76 C-10 Rear Springs

spikesputnik · April 21, 2009

A friend of mine is restoring this truck to be a daily driver, not show or hauler. She just got new shocks all around and it goes alot better over bumps, but the rear is still pretty soft to push down. The original spring stack (looks like 8-10 leafs!) is pretty rusty and cruddy, and the shocks that were on it(broken shafts!) were coil overs, but she just had dampers put in their place. This is an old forrestry service truck, quite fuggly, getting a new cab and front clip next week, stepside and wood to be refurbed too....

So we're thinking either just replace the leaf stack all together or do the add-a-leaf thing. Cost is a concern, a leaf addition is cheaper but seems like a bandaid solution.

Thoughts?? Sources??

Thanks

Mike G · April 22, 2009

Add a leafs will only help when you load the rear, plus it will raise the back of the truck up (if the stack is on the axle), if that matters. You say she had dampers put in place of the coil overs, what are you refering to? On the old farm truck I had, I had some coils that bolted to the axle tube and rested against the frame under teh bed, maybe you can look for something like that. Otherwise, crack open the phone book for a axle shop in your area, some guys also really like the Eaton Springs website.

--Mike

spikesputnik · April 22, 2009

Mike- I may not have used the right term. The shocks she had on it were just like a motorcycles- a coil spring surrounding the shock body, as opposed to just a shock- a damper without any spring.

My only thought is that the forrestry added theses "coil over" shocks for added load capacity? Either way, they were deader than dead and her rear end is too soft (not literally though....;) ) I'm thinking that the 33 year old leafs are shot, just not broken in half, yet.

Zembonez · April 22, 2009

If they used the truck to haul heavy stuff in for all of those years, the springs may be done for. Add-a-leaf systems suck though. They don't last very long before they sag and fail because the new leaf is basically doing all of the work. I've seen them used many times as a cheap way on Jeeps and they suck.

What about picking up a pair of used leaf springs in a bone yard? That can't be to expensive and many trucks were used as cars... so the springs are probably still fine.

grampadirt · April 22, 2009

In the topic it says you/your friend has a C-10,yet you say there are 8-10 leafs.If there are 8-10 leafs it's gotta be a C-20(or 3/4 tn.) truck.I have a '77 3/4 t. truck with 8 leafs.A C-10 is a 1/2 t. truck and prolly should have 4-5 leafs.Can you enlighten us on which one he has? Pics would be nice.

ZZ327 · April 23, 2009

you might be able to get a new set pretty cheap at LMCtruck.com Lets see some PICS!

spikesputnik · April 23, 2009

thanks Jim- bone yard is where the whole thing should be, but she has sentimental attachments... we may just do that though and shop around there.

Gramps- OK, I may have overestimated the # of leafs. I'll know tomorrow for sure; I just know it was a big stack compared to my 09's 2or 3!! What was soo surprising was just how wimpy the stack of thin leafs really were when doing the "jump on the bumper " test!! I mean, before the new shocks, it felt like bouncing on a trampoline!

Karl- OMG, this truck's so fuggly it might break the camera lens, but I'll do it. I've had my 09 for almost a month now and am just now getting around to its pics too.... We're certianly the "odd non-couple" truck wise.

Funny thing is, she and her X had a racey 350 motor built for about $4K a couple of years ago and dropped it in, that's where the project stopped. Sounds good, goes straight good, but thats about all that is good. That and the new shocks!

In a male kids hands this thing would be downright dangerous, but she's pretty level headed and has had a couple of bad crashes in the past.

grampadirt · April 23, 2009

Many years ago Chevy had a regular 1/2t. & a heavy duty 1/2t. The regular 1/2t. was only good for hauling a few sheets of drywall or plywood and some paint.Their springs weren't all that strong.Like Jim says,you might find a 1/2t. in good shape and decent springs...and it's not too hard to change the whole spring pack.An air compressor and air tools make the job way easy.BTW what color is it? My son totaled my '77 and has some parts you might be able to use if you can't find 'em where you live...

spikesputnik · April 23, 2009

Well upon this mornings inspection, it does have 8 leafs, so I guess it's a C-20? We have a LMC catalog- handy book. I guess my current thinking is- would a 5 leaf pack be ok for a non-hauler or would I be opening a can of worms? The U bolts are rusty crusty and would probably need replacement too so she may just get shorter ones to fit 5 leafs.

Grandpadirt- it's forrestry green, but really more rust. Shes planning on scrapping the cab as it has alot of "ventilation", but the bed has potential, with new wood.

Mike G · April 23, 2009

Mike- I may not have used the right term. The shocks she had on it were just like a motorcycles- a coil spring surrounding the shock body, as opposed to just a shock- a damper without any spring.

Coil-overs vs. shocks, that works... How many lug bolts on them wheels she has? I would look to getting some new springs (LMC, Eaton Spring, JC Whitney) if that truck is going to be around a while. You could also encounter problems when you start hooking a hot motor to the ground via the tires if what keeps your axle straight is soft...

--Mike

spikesputnik · April 23, 2009

5 lugs. So do y'all think a 8 leaf, 5 bolt C series would be one of the aforementioned HD 1/2 tons???

Zembonez · April 23, 2009

5 lugs. So do y'all think a 8 leaf, 5 bolt C series would be one of the aforementioned HD 1/2 tons???

It's also possible that the previous owner upgraded leaf springs. Those govt agencies do some odd stuff.

ZZ327 · April 23, 2009

5 lugs. So do y'all think a 8 leaf, 5 bolt C series would be one of the aforementioned HD 1/2 tons???

It's also possible that the previous owner upgraded leaf springs. Those govt agencies do some odd stuff.

its could be one of the old HEAVY HALF pickups. I dont get how they used to rate them. Ive even seen some of the 88-98 bodystyles as a 2500 3/4 ton emblems with 5 lug rims.

http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/73-87specs.html

If the 4th digit of the vin# is a 4 then its a heavy half or Big 10

grampadirt · April 24, 2009

5 lugs. So do y'all think a 8 leaf, 5 bolt C series would be one of the aforementioned HD 1/2 tons???

It's also possible that the previous owner upgraded leaf springs. Those govt agencies do some odd stuff.

I agree with Jim,they prolly added leafs.Being 5 lugs it must've started life as a 1/2t. I can't remember seeing a 3/4t. with 5.GM did make light duty 3/4t. trucks with 6 lugs.Where I retired from had a couple with 6 lugs.LMC has a seat upholstery(not covers) that come with new hog rings and pliers.They also have new molded carpet.I bought both and installed 'em.Very good quality..I'll post pics later today after I go to where I store my toys.