Lower by leaf removal, which ones?

Southern64 · Post by **Southern64** » January 10, 2011, 9:46 pm

I am sure this has been discussed on here but I could not find in a search. Since I put the new shocks on the front of my truck it is bulldoggin bad. Which leafs can I remove to take her down a few inches without causing too much trouble?

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » January 10, 2011, 10:01 pm

Take the one out that has the eyes in it. Replace it with re-arced springs.

(Sorry, not a fan of the method or cutting coils)

tray · Post by **tray** » January 10, 2011, 10:23 pm

My leafpack had 9 leafs I took out the 3 small leafs. I dont haul with my truck so not really worried about that. The ride is alittlle soft but handles alot better.

Post by **foodstick** » January 10, 2011, 11:24 pm

This post had me puzzled at first, I kept looking at the title and wondering how RAKING the dang yard was gonna lower his truck !

tray · Post by **tray** » January 11, 2011, 2:33 am

Sorry southern64 guess I should have read your whole post. Your talking about the front and I stupid and talking about rear springs.

Southern64 · Post by **Southern64** » January 11, 2011, 10:43 pm

No worries, so does anyone on here Take out leaf springs to lower their trucks??

jkimbrel65 · Post by **jkimbrel65** » January 11, 2011, 10:55 pm

I run 5 leafs on the rear of my uni.

Mike

LRS30 · Post by **LRS30** » January 12, 2011, 5:05 pm

I removed every other after the first main 2 so far no problem with bump steer, or soft ride. . Looks real good and has not bottomed out yet. I did the flip, and when I put everythiung back the drag link was resting on the oil pan...not good.. So i went back to the original way and did the remove a leaf method.. I still have to do the rear....I will try to post pics.. Ryan

Southern64 · Post by **Southern64** » January 13, 2011, 10:43 pm

Sweet thanks, I will try that.

Post by **Greg D** » January 14, 2011, 8:03 pm

The suspension is pretty soft this way - you won't be hauling anything. I removed every other leaf starting just below the main. DO NOT take out the the little S shaped leaf - this one keeps your spring from getting stuck in a dearch and softens a bottom out.
Over all it didn't drive bad like this - I now have monos on the front and they are better and worth the $ IMHO.

Stock height;

[albumimg]2260[/albumimg]

With 3 leaves removed;

[albumimg]2815[/albumimg]

[albumimg]2814[/albumimg]

It was quite abit higher even though it doesn't look lowered much with those tires.

[albumimg]2374[/albumimg]

[albumimg]2375[/albumimg]

This is before the monos;
225x60x15s on 15x7" front
275x60x15s on 15x8" rear

Post by **Greg D** » January 14, 2011, 9:39 pm

One other note;
I would not use this for a permanent solution to lowering a truck.

Southern64 · Post by **Southern64** » February 3, 2011, 8:04 pm

thanks for the pics Greg D, going to try it for temp as I am low on cash. Having brain fart, how do you unbolt the the bolt that goes through the middle of all the leafs, can you just unbolt the front shackle to take out the leafs, and did you use your stock length u bolts? thanks

Post by **Greg D** » February 3, 2011, 8:29 pm

You have to of course drop the axle off the spring. The bottom of the "bolt" is simply a rounded head - nut on the top. Grab it with a pair of vise grips and take off the nut.
After you remove some leafs the "bolt" will be too long. My solution to this was to go to the hardware store and get a stainless alan-head bolt & nut to replace it of the new correct length. Think it was a 5/16s or 3/8s. I used a drift in the hole and a C clamp to hold the pack together to install the new alignment pin (bolt). Take your time and be careful - there is alot of pressure on these as you are clamping them back together.

Rusty 63 · Post by **Rusty 63** » February 4, 2011, 5:59 pm

I'm just thinking out loud here, and someone chime in & tell me I'm an idiot if you know better.

Is it possible to invert a spring pack?

Take the whole pack apart, turn all the leaves upside down, then restack them in the same order - so the smallest spring would still be against the axle.

In my twisted little mind, it seems like that would get you a good drop without loosing the benefit of the load carrying capacity of any of the leaves...

Post by **Greg D** » February 4, 2011, 8:18 pm

The center of the spring would likely hit the bump stop before you got all the shackle bolts back in. If you take a spring and have the eyes reversed they basically just rearch your spring in the opposite direction.

Rusty 63 · Post by **Rusty 63** » February 5, 2011, 7:44 am

The bumpstop would need to go away for a c-notch anyway, right?

It did for my monos.

Post by **Greg D** » February 5, 2011, 11:38 pm

I left the bumpstop in place with my monos.

Rusty 63 · Post by **Rusty 63** » February 6, 2011, 7:56 am

My mono's put me right on the bumpstops...

But then I think I got the reversed eye mono's?

LRS30 · Post by **LRS30** » February 6, 2011, 2:42 pm

where did you guys get your mono's from?

Post by **Greg D** » February 6, 2011, 3:50 pm

I have the reverse eye monos too, F 250 shackles (they are thicker), all new bushings - I am 1.5" off the bumpstops with a 5.0 & T-5 under the hood. It may settle to 1 1/4" after everything is back together.
I got mine used but near new from another member who thought them too low. Tom @ Flashbacks is about the best place to get them;

http://flashbackf100s.com/