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Aftermarket suspension

A couple of leaf springs cracked on the weekend, I just about passed out when I priced a replacement at the auto parts store. I'm driving an 86 chev

1/2 ton. A new spring bundle: $285. I called around to some wreckers, I managed to find a guy who says he thinks he has some, I'll have to come and rummage. He's almost an hour's drive away, but I guess I'll have to take the chance.

I remember seeing an ad a couple of years ago for an aftermarket suspension stabilizing kit. I think it was on during a hockey game or perhaps it was "Home Improvement". Anyways, it showed some guy piling a huge amount of firewood in the box of his pickup, I'd guess at least 3 tons. Anyway, I don't remember the name of this product, does anyone know anything about it? Any opinions?

Should I just replace the cracked leaves, or should I replace the whole works? The truck's 20 years old, and if 2 go at once, I'm inclined to think the rest can't be far behind?

-JD

Reply to
John D
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2 Cracked leaf springs? Sure it's 20 years old, but still, sound like your Overloading your truck! I've seen so many trucks that are just so over loaded it's crazy, back end all sagging down (On a NEW Truck!) Installed Helper springs to help the problem. Reality though should have had a 3/4 Ton truck at least instead. The Only broken leaf springs I've ever seen were on a newer Chevy. It was lowered a lot, didn't have a C-Notch kit installed so the back end of it bottom out all the time and it actually broke the leafs on both sides completely, luckily the leaf packs held it pretty much together, though the read end was out of whack a bit. I had a 77 Chevy 1/2 ton, sold a couple years ago, still had the original Leafs on it, and didn't sag that I could Notice. Maybe it was a bit, but I couldn't tell and they are all Original.

If your NOT overloading, then you shouldn't have any problem with used Springs. I'd get them in a matched set and put both on otherwise your truck could be leaning a bit. There are all different kinds of rear Overload type kits. Again you just can't go crazy using these things You need to get the right truck to handle the type of load your carrying.

Reply to
JBDragon

Autozone lists Trailmaster leaf springs $74 a side, I am sure NAPA can get springs as well (and they would be my choice). Using the autozone catalog as a cross reference guide (hate the company but will use their resourses) you can go all the way to 1992 model year for springs. In 93 they changed. And as was stated in an ealier post do change them in matched pairs.

As to the ad you refer to, maybe they will work, but they wont increase the braking ablity to match the additional load, or increase the strength of the front end and steering compnonets.. Or increase the strength of the frame. I've seen frames buckle because of gross overloads.

Whitelightning

Reply to
Whitelightning

Indeed. I found a wrecker and got some springs, so now I need to find some U bolts. I guess the one spring had been broken for a while and was creating a pressure point on the one below, which gave in eventually. I haven't been overloading the truck (much, lately). I made a trip to the lumberyard a couple of years ago when I put on close to a ton, but lately it's just been tools and stuff. The final straw was last weekend when I had a bit less than a half ton on there, but was bouncing over some potholes.

Thanks for the advice guys.

-JD

Reply to
John D

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