56's - How Many Leafs Are Too Many?

[nvrenuf]

I have some stock 56's that are 9 leaf packs. I know I need to pull some springs from the stack to make them flex but I don't want to make them weak or easy to bend. How many springs would be too many? How many can you keep and still have decent flex?

What do y'all think about 6 + overload?

 

[dremu]

I'm using six, no overload on my '74, and they're flexy enough I worry about kinking them. (Not like it's moving at the moment, never mind wheeling )

Also depends on which you pull; IIRC the lower ones, while shorter in length, are thicker, and I donno which would affect flex vs strength more.

-- A

 

[nvrenuf]

Glad to hear yours are still flexy and not stiff.

I figured I'd pull a couple off of the bottom (short springs), it seems like the long set would be better for spring flex. I was planning on keeping the overload so it could act as a limiter and also benefit from the additional 1/2"~3/4" of lift (from thickness).

 

[rcamacho]

I'm running 7 plus overload and have massive down travel. Up travel is pretty stiff. I'm planning on removing one of the lower leaves (#6) and keeping the overload. The overload is important to keep the springs from going negative and de-arching.

 

[thedrip]

My rear is 4, starting with the main leaf, and going every other from the original pack. Its really soft, and there is almost no weight back there (Trazer with no bed). My front are the same, but with 5 leafs. They're pretty soft too, but I expect almost anything to seem soft with a 6.2 weighing them down.

 

[stockk5]

did you guys move ur axle back 4" with the 56" springs?

 

[dremu]

did you guys move ur axle back 4" with the 56" springs?

I didn't; my (aftermarket, made by a CK5 member) diff cover is decidedly deeper than most, so if I pushed the rear axle back, said cover would become excessively intimate with my gas tank on compression.

-- A

 

[thedrip]

I didn't either. Although my rear 56's are turned backwards, I moved the front hanger ahead about 3 1/2 inches. My rear axle location is dictated by the length of my $470 drive shaft now.

 

[dleroy43]

I had 7 leafs on my burb with the axle 4" back, my blazer has 6 leafs.

 

[4xcrazy]

i added two more leaves to help with the rear sag on my Burb, it helped and firmed up the squishy soft ride it used to have, not harsh and still gives on bumps, but it will still seriously stuff when wheelin.

Of course with that much weight back there, i can kinda understand why .

I'd try to do a serious flex/stuff with a wheel and see how it does, with a stock pack, you might be suprised.