48 3/4 Rear Leaf springs?

[cmexlr8]

I am trying to put in some different leaf springs in my truck because someone pulled all but two leafs out of the ones on my truck. I hate to raise it, but I need to be able to tow with this truck. On to the oddity.

The leaf springs I took off measure 48 3/4 center of eye to center of eye in a straight line with the spring off the truck. That does not match up with any number that I have found searching on here. When the spring is in the truck, the rear hanger is sitting correctly(straight up and down)  with the wheels on the ground at ride height. This came up because I got a set of used springs that have 5 leaves with an overload leaf(6 total leafs). When I put the new spring on, it jacks the truck way up and the rear spring hanger is basically maxed out pushed to the back. I measured the new(used) spring and it is 53 1/2 which matches what I have found on this site. What is going on?

btw this is on an 83 1/2 ton 2wd

[VileZambonie]

What are those springs out of? You can do air over springs if you want to with your existing springs.

[cmexlr8]

What are those springs out of? You can do air over springs if you want to with your existing springs.

The ones I bought are supposed to be out of a 1/2 ton.

I thought about air lift with my existing springs, but I thought the better route was to start with some good springs. I did not thing springs would raise it back up this much. The truck has lowering springs and hangers on it so I thought it would still be lowered. I will take a pic today of how it looks.

[ccz145a]

Many half tons had the 53 1/2" springs, they were a HD option. You just need to get the shorter springs.

BTW, my 75 Silverado c10 and the '84 diesel donor for my cab both had the longer springs.

[cmexlr8]

According to this site:
http://www.generalspringkc.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=45&pg=1

you are supposed to measure with the bend in the spring. If I do that, my springs come out to about 52 inches and the others are 56 inches.

For the 56 inch springs, are the hangers or shackles in a different place than the 52 inch springs?

[ccz145a]

For the 56 inch springs, are the hangers or shackles in a different place than the 52 inch springs?

Yes, the rear hangers are farther back.

**edit**
I have to admit, I have never compared side-by-side the two types. You have them both, where is the dowel on both springs with relation to the front eye. If the dowel is the same distance back from the front hanger, then you are guanteed that rear hanger is what is different.

[cmexlr8]

For the 56 inch springs, are the hangers or shackles in a different place than the 52 inch springs?

Yes, the rear hangers are farther back.

**edit**
I have to admit, I have never compared side-by-side the two types. You have them both, where is the dowel on both springs with relation to the front eye. If the dowel is the same distance back from the front hanger, then you are guanteed that rear hanger is what is different.

The dowel is the same from the front - 26" but it is 4 inches longer from the dowel to the rear spring eye

[ccz145a]

For the 56 inch springs, are the hangers or shackles in a different place than the 52 inch springs?

Yes, the rear hangers are farther back.

**edit**
I have to admit, I have never compared side-by-side the two types. You have them both, where is the dowel on both springs with relation to the front eye. If the dowel is the same distance back from the front hanger, then you are guanteed that rear hanger is what is different.

The dowel is the same from the front - 26" but it is 4 inches longer from the dowel to the rear spring eye

So there you go. I you get the shorter springs I hope you spring supplier will take the longer ones back.

[cmexlr8]

I bought them from an ad in the local trader. He might swap them out for other parts or different springs. He has alot of parts.

I could move my rear hanger mount back couldn't I?

[Captkaos]

There are 2 types of springs for these, with the following measurements: (as indicated correctly by the web link)
52" STD springs (measured across the spring arc) with a 26" measurement from the bolt to rear eye
56" HD springs (measured across the spring arc) with a 30" measurement from the bolt to rear eye

In addition to the differences in the spring length, the HD trucks have the rear hanger moved back accordingly.  The springs you are trying to install in your truck are HD springs, and they CANNOT be installed on your STD suspension setup without moving the rear hanger back.  Basically you got the wrong springs.

You can move the rear hanger back and keep the current springs.

[81Cheyenne]

...You can move the rear hanger back and keep the current springs.

Ok. I've made the same mistake.  I just had the rear end and springs swapped out. I just left the springs bolted up to both rear ends and had them changed out as a unit. The problem is that the new rear end has the longer springs and the shackle is angled backwards. (I would have thought that the mechanic would have caught that and called me before he just bolted it up.) Anyway, I went from a 5 leaf (4+1) to a 9 leaf (8+1) which would have set the truck up higher in the back already. But, with the longer springs, the truck sits like an anteater now!  Looks like the only recourse is to move the hangers and maybe get a longer set of shackles.  So my question here is: How much to move back the hangers and how much work is involved?  Are there already holes pre-drilled in the frame for the longer springs?  What is the easiest way to get the old rivets out? thanks.

[ccz145a]

I am not sure about the exact distance.

The easiest way to remove rivets is with a torch, next easiest is with a grinder.

[Captkaos]

You put HD springs on a STD truck.  The holes are already there, so just move them back.  Of course you are going to have to either grind the rivets or use an air hammer to get them off.  OR you can just put your original springs on.

[81Cheyenne]

So, these are my choices: Either I can burn out the rivets and move the hangers back to keep the heavy springs OR put my old springs back on. I would like to be able to haul a slide-in camper occasionally sometime in the future but I liked the ride of the old springs.  Do you think that putting on my old springs and getting air bags would be a better solution?