krazykawika
Registered Member
whats the diffrence between putting a 52" spring or 56" on?
CK5
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56" or 52"
- Thread starter krazykawika
- Start date
Depende en que cual extremo and what truck you're gonna put it on.
In the back, a K5 would have come with 52"s. If you have a shackle flip, you can switch them side-to-side to move the shackle hinge point back and fit 56"s easily. You may also use the flips as original, and use a longer shackle. Some Burbs and pickups came with 56"s, others (usually 1/2 tons, IIRC) 52"s, so you gotta measure what you got.
In the front, stock springs on all 4WD trucks are ~47". 52"s are an upgrade for greater flex and articulation, though it requires substantial modifcation. You'll need to move one or both hangers (ORD and DIY4X, for instance, both sell kits for various pieces, but you may still need to drill the frame) and you'll need to do crossover steering as well. Obviously this is involved, but IMHO it's well worth it: it's cheaper and simpler than doing coilover, and is by now reasonably well documented. (When I did this two years or so ago, it was still fairly new, so I had to do a lot of research and, for instance, built my own mounts for both ends of the front springs, as the kits weren't yet available.)
Putting 56"s on the front has been done, but requires a bit more fabwork and is more into the custom one-off realm because less folks have done it. Note that the 56"s are asymmetrical (one side is longer to the spring pin than the other) vs the 52"s which are centered, so you have more options of axle placement with the 56"s (and therefore more variance from one guy's rig to the next.)
If you're serious about this, I highly recommend a membership here and you can search through a great many threads, including mine, on this very subject.
Links:
http://coloradok5.com/52inchspringswap.shtml
Bit outdated now that Kert has the B-52 kits for the front mount, but the basics still apply. And spring bushings will always SUCK without a torch.
http://www.diy4x.com/suspension.htm
(see Front Shackle Frame Eye Hanger and B-52)
http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/FUSH.htm
ORD doesn't have a front mount like Kert's B-52 that I know of.
-- A
In the back, a K5 would have come with 52"s. If you have a shackle flip, you can switch them side-to-side to move the shackle hinge point back and fit 56"s easily. You may also use the flips as original, and use a longer shackle. Some Burbs and pickups came with 56"s, others (usually 1/2 tons, IIRC) 52"s, so you gotta measure what you got.
In the front, stock springs on all 4WD trucks are ~47". 52"s are an upgrade for greater flex and articulation, though it requires substantial modifcation. You'll need to move one or both hangers (ORD and DIY4X, for instance, both sell kits for various pieces, but you may still need to drill the frame) and you'll need to do crossover steering as well. Obviously this is involved, but IMHO it's well worth it: it's cheaper and simpler than doing coilover, and is by now reasonably well documented. (When I did this two years or so ago, it was still fairly new, so I had to do a lot of research and, for instance, built my own mounts for both ends of the front springs, as the kits weren't yet available.)
Putting 56"s on the front has been done, but requires a bit more fabwork and is more into the custom one-off realm because less folks have done it. Note that the 56"s are asymmetrical (one side is longer to the spring pin than the other) vs the 52"s which are centered, so you have more options of axle placement with the 56"s (and therefore more variance from one guy's rig to the next.)
If you're serious about this, I highly recommend a membership here and you can search through a great many threads, including mine, on this very subject.
Links:
http://coloradok5.com/52inchspringswap.shtml
Bit outdated now that Kert has the B-52 kits for the front mount, but the basics still apply. And spring bushings will always SUCK without a torch.
http://www.diy4x.com/suspension.htm
(see Front Shackle Frame Eye Hanger and B-52)
http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/FUSH.htm
ORD doesn't have a front mount like Kert's B-52 that I know of.
-- A
Haha I can't believe nobody has replied "About 4 inches"
Dremu pretty much hit right on there except the 56's up front are actually less work as you don't have to move the shackle whick is the biggest PITA.
Basiclly the longer springs provide more travel and better flex.
Here is the ultimate thread that contains most of the threads pertaining to 52's and some 56 inch swaps.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148725
Dremu pretty much hit right on there except the 56's up front are actually less work as you don't have to move the shackle whick is the biggest PITA.
Basiclly the longer springs provide more travel and better flex.
Here is the ultimate thread that contains most of the threads pertaining to 52's and some 56 inch swaps.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148725
I'm about to do the 56 inch spring thing to the front. The way I understand it, you either get the B52 kit, OR, just move the front hanger just like in the 52 inch write up. Except for the 56 inch swap, you leave the rear shackle mount for the front springs in the original place, and use at least a 6 inch shackle.
My question that to this day, still remains unanswered is, How many leaves do I need to remove from the 56 inch spring pack to get the maximum articulation or flex? Because that spring pack is huge, and easily stiffer than even a 52 inch spring pack. So, the question remains, how many leaves do I pull out of the 56 inch pack?
My question that to this day, still remains unanswered is, How many leaves do I need to remove from the 56 inch spring pack to get the maximum articulation or flex? Because that spring pack is huge, and easily stiffer than even a 52 inch spring pack. So, the question remains, how many leaves do I pull out of the 56 inch pack?
That question is subjective. It really depends on how soft you can stand the front to be. My 56"ers on front & back have 5 leaves & are very soft. One set is from the rear of a 1/2 ton truck. The other set I took leaves out to make it match the 1/2 ton set.
Krazy, all the info you need is in the previous posts and links. Oh, and get a membership. 
Boondock, how many leaves do your 56" springs have now? I know there are at least three different stock 56" spring packs out there with something like 5-8 leaves depending on the application. I plan to run 5 leaves on my 56's like Boz. There are ways to estimate your spring rate.
Boondock, how many leaves do your 56" springs have now? I know there are at least three different stock 56" spring packs out there with something like 5-8 leaves depending on the application. I plan to run 5 leaves on my 56's like Boz. There are ways to estimate your spring rate.
The 56"s I'm using in the back of my K5 came off my crewcab and had nine or ten leaves.
IIRC I'm using five leaves on each corner (mixed-n-matched set from two pairs of 52"s, and five from the crewcab 56"s.)
-- A
IIRC I'm using five leaves on each corner (mixed-n-matched set from two pairs of 52"s, and five from the crewcab 56"s.)
-- A
My 56's have 9 leaves including the overload.
I am going to shoot for having the 56" springs a little softer than the stock 48" springs with about a 3:2 or 2:1 front to rear stiffness ratio (if that makes any sense ). My math says that my 4 leaf 56" springs are about 250lb/in. My stock fronts are something like 375lb/in, so I think I'll add a leaf to the 56" springs to stiffen them up to about 300lb/in. Then I am going to try and find some 60" springs with a spring rate around 200lb/in for the rear.
). My math says that my 4 leaf 56" springs are about 250lb/in. My stock fronts are something like 375lb/in, so I think I'll add a leaf to the 56" springs to stiffen them up to about 300lb/in. Then I am going to try and find some 60" springs with a spring rate around 200lb/in for the rear.
I guess what I want to hear is from someone who has the 56's up front, and what they have done to their spring packs, and how they work.
They work awesome offroad, but I really need a panhard & a sway bar to control it on the street. It is drivable as is though. Just would be a lot less stressful if it the sway & panhard.
So, do I remove 4 of the intermediate leaves and keep the overload, I want extra cushy!
Dude, just do it already there is no science here. Pick which 4 to 5 leaves you want & run with it. If it is too soft add another to it.
Fair enough. Thats all I wanted was an "there is no science here. Pick which 4 to 5 leaves you want & run with it."
I just wasn't sure after you said you had 5, and some one else said they had 4. You said that it was a little soft for DD. That sounds just right. I'll pull out 4 intermediate leaves, and "run with it". Thanks, M
I just wasn't sure after you said you had 5, and some one else said they had 4. You said that it was a little soft for DD. That sounds just right. I'll pull out 4 intermediate leaves, and "run with it". Thanks, M
My 5 leaves are a little too soft for a DD. Really gonna depend on what your front end wieghs. I am in a K5 w/ a caddy 500, & a 8274 on the front.
Here is a linky to the specs.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232492
Here is a linky to the specs.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232492
krazykawika
Registered Member
you guys are talking about removings leaves to make it softer. do you want the back and front the same or the back harder or softer than the front? it sounds like most of you with the 56" are running with 5 leaves is that all around?
My plan is to run super soft up front, with the 56's and 5 leaves. Then with the shackle flip and reversal in the rear I got a set of 64's, This thing ought to flex like a madman!
The front should generally be stiffer. The front end weighs more so it needs a stiffer spring. Stiffer springs in front also help prevent oversteer on street driven trucks.
I pulled a total of 4 leaves out of the 56 spring packs including the overload. I've forgotten how bad fingers get pinched by them damn loose spring packs when going back together.
Let us know how it rides and flexes when you get it done 
