Removing Leafs on flipped axle

[reggiev]

Hey all, looking for some insight, maybe someone has done this.
I'm running a flip kit, notch and shackles in the rear with a 7 leaf pack, (longbox)
and it's super bouncy and rough. In my old s10 I had the same issue and once I removed two leafs it was much smoother.
Now my question is, if I remove 3 leafs from each pack, the truck should raise up the amount of the thickness of those three leafs, yet the truck will go lower at the same time. I'm basically trying to keep the ride height the same but smoother. Anyone care to chime in?

 

[J Knight]

Do you have shock extenders or drop shocks? Removing 3 leafs will not raise the truck the thickness of the 3 leafs, it will only lower the truck equal to the amount of spring resistance within the removed leafs. I would remove 2 leafs then test drive it. You most likely have the heavy duty 56in leaf springs, you can get some 52in 4 pack leaf springs and move your rear hangers forward 4in to the next set of mounting hole.

 

[reggiev]

Do you have shock extenders or drop shocks? Removing 3 leafs will not raise the truck the thickness of the 3 leafs, it will only lower the truck equal to the amount of spring resistance within the removed leafs. I would remove 2 leafs then test drive it. You most likely have the heavy duty 56in leaf springs, you can get some 52in 4 pack leaf springs and move your rear hangers forward 4in to the next set of mounting hole.

I do have the 56 in leafs. And belltech drop shocks. I was hoping to get away with just removing leafs for now as I'll probably be scrapping the leaf rear end by next winter anyways. Maybe if I remove 2-3 leafs and it changes the ride height I could compensate at the shackles. I'm not really too excited about pulling leaf springs in the winter at the wreckers haha.

 

[bucket]

Just pull the first and third short leaves and see how you like it. Removing short ones should help soften it without changing the ride height too much.

 

[chevyk10]

The shorter leaves actually carry more weight and the longer the leaf the better the ride. It really depends on what kind of shape the overall spring is in. I used to leave the main and 2nd leaf, remove the third and 5th leaf. It's much better to stagger the lengths you remove. If it drops it to low you can certainly raise your shackle. You can take the springs off (which I know you do not want to do) and have the spring arched but it won't last long. There is no exact science to make these adjustments. I would not go to the shorter spring because that will hurt your ride. A cheap way to get what you want is to go down to a 3 or 4 leaf spring with the overload left. (overload is the thick tapered one on the bottom) and then go with some simple 2500lb airbag kit and it will ride and handle great without compromising your height. You can adjust the height by how you mount the bags. These air bags are very tough and dependable for pretty cheap. Just an idea from a former suspension specialist.

 

[reggiev]

Here's a pic of the truck for reference. I'd like to stay as close as I can to this ride height

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[reggiev]

Or if anything go around a half inch higher, a little forward rake never looks terrible. At the moment it's totally level

 

[J Knight]

Great lookin truck.

 

[bucket]

It would be a lot of work, but you could remove leaves and install a set of 4x4 hangers, should make for good ride and the height you are looking for.

 

[reggiev]

Great lookin truck.

Thanks! Going through some great and much needed changes right now.