How many have trashed 52" front springs?

[TruckNutzDude]

I've had 52's on my rig for about a year now and while I'm very impressed with the flex they seem to lack durability. The pack I'm using has 4 main leaves and the overload, the pack is completely unmodified except for the addition of a zero-rate in the center position and poly bushings. I finally got around to nut and bolting my rig after my last trail run and I noticed my driver side main leaf is all tweaked and that the leaves have gaps between them, this is normally refered to a "W"-ing the springs for you noobs.

My thoughts are to go with either a 56" spring pack with all or most of the leaves including the overload or put my 6" BDS pack back in and play with the mounting of the shackle and front eye to move the axle foreward more than it already it.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Do you have bumpstops?

 

[TruckNutzDude]

Do you have bumpstops?

My bump stops are fully compressed when the main leaf is straight across plus I have a secondairy set of bumps on my shocks that also touch at the same time. That combined with the overload being there has prevented the spring from inverting the entire time I've had the springs on there.

 

[RGV72BLAZER]

The thing with the 52s is that their spring rate is so low, since they were used in the rear of a K5 where there's very little weight compared to the front, then they're going to sag a lot quicker. If you're really concerned about them sagging or tweaking again, I'd just throw the BDS springs back in, since they're made for the weight of a Blazer. This is one of my main concerns for my 52s, I'm scared of being out on the trail and snapping the main leaf in half. When we test flexed it with a cherry picker, the main leaf looked like it wanted to call it a day. I'm thinking about carrying an extra leaf pack around just in case. Just link the front!!

 

[dremu]

Though I've not had a chance to play with mine, I ended up adding a leaf or two from a second set of 52"s I had, making it a five leaf pack. Since they're cheap and plentiful, one option for you would be to do something similar, to boost the spring rate, and maybe do away with your zero-rate as the additional leaf/leaves would give you a bit more lift.

A thought, anyway.

-- A

 

[TruckNutzDude]

I thought the spring rate would be a problem when I initially installed these. I had actually thought the main leaf would snap on more than one occasion. I think 56" springs may be better suited to the weight since they were primarily used in 3/4 and 1 ton rigs (I think some 1/2 ton burbs got 56's IIRC)

The good part about the "stock" length lift springs is the eye to eye distance is short enough where if I left the front spring mount where it is my 44's would only be 1"-2" behind my frame AND I would move my axle about 4"-6" foreward.

It would be nice if I could save someone else the trouble of swapping to these springs and having them only last a year like mine did.

 

[CDA 455]

The thing with the 52s is that their spring rate is so low, since they were used in the rear of a K5 where there's very little weight compared to the front, then they're going to sag a lot quicker. If you're really concerned about them sagging or tweaking again, I'd just throw the BDS springs back in, since they're made for the weight of a Blazer. This is one of my main concerns for my 52s, I'm scared of being out on the trail and snapping the main leaf in half. When we test flexed it with a cherry picker, the main leaf looked like it wanted to call it a day. I'm thinking about carrying an extra leaf pack around just in case. Just link the front!!

Two things:

1) I want to get a set of custom springs made for the front; 52in or 56in.

2) I want to include military wraps for the reasons already mentioned.

 

[TruckNutzDude]

Though I've not had a chance to play with mine, I ended up adding a leaf or two from a second set of 52"s I had, making it a five leaf pack. Since they're cheap and plentiful, one option for you would be to do something similar, to boost the spring rate, and maybe do away with your zero-rate as the additional leaf/leaves would give you a bit more lift.

A thought, anyway.

-- A

Adding leaves is good but my understanding is the main leaf likes to snap, even in rear applications. That is my biggest fear, I don't know if adding leaves adds strength to the main or not. Spring sag just means I'm lower which isn't something I'm afraid of at all.

 

[thedrip]

I turned my 56's front and rear, into W's in one day of mild wheeling. I'm going to try running more leaves, and a traction bar in the back. Might have to do a traction bar up front too.

 

[TruckNutzDude]

I still think I'm going to try stock 56" springs for the front next time, I'll probably keep 5-6 leaves and the overload. I've had really good luck with my 63's (64's whatever ) in the rear for the past 2.5 years without any kind of anti-wrap bar and they only have 3 leaves and an overload. I'd run them up front but they are just a tad too long for my liking.

 

[RGV72BLAZER]

Two things:

1) I want to get a set of custom springs made for the front; 52in or 56in.

2) I want to include military wraps for the reasons already mentioned.

that's what I would do as well, if I had the money





But those millitary wraps do help combat axle wrap significantly. But by the time you break or wear out a custom set of 52s, you'd be on your 4 or 5th set of stock 52s which means less $ and by that time, hopefully you'll have upgraded to a 4 link either way...