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86 K10 Front Spring replacement

L

Lawrence0485

1/2 ton status
Joined
Nov 9, 2011
Posts
118
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Location
Arkansas
Hey guys im in need of new front springs. Since the truck is a work/tow/daily rig im going to stick with the stock length springs. I want to use later yr used springs from a salvage yard. What yr range were these springs used? Ideally i want to use some of the very latest springs so that they will have less miles and sag in them. I will rebuild the springs before installing them.

I also plan on doing panard bars on both axles and adding a axle wrap bar on the rear. Ive been told the panhard bars help out a lot for road manners. What are your thoughts, experience with that?

Here is the truck. No lift, just sagging springs and sitting on 33/1250 MT ATZ. Ignore the f-ugly allumimum front bumper..It will be going to the recycling center and be replaced with a steel plate style bumper.
2012-04-17170343.jpg


Here is the past flat springs with a PO installed add a leaf.
2012-04-18172133.jpg
 
Ya I don't know were or for what but the added leaf are weird. I get more suspension from the flex in the tires than the front springs lol
 
Lol ya. Idk what the op was thinking. I haven't had any prob with it other than no give in the front so I haven't messed with them. The whole set is destin for the scrap pile lol
 
Id skip the panhard bars.

They didnt come stock on them, and ive never had problems running at the dunes that I wish i had them.
 
my opinion skip used even if from a 91 last year there still old and wooped.

buy 2" lift springs new and install ( look great then ). also do new shackle /frame bushings . and no major mods with 2" lift like steering arm / shocks / brake lines / driveshafts.

panhards NOT needed for your lift hight and wont fit easy at all.

leave the swap bar on and if doing lift springs even 2" it will be better / stiffer on road.

and traction bar in rear :dunno: no real lift prob not needed also but will help with axle wrap .

always could get new springs tho in stock replacment form. scroll down to truck section http://www.stengelbros.com/GMLeafSprings.htm#Van
 
Well since 91 is the last yr for that spring then I agree on getting new ones. Im seeing 2 leaf 1100lb, 3 leaf 1400lb, and 4 leaf 1900 lbs. My truck has the 3 leaf on it so I think thats what ill put back on it. What is you thought on the spring rates? I plan on putting a new heavy steel plate bumper on it, maybe a winch between the rails and a little later do the LS swap.
 
Need to match the spring rating for the load you are expecting to have on it.

A 3/4 ton truck with no load rides like a dumptruck (IME) because the spring rate is so high, to deal with the *potential* load.

I would ASSume that front spring load doesn't change as drastically as the rear with a payload, and theoretically, knowing what the weight will be over the front axle is the only way to get the right spring.

Better to go too much than too little, but stiff springs ride terrible, and there is nothing you can do to mitigate that, except put a bunch of weight on them.
 
Ya I think im gonna go with the 3leaf 1400lb springs. If needed I could always ad a leaf. I don't wanna over shoot and get the 4leaf and it always ride rough. These trucks weigh a ton a already so I definitely don't wanna add weight to make it ride better.

That being said it came with 3-leafs but im going to add a heavy bumper and winch..maybe a 2nd battery so maybe I should go with the 4-leaf 1900lb springs?
 
always easy to remove a leaf than find and add one. :whistle:

also sometimes cheeper to buy bigger pack and remove one in lots of aplications.

and for rear if smoth ride yet load ability is goal check out firestone ride right air bag kits . BEST bang for the buck hands down :bow: i install a lot of them for people. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fip-2040/overview/make/chevrolet
 
Ok well the 4leaf 1900lb'ers are the way ill go. For the rear I might do bags but I also saw this setup were you basically have a big shim between the main leaf and the over load. I makes the overloads work all the time when your hauling stuff and take them out when your not..

I like the bag idea better though...
 
Ok well i went ahead and ordered new front leafs today. I just replaced them with the 3-leafs that were on it. It will be a bit before i have time to do the heavy bumper and winch so i went ahead and just did the 3-leafs. If i end up needing more spring ill deal with it then. Now ive gotta order the shackle/frame bushings to go with it.

Right now the truck sits fairly level so im betting that the rear springs are sagging aswell. Since the 52'' springs were used way up into the late models i will most likely go get a Later used set and rebuild if needed. Can you tell me or show me were i can find out when they quit using the 52'; spring in the rear of the chevy/gms? Thanks for all the help. Soon ill be riding much more comfortable!!
 
like we said before stop of this body style stoped the springs at the length thay are.

87 truck .

91 blazer/burban/crewcab .

some blazer and 3/4 ton used 56" rear and 1ton is 56" rear .
 
sweetk30 said:
like we said before stop of this body style stoped the springs at the length thay are.

87 truck .

91 blazer/burban/crewcab .

some blazer and 3/4 ton used 56" rear and 1ton is 56" rear .
Click to expand...

Oh well that sucks I thought they went later. Nevermind then lol.
 
Ok well the springs came in. They didnt come with rear bushings, ive got them on the way. I would like to replace the upper shackle bushings at the same time.

Option 1:Replace the whole bushing setup with the hd version like this
http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/FUSH.htm.
Im already have that size bushing and sleeve. Since im a fabricator and have my own cnc plasma, i could build my own. My only hesitation is the tight area were the rivets are will be very hard to cut them off and drill the holes bigger in order to bolt the new ones in. At a glance it looks like the headers are gonna have to come off just to get some room to work.
Anyone have any tips on doing this upgrade with the cab still on the frame?

Option 2: Replace the upper shackle bushings with factory bushings, although the factory bushings are wimpy. I really dont want to go this route, id rather go with option 1.
 
i been good with ord hd shackles and greasable bushings in stock hanger on frame for years in my 1ton on 35" tires and fisher snow plow.

the hd hanger would be great but unless your doing like 52 or 56 " spring swap for crazy flex i dont see need for it.
 
Well if they held up on your 3/4 ton with a plow then they should be fine on my 1/2 ton work truck. Now im having a problem finding replacement bushings much less a greaseable bushing.
 
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