CK5
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Time to build a suspension... (looking for input on springs)

I seem to recall there being a spring rate chart here of the most popular springs for our rigs...maybe I'm wrong?
 
Iirc the tuff country EZ rides are around 295, the heavy duty are 350ish. From there most are in the high 400 to low 500 and rough country's are above 600
 
I seem to recall there being a spring rate chart here of the most popular springs for our rigs...maybe I'm wrong?
I made one for bds a long time ago but there was one for the other brands.. not sure if that's even true anymore. I'd be willing to call all these companies if you guys were truly interested and get as much info as possible..
 
I made one for bds a long time ago but there was one for the other brands.. not sure if that's even true anymore. I'd be willing to call all these companies if you guys were truly interested and get as much info as possible..


Yes do it. I'll be waiting.
 
Iirc the tuff country EZ rides are around 295, the heavy duty are 350ish. From there most are in the high 400 to low 500 and rough country's are above 600

Any idea where to find such information for various stock springs?

It would be good to have a baseline for comparison.
 
The manufacturers don't really want you to know.

If a new comparison chart goes up, be sure to include stock spring rates. Because stock is a good frame of reference and a good bit softer than any (leaf square body) lift kit. If we were talking about trucks built in the last 10 years, the aftermarket would compete for a better performing product. But what they sell is the same thing they sold 30 years ago.
 
Comparing "advertised" spring rates with leaf springs doesn't get you what you want.

The problem is that there aren't any rules or conventions.

Leaf springs are typically progressive by nature (i.e. they get stiffer the more they compress). Is the rate measured from the 1st inch of compression from free arch? Or from the 1st inch of compression from ride height? Those numbers are quite different.

Is the rate calculated or measured? Is it performed on bare springs? Painted springs? What was done for shackle angle? (that has an influence in the spring rate too).
 
I asked this question once to a couple lift companies. The most common answer I got is the spring is fixtured, they compress it one inch take the psi and convert it to lbs per inch. Hence one inch. That is a production spring.

I talked to a local guy who had been building heavy duty springs for years and he said that at least in the heavy duty industry that is how it's done


I agree to some extent but generally speaking ( not just in Chevy's but speaking exclusively about leafs) if a manufacturer publishes a softer spring rate it holds true.

In the context of this conversation the published spring rates in my mind are useful.
 
Load rate vs spring rate I think is what @1977k5 is talking about, which leads to a large variance.
I still vote for the 3 inch radius springs. Those work really well:flipoff7:
 

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