for the front and re-measure for a set of front gas shocks. Not sure if this truck already has a dropped front axle or not, is there a measurement that I could perform to find out? And I am having scrubline issues on the back due to 3" blocks pushing those u-bolts down to within inches of the blacktop, can either swap out to 2" blocks and remove the access threads at the bottom,that will bring the rear up above the scrubline, or go with Posies 440, 3" springpack for the rear and do away with the blocks altogether, and then finish the instal with a set of rear shocks, really appreciate the safety concerns. Thanks HUGH

I have had springs re arched in the past and they hold up for awhile but new springs are the way to go. I would have them made local and save the shipping cost.

Bill