72 C10 with Leaf Springs?

[oldzkool]

What do you guys think. Is this factory? I thought all 72 C10's had coils in the rear. What would it take to swap over to a coil spring rear with trailing arms?

[flashed]

I believe it could be ordered with leaf springs ,why would you want to go to coils ? I would think leaf springs would ride and haul better than coils but not 100% sure on that.

[oldzkool]

In the event that I wanted to lower the truck's ride height. Coil springs are much cheaper than leafs. I am trying to find out what would be involved to do the swap and if it's worth the effort to save money.

[Devil Pup]

Some came with leaf. If you did want to change over to a coil rear end, First check under your truck cause in my case "leaf spring rear" also had a trailing arm cross member on the frame as well. so then you just need the brackets to attach the trailing arms, a set of arms and the saddles for the rear end plus shock mounts, and a pan hard bar. And you would be pretty much good to go.

[snacks]

if your concerned about cost to lower it, a swap would cost way more then a 100 dollar flip kit

[flashed]

Now I understand why you want to switch to coils ,you got any more pics of the whole truck ? Would love to see more of it.

[GASoline71]

Most Chevy's were factory coils unless ordered with leaf springs. Unless it is a $X$ then it has leaf springs no matter what.

My '72 GMC has leaf springs and I lowered it roughly 3" in the rear with a 2.5" drop shackles and removing the overload spring. Rides just fine.

Gary

[oldzkool]

When lowering with shackles or a flip kit, what keeps the axle tube from bottoming out on the frame rails. BTW... thanks for all the replies. Flashed here is link to the pics: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519596

[burb71]

Chevy trucks came standard with coil springs, leaf was an option.

GMC came standard with leaf springs, coil was an option.

[flashed]

Thanks for the link ,it looks pretty solid ,much moreso than what I started with .I like it .Good luck with it.

[71meangreenc10]

Me,
Id take coils anyday over leafs, if the truck is right, coils ride 1000% smoother than leaf springs....My opinion.....

The frame if it was a leaf will have the dimples put in where the hanger brackets are mounted, coil frames are flat down the back fram rails. That is what I have seen.

Smitty

[slow72]

I just finished the swap from leafs to coils with trailing arms yesterday. The coils ride much smoother stock for stock, at least on my truck. I lowered it ~5 inches with a flip kit and somehow the ride got worse. Now it's lowered with 3 inch springs (waiting on 1.5 inch blocks) and the ride is night and day better.

You will need the trailing arms, two cross members (between coils and the one where the panhard bar mounts) and the spring mount reinforcing plates.

[MidWest72C10]

Thanks for all the good posts, i've been debating whether or not to stay coil or switch to leaf i think you all have helped me with my predicament

[cheyenne10]

Originally Posted by 71meangreenc10

Me,
Id take coils anyday over leafs, if the truck is right, coils ride 1000% smoother than leaf springs....My opinion.....

The frame if it was a leaf will have the dimples put in where the hanger brackets are mounted, coil frames are flat down the back fram rails. That is what I have seen.


Smitty

Smitty;

Bring up old post. Can you explain the dimples and flat down comment?

Slow72 - Any photos and warnings during this process? Did you bolt on brackets to trailing arm cross member/carrier bearing support? If so what did you use for bolts? The factory holes in ours look small, maybe for rivets. Might drill out for larger grade 8 bolts or go aftermarket cross member.

[BowDown916]

any pics,im about to do the samething...