Will swapping from 52s to 56s raise the back of my truck?

[Chris in Idaho]

I have a 1986 short bed and I want to put some beefier springs under the back for hauling firewood. (Currently swapping in a 14bff) I have some 56" springs and I'm thinking about moving the shackle hanger back 4" and running them, but sitting on the garage floor they look pretty dang tall. Are the 56" springs going to make the truck sit much higher than the 52s I have now?

 

[sweetk30]

yes as your 56" prob have more leafs than your 52" springs. but it will also make it ride stiffer in the back.


but thats up to you.

 

[Chris in Idaho]

Thanks. I just looked at the springs again and when I set them upside down on the floor the bottom of the spring that mates with the axle perch is 9.5" off the ground. Looking at my truck (I know the weight of the truck is on the springs) the 52's only have about 5.5" from the top of the eye level to the bottom of the pack.
Thinking back I seem to remember seeing two different heights of spring hanger while in the wrecking yard. There were some where the spring eye was just about level with the bottom of the frame and some that hang down quite a ways like mine. I wonder if the flatter light duty 52" springs are used with the taller spring hanger and the beefier, more arched 56" springs are used with the shorter hanger to yield the same ride height?

SweetK30, or anybody with a K30, could you take a picture of your rear spring hanger (front of rear spring) and post it? I'll do the same with my 1/2 ton and we can compare.

Thanks

 

[Chris in Idaho]

I just found this thread, looks like it raised this guy's truck.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212030&highlight=pulling+leaves