Spring Pads Breaking

MemphisDoug · August 24, 2005

I am having problems with the plastic pads installed on the front and back of the bottem leaf spring breaking whenever I tow my 5th wheel camper. With 34,000 miles on the truck, I have broken and replaced 5 of them so far. When it breaks and falls out, then the bottom leaf starts clanking on the one above it. Like I said, the breakage only occurs when towing my trailer and the bottom leaf is getting a workout. I am nowhere near overloaded. Have any of you had this same problem and what did you do to fix it?

JRKRACE · August 25, 2005

Try www.gmdieseltech.com for some leaf spring isolators. They replace the plastic pads with rubber rings that stay put. I just got mine and have yet to put them on. They also quiet the springs down a bit. Well worth the price.

firstruck · August 29, 2005

I replaced my missing/broken ones with a $1.89 part from sears hardware. They are 1-1/2" to 2" pvc pipe reducers(they are made of a tough rubbery stuff) Look for them in the pvc pipe dept. They work great, fit snug around the helper spring and seem to be lasting just fine thank you!

kosb · August 30, 2005

I had the same problem 3 years ago when my truck was still under warranty. I took it in and they put on rubber isolators that slip on over the spring ends. The best part is that they did it under warranty and now with about 70k since then I havent had any problems with them.

chevyman62 · September 3, 2005

I had that problem with my 2001 Chevy 2500 HD it was under warranty and got them fixed. Since then I've had a 2003 2500HD no problems there and now a 2005 2500HD with no problems so far. By the looks of the vehicles you guys have it was a 2001 problem and it seems the years after them they've had no problems.