The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Can I removing some leaves from back springs

I have a '51 1/2 ton which drives - well, like a truck!
I read in a post about taking some of the leaves out of the back springs to give a more gentle ride.
All I have been able to find are posts regarding lower the truck which I do not want to do.
Any suggestions would be most helpful.

whatever you do short of replacing the whole suspension system, it'll always 'ride like a truck' .... removing leafs will lower it slightly, and will make for a 'bouncier' ride, not 'softer' .... you might try new shocks and car size radials - and running with some weight in the back, which is what the truck was designed for

Bill

I also would like a softer and less bouncy ride. I was planning on taking leafs out but now I won't. I'll try a few hay bales and see how that helps. A thread I read yesterday discussed rebuilding the seat springs and adding some foam padding with new upholstery for a smoother and less bouncy ride. Good suggestion me thinks...but new seat upholstery seems to be expensive. I'll do it anyway cuz OEM or not, I don't enjoy the ride my seat gives.

I read somewhere - might have been here - that a solution is to not remove leaves, but move one or two of the short leaves from the bottom of the stack of leaves to the top. That way they don't function but the same retainer bolts can be used. Have not tried it myself.

I saw an interesting technique mentioned in "The Corrosion Lab' in Vintage Truck. Some rear springs on the heavier trucks have lower leaves that are not arched as much as the upper ones. These are called progressive springs because the lower leaves do not do anything until after a certain load value. Thus the ride stays a little softer to that point. It was suggested that changing the arch on some of the lower leaves may help soften the ride.

truckernix is correct, the shorter leaves do nothing to support the truck until there is a load placed on them. I was also told this by St. Louis Spring who builds the new packs sold online by most the major vendors. You can de-arch the shorter leaves or remove them completely.

Daves46pu, I am probably the one who posted what you read. Stacking them on top of the pack in the rear will lower the rear by ~1/4" (the thickness of a single leaf) for each leaf because the axle rides on top of the leaf pack. You are essentially adding 1/4" spacers between the axle and pack. Same idea as a lowering block.
Adding them in front does nothing because the axle rides below the leaf pack...however, removing them in front will lower by about 1/4" for each leaf.

I don't know if you have checked the bushings and shackles, I changed mine, and lubricated between the leaves, made a noticeable difference. Apparently radial tires make a difference, I haven't tried them. But mostly it's a truck, which is why it rides like a truck, an antique truck at that. That is why you don't buy a jeep to go road racing or a Porsche 911 to go four wheeling.

A bit early for leaves to be in the back spring.. OH, leafs... I had to through that in.

I would not remove springs.. Just my thoughts...

Thanks for the replies.
I am going to leave the springs as they are but, will try what brokenhead suggests and lube it all up.
Yes, you are right, it is an antique truck and that's why I bought it.
It's just that my back isn't as young as it use to be.

I sure hear that Try putting some weight in the back...I just stuck two bales of straw in the back...about 140 lb total...and it really smoothed out the ride..

I took 4 leaves out of the bottom of my rear springs on my 46 1/2 ton and put them on top, sure it lowered it 1 in. but I put a set OF 15IN. radials on it and it rides alot smoother now,I do have to do something about the seat tho, its way too springy, kinda like a farm tractor,im thinking I might switch to a 3rd row mini van seat, to stop the bouncing,

My seat is bouncy too and I'll have it redone by an uphol. shop. I did put weight in the bed, though, and that did a lot...