Anyone know of a good company to make some leafs for me? CPP and performance online make good products (got my back one from them) but I can't see putting out another $550 for new front 2.5 drop leaf springs. Problem is I like how my front sits, but the springs are beat. I have a 3" drop axle. If I get stock spec (affordable) springs, I'm afraid they'll raise the front up too much for my liking. Yes the truck is for sale and yes I am still putting money into it because I enjoy driving it. Just is too bouncy. Here's the spring. Flat. Almost curved under. Not a fun ride. Here's the stance though:
We have a spring shop here in Flint, MI called Beattie Spring. Maybe your town has something similar? Or Eaton in Detroit works, too.
Do you want a spring that is stiffer? Most of my old trucks ride harsh. I'd rather have a flat spring that was cushy as an arched spring that was harsh. If it bounces more than once when you hit a bump, it might benefit more form shocks than new springs.
Let your fingers do the walking through the Yellow Pages. There is a spring shop near you that does truck leaf springs all day long, mostly on much bigger trucks than yours. They should be able to rearch and recondition your springs for $200 maybe less. Drive in and drive out a couple hours later. You can ask them to reverse the main leaf and take out a few leaves to get it lower. This is something you will have to ask about. Let them know you want it lower, and that you will not be carrying big loads. A good set of shock absorbers and a front end alignment will probably be necessary.
Usually if the ride is "bouncy" it is a shock issue, not a spring issue. When were the shocks last changed (miles, not years)?
Thank you guys so far. I have less than 100 miles on the new setup. Bushings and shackles are brand new, everything up there besides the springs are new. When my buddy jumps on the bumper the springs arch downwards. He's about 160 lbs soaked. I think I'm going to try different shocks first. I've called places around here (south jersey) that want nothing to do with it.
New springs might change ride quality but they aren't going to keep the truck from "going all over the place". As far as a smoother ride you could pull the spring packs apart and clean up the springs so they slide against either smoother and put the back together. There is a lot of info on that. You could even re-arch them a bit if you wanted to but that might raise the front up. .
May just be the picture perspective, but those shocks look like they are laying at a significant angle. Shocks are most effective when perpendicular to travel, which usually means vertical. The greater the angle, the less effective they are.
It looks to me like your springs are already modified by removing some leaves. If you want stiffer, and don't want to spend money, go to a junkyard and buy a pair of springs the right width and close to the right length. Keep your springs and add a few leaves from the junkyard springs. Don't remove your main leaves from the truck, it is not necessary. Bouncy is usually a shock absorber issue. If they have 20,000 miles on them or more they are played out even if they are not leaking. A good set of shocks and an alignment job will work wonders.
Update. After reading through the replies I bought a set of CPP's shocks. They made a world of difference. I highly recommend them, and they were only about 80$ for the pair. The shock angle is from the factory mounts. The geometry is the same, even with the drop axle because the shock position never changed. I'll get the name of the shocks I replaced and post it so people can stay away from them.
As low as it is, you've taken a lot of shock angle out of it. Relocate the upper mount to make them a little more upright and they'll work better. Gary
That's the way it left the factory in 1960. I didn't modify them. Thank you so much. Now that it's riding the way that I like, I can finally enjoy it more.
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