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School me on the advantages of longer leaf springs...

Russell

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As some of you may know, I have a little ol' Diesel Tahoe. It currently has a set of clapped out, worn out, half broken and W shaped 54" leaf springs that it rolled off the showroom floor with over 320k ago. To make things even better I went ahead and did a shackle reversal then added some 4" blocks to even things out.

Now, why would it make sense for me to cut my spring mounts off the frame, slide the front ones forwards and build a new rear mount that doubles as a body mount to install 64" leaf springs custom made by Deaver vs just having a set of 54" lift leaf springs made up that bolt directly into place?

Either way I will have some very good internal bypass remote resi shocks to control the movement of things out back. My truck is used for probably 60% wheeling in snow a relatively slow speeds (except for the odd high speed run through some snow whoops when the situation presents itself). Another 30% of it is on the street. And the last 10% is driving way too fast and barely on the edge of control in the desert down at the King of the Hammers.

Would I be just as well to run a set of 54"s? Either way the truck will have springs custom made for my weight and arched for the needed height with a shackle reversal and no block. I will be installing a traction bar to prevent axle wrap and a sway bar with a pneumatic disconnect to control the body roll as much as possible.
 
I believe one reason is a longer leaf will provide a softer ride because it has less of an arch.
 
If your getting custom I'd get ones that work with the mounts you have and you don't need to move stuff around.



If your not gonna bolt leafs in, and you need to fabricate.... Link it.
 
More flex, and like was mentioned less of an arch. But why not run 56s and they are easily available and probably just have to scoot the rear shackles back an inch or so and not mess with the front mounts and changing the body mounts around? Might be the simple all around solution.
 
I'm not sure "less arch" is accurate. Same arch over a greater span. Less arch would mean less height.

To answer the question, "Why would it make sense for me to cut my spring mounts off the frame, slide the front ones forwards and build a new rear mount that doubles as a body mount to install 64" leaf springs custom made by Deaver vs just having a set of 54" lift leaf springs made up that bolt directly into place?"

I don't think it makes any sense. A 4" lifted set of 54's can flex.
 
I think he is most concerned about wheel travel and longevity vs flex. Even though flex is wheel travel.:screwy:

I can see what you mean, I'm in the same situation. Having the front linked and the rear leafs like you do. Only difference is I got a dump truck pack...
 
Link the back and be done, ya know that is the direction you want to go anyway.

Do coils if you dont want to spent the money on Kings yet.
 
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