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More spring for my 1/2 ton

HMB1500

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HMB1500 Enthusiast

HMB1500

Posted
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I just finished swaping in 3/4 ton leafs on my 1/2 ton and what a difference it made in handling and appearence. There isn't as much body roll as there was before and the famous GM clunk that happens from axle wrap is gone completely! As the truck sits now i have a leveling kit on it, i knew before hand that the springs provide 2'' lift over the 1/2 ton springs so i decided to keep the lift blocks that were there initially there which gives the truck a nice factory looking rake and more clearence overall. I could have left the blocks out and it would sit level but i don't mind the look so i went with it. I highly recommend this swap to anyone who doesn't want put a lift kit on there truck. i'll post pics of it tommarow

Easytide Enthusiast

Easytide

Posted
Posted

I did exactly that last weekend on mine as well.....cranked the bars up an inch in the frt and wow,,,,,whatta sweet ridng/handling truck. I was amazed the ride wasnt nearly as harsh as i thought it would be .In fact it,s just a nice.crisp tighter handling truck. Taking it in tomorrow for caster/camber correction as it did get thrown off a tad

HMB1500 Enthusiast

HMB1500

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I've already put 100mi on it so far and noticed that i could high speed turns faster by about 5-7 mph faster without the body rolling around like a damn boat. I re-torqued the hardware today and the u-bolts needed some love, but everything else was tight as when I put it in. I'll re-torque it again after a few hundred miles.

 

Hey Easytide have you noticed any kind of chatter or noise from the leafs since you installed them?

Easytide Enthusiast

Easytide

Posted
Posted

no chatter at all...but i,m carrying maybe 8-900 lbs of tools....but the clunk is gone and the truck runs like no load on it all...I did install the alum spacers betweeen all the leaves though.

HMB1500 Enthusiast

HMB1500

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I have a tool box in the back but it probably only has 100 pounds of tools so not much wieght at all. The leafs will settle i'm sure and not do it, but if it doesn't i can live with. Anything is better than those crappy leafs that were on there before.

Easytide Enthusiast

Easytide

Posted
Posted

Just a kwik update....got the frt end aligned,,,truck handled beautifully....but i had this 1 1/8 sway bar i,d already bought,,,,so,,,,hadda install it,,,wish i,d done this whole procedure many moons ago,,,the truck rides and handles fantasticly tight now. Cornering is just about absolutely flat and the road "feel" rivals some of the better cars i,ve driven,including my Devile with e/suspension.She,s an old truck (2000) but what an absolute new lease on ride.....

  • 5 months later...
Vinman New Member

Vinman

Posted
Posted

Hi guys, new to the site and am in the process of resoring my '88 GMC K1500. The best place to acquire 3/4 ton springs and aluminum inserts that Easytide mentioned? Also I have never played with an IFS before. Is "cranking up the torsion bars" simple and straightforward? Thank you very much for any assistance you can provide.

Easytide Enthusiast

Easytide

Posted
Posted

I cheated, went to the boneyard (several) and scouted up 2500 springs from low mileage wreck. As far as "cranking" up the "T" bars,,it,s very easy to do. i,d soak the adjuster bolts with w-d 40 for 1/2 hr befor hand though. One caveat, cranking up the bars will change spring "rate" as it puts more tension on the bar. It also CAN bottom out the botl befor you reach the desired height, depending on how worn the bars are, I cranked mine orginaly, then went the the Daystar torsion keys, The truck leveled allot easier and I have a bit of range left in the bolts.

Vinman New Member

Vinman

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the info, I appreciate the help. Is it safe to assume that the aluminum inserts you mentioned are going to be included in the spring packs?

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