Rear Helper Spring Questions

scottmoyer · April 1, 2008

Last year I raised the front end of my truck to level it out and it seems to be good. This weekend, I loaded my truck with very wet lumber and noticed that it was sagging a little. I've heard people comment on how helper springs were the best $25 spent on their trucks. I went to Autozone and found a set of Superior Auto helper springs. I need to know if these are a "you get what you pay for" deal as they were inexpensive compared to other options. I also read on another forum that the owner had issues with these squeaking and how they moved because he couldn't tighten them enough. Is this accurate? What's the consensus on these? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

optimus_prime0787 · April 1, 2008

well i just ordered a set of hellwig ez-991 today from summit. $90 and they should be here in a couple days. also i will be towing a 6,000 lb car and trailer this weekend so i will let you know how they work out. im kind of anxious to get them in because i get ragged on by how much my "shitty shivy" squats under a load. i know my truck was built more for riding that hauling (1/2 ton), but i would still like to put more than 500 lb tongue weight on it without it being level with the front.

according to hellwig the ones i have will put the truck level at 1200 lbs of load (which is more than the 1/2 ton rating). ill post pics up on friday of the truck and trailer hooked up with before and after pics hopefully and let you know how it goes.

FYI hellwig also makes a 550 lb one i believe that is like $55...its a little cheaper but it is only half the leaf spring (not the whole like the 990)..hope this helps

jjrobo · April 1, 2008

I have been picking up 3/4 yard of crushed limestone for my driveway in my truck every time I go to town. It weighs about 1800 to 2000, and it makes it squat pretty good. The rubber bumpers are about 1.5-2" from touching the axle. I bought the same overloads as you have pictured about two weeks ago. I've been working out of town since I installed them, but will get to try them out in a month or two when I get home.

Hopefully someone else can help you out before I get to test them.

optimus_prime0787 · April 1, 2008

I have been picking up 3/4 yard of crushed limestone for my driveway in my truck every time I go to town. It weighs about 1800 to 2000, and it makes it squat pretty good. The rubber bumpers are about 1.5-2" from touching the axle. I bought the same overloads as you have pictured about two weeks ago. I've been working out of town since I installed them, but will get to try them out in a month or two when I get home.

Hopefully someone else can help you out before I get to test them.

man thats a good load on it...that is the 3/4 ton right??

also what are those springs rated to hold (the ones i ordered make the truck level at 1200 lbs like i said before)

jjrobo · April 1, 2008

I should have stated that it is my 1500. It's about a 20 mile trip. Not a lot different than a full load of fire wood. I take it slow and easy.

I have ~1500lbs of equipment under the cap of my 2500 (work truck) every day and the original springs are wore out. I've blown 2 sets of bags. Then I installed add-a-leafs back in November and now you cannot even tell I added them. That is an extreme case. It gets the crap beat out of it all day every day all over the US of A.

I should have mentioned that I would suggest airbags. They work great and easily last for a couple hundred thousand miles. Because of my work I'm an extreme case and they didn't work for me. I will be installing them on my 1500 later this year, the helpers are just a quick fix for right now.

optimus_prime0787 · April 1, 2008

man...that seems like a lot for a 1/2 ton...but i use to beat the hell out of my old '81 silverado (8' logs stacked up over the cab with a 16' trailer hooked on loaded down as well)...i thought when i took off pulling it that it was bad...then i came to a stop sign