Home made zero rate add-a-leaf?

[jk3078]

So what do you guys think about cutting down an old heavy duty overload and useing it like a zero rate add-a-leaf? I cant see any reason in my head why it wont work, and should be good for 3/4-1'' of lift at all for corners depending on the leaf used. Longer center pins will be needed but the're cheap. I know ORD's are cool with the 1.5 of set and all that but I'm a cheap bastard (broke!) and have lots of springs laying around. Thanks

 

[79k20350]

there are quite a few guys that cut down overload for zero rates and it works fin for them

 

[jk3078]

Ya I bet an idea like this is what got ORD's product going in the first place.

 

[AllamericanK5]

I did it on the rear works great. I notice that the 1/2 are good for about 1/2 or 3/4 cant rember but i know the 3/4 springs are good for a full inch

 

[stockk5]

i did that for my front! just from a half ton spring though i only got like 3/4" lift if that.

 

[jk3078]

I know a guy here in town who runs a truck shop and has lots of old springs laying around so I'm going to dig around and see if I can find somthing in the .75-1.25'' range. As far as that goes I wonder if regular 1x2 steel strap would work or if the steel is to soft? Any way .75-1'' lift would deff. help fit those new meats. 38.5x15's on 10'' wheels with 2.75'' bs is a bit tight with 5''s lift even with the fenders cut all the way to the floor boards!

 

[ryan22re]

i used 1"x3"x12" 1018 cold roll.

bought it for 12.58 from online metals.

cut it in half, drilled two holes. shaved the end down.

two center pin bolts were $4.

 

[rdn2blazer]

i cut my overloads, made them the same length as the spring pearch them benched a radius on the saw cut edges. worked great. you will get more axle wrap when you go that route though. should do some kind of anti wrap bar setup.

 

[ZooMad75]

The previous owner of my K5 did that in the rear. Except he used 4 1/2" thick cut down leafs. Had my pinion point down so far it would chew up a u-joint in 6 months of intermittant driving. At least they used one long spring bolt to tie it all together.

I'd say 1 thick one is ok, but stacking a bunch is not a good idea.