leaf spring help

[Mcgwirejh]

i have 1997 chevy z71 how many leaf springs should i have

[thohill]

Originally Posted by Mcgwirejh

i have 1997 chevy z71 how many leaf springs should i have

4 I think. I have a 94 Z71, it had 4. i swapped to a 5 leaf setup.

[loudnlifted88]

3 springs a a main over load heres mine with a AAL and a 1 ton overload

[Mcgwirejh]

my truck has 4 leafs springs and 1 overload so someone added leaf to my truck then

[thohill]

Originally Posted by Mcgwirejh

my truck has 4 leafs springs and 1 overload so someone added leaf to my truck then

Or just put on a set of light duty 3/4 ton springs. Thats what I did.

[Mcgwirejh]

3/4 springs will fit on a 1/2 ton truck

[thohill]

Originally Posted by Mcgwirejh

3/4 springs will fit on a 1/2 ton truck

yep!

[Mcgwirejh]

ok then i know what they did the cause my z71 has 14 bolt rear end with 5 leaf springs in it they must took the hole thing out of a 3/4 truck stuck it under my truck

[Mcgwirejh]

so is this 4 or 5 leaf springs then

[thohill]

Originally Posted by Mcgwirejh

so is this 4 or 5 leaf springs then

I call that a 5 leaf set, But technically it is a 4+1, meaning 4 main leaves and 1 overload leaf. But yes, those are the exact same springs that I have on my 94 Z71 ECSB. From my understanding they are light duty 3/4 ton springs. the 14 bolt rear end you have certainly would support your theory.

Springs available for these trucks-
4 leaf (3+1)
5 leaf (4+1)
6 leaf (5+1)
8 leaf (7+1)

[Mcgwirejh]

yeah cause i have friends that has 1998 z71 1/2 ton he has 3 leafs and 1 overload so i can carry more weight then him does that make my truck little higher in the back end with the extra leaf and healper spring

[thohill]

Yeah, It does raise the truck an extra half inch if not a little higher. And you can carry more weight, but remember that your brakes are still just regular 1/2 ton brakes, so dont go overboard carrying really heavy stuff. thats why 1 ton trucks have hydraulically boosted brakes with really big drums and rotors and calipers.

Heres a handy chart that shows the thicknesses of the different spring packs and the capacities of each. http://www.generalspringkc.com/index...parent=15&pg=1

[Mcgwirejh]

yeah i dont carry anything thinknig about buying new torsion bar key for the frotn to make the frotn level with the back but i dotn know how many inches would make it level

[Mcgwirejh]

i know what the person did now before i bought the truck from him they took 3/4 14 bolt rear end and the springs from it stuck it under this half ton z71 shows the rear end came out of 92 3/4 would u happend to know if i would have posi with 3.73 whats the gear ratio they had for 3/4 92 model

[thohill]

http://www.gmt400.com/forum/showthre...orsion+bar+key

I dunno how great an idea that is, it tends to really wreck ball joints and make the bars sag pretty fast. The proper way to lift the front is to replace the bars, but personally I wouldnt even bother with it. the trucks came stock little higher in back than in front, why not leave it be?

[thohill]

Originally Posted by Mcgwirejh

i know what the person did now before i bought the truck from him they took 3/4 14 bolt rear end and the springs from it stuck it under this half ton z71 shows the rear end came out of 92 3/4 would u happend to know if i would have posi with 3.73 whats the gear ratio they had for 3/4 92 model

They came with a couple ratios, so no way for me to tell. all that info should be on a tag on the differential.

[Mcgwirejh]

i looked for the tag on the differential could not find it where would it be

[bloertcher]

Some 1/2 ton Z71 trucks came factory with a 14 bolt.

[thohill]

Originally Posted by Mcgwirejh

i looked for the tag on the differential could not find it where would it be

Im actually not sure.

[bwood]

Originally Posted by bloertcher

Some 1/2 ton Z71 trucks came factory with a 14 bolt.

A guy I worked with had a 96 like this. It was badged as a 1500 Z71, but the door sticker showed a higher GVW than a 97 Z71 1/2 ton. It had the 14 bolt and a 4L80E. The frame also seemed to show more from under the body than the 1/2 ton version. He ordered it this way, he also had a 91 8 lug 2500 that supposedly had 1 ton GVW, he special ordered this one too.

[Mcgwirejh]

sounds bad ass my truck is 1997 z71 says z71 in the glove box in the rpo codes on the door jam it says gvw 6200lbs the guy i bought it from i think just changed the rear end and the springs out in the back cuase it has 14bolt rear end under it with 5 leafs springs and helper spring