20190722_111100 by email Ed posted Jul 22, 2019 at 11:35 AM This looks like its more springs then I would want for a 1948 pickup that wouldn't be loaded with anything. I never drove this truck the bands on the spring stacks were open and the springs had canvas wrapping on them. Someone had done work on the springs. I don't know if it was replace broken or add more. I do know when I drove the 57 dodge truck I would bonce like Tigger the tiger going over bumps. I don't want this truck to be like that so I would like to know what would be the right amount to give this truck a soft ride. thank you for any help you could give. PS if your wondering about the c clamps and 2x4 it has casters on it to move the truck around the garage.
Its a Chevy I would like to mount the rear 2" higher off the springs for a better drive shaft angle and the new IFS makes the truck sit lower on the front 2" would get it level also I want a softer ride and that spring stack takes some of the ground clearance under the axle.
Not a real spring guy, but I think shocks should be more the issue if it real bouncy. Plus if that's the main leaf on top, it looks pretty pebbled, might want to have it looked at for safety.
I never drove this truck. the old dodge was the only old truck I ever drove. it had good shocks but who knows where the old well driller got the springs from. I couldn't stay on the seat of it when it hit a bump it was like hitting it on a tractor. The springs had some kind of fabric with tar on it put around them maybe to make them quiet. It was rotted but if you look at the springs the part that is pitted didn't have the fabric. I would have thought the fabric would get wet and make it rust more.
I done this once...........Leave the main leaf(the long one) alone. Try cutting the next spring in half...leaving the front half WITH the hole in place. It softened my ride but maintained most/all the ride height. Try that and if its too firm do the next spring. Stands to reason if you won't be haul'in nothing you won't need a big stack of leaves. Shocks stop the bounce but the springs determine the stiffness(kinda) 6sally6
The key to a good ride is relatively soft springs with generous or at least adequate travel and very good dampers (shocks) to control the movement. So often, that is lost on our modified cars that so often have been lowered by the easiest and cheapest means possible and the resulting substantially reduced suspension travel either bottoms out too soon or the spring rates are increased to minimize the bottoming out result. Either way, the ride suffers. My ‘signature’ explains it. Ray
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