How to: Chevy 63" Leaf Spring Swap

63s still 63-ing

 

Is that full droop?

 

Has another 1.5" of droop, but the stock 63 bushings dont like it haha. Need to do polys sometime.

 

Very nice, yeah the polys make quite the difference in not only letting the shackle drop out but mostly in its entire range of motion as I’m sure you already know. Good upgrade for sure.

 

Anyone in here have a good recommendation on a add a leaf for us 3 leaf folks who are a bit heavy. Should I just go to the yard and try to find one of the shorter leaves from a 4 leaf truck?

 

I ordered from General Spring when I added to mine.

https://www.generalspringkc.com/

Although I just tried to find it on their site to no avail at this time......
I'm sure an email of a call and they'd have it though.

 

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong section, but I'm not seeing it individual leafs there. My 63 pack isn't worn out but it is just a little lighter duty when I'm fully loaded for camping.

 

Why wouldn’t you just swap in the entire 4 leaf pack

 

Yeah, I just edited above.......isn't listed anymore but if you contact them I bet they could still provide it.
The supersprings weren't on there before so probably trying to sell those instead.

 

Probably could do that if I can find some that aren't lunched. Pretty easy to pick a few leaves off a junkyard truck, not always as easy to extract the whole pack.

 

I had two 3 leaf packs. I cut the bottom leafs outta one the same length as the overload and put it in with my stock Tacoma overload. My truck is pretty heavy.

 

Yep, just cut down/stack as many as you want into the pack. I actually run a couple of the factory tacoma leafs in the bottom of the pack

 

Do axle shims not work well with the swap? I noticed I dont really see any at all, just curious what everyones experience with them are. Leaning towards doing this soon as it looks like a fun project.

 

Pinion angles are usually pretty perfect after the swap.

 

I felt like I was lucky to find my 4 leaf. I only had to go to one yard, but it was the only one in the yard out of 10 trucks I looked at. If you've already got or can find a good 3 leaf pack, I'd hack and stack a bastard pack all day long.

 

I’m the opposite. I have a 3 leaf and took one out so I only have 2. For me it rides much better on the road and flexes more in the rocks.

 

I'll go prowl the yard for a suitable leaf to chop down. Don't really want any more lift,

I don't think I could make due with only two, my truck isn't even very heavy. Feels just slightly under sprung now on three leaves.

 

I was the same way till i added an anti wrap bar. Spring rate feels better but the 3-4 inches uptravel still sucks.

 

What kind of weight do you carry. My truck is pretty much only for camping and exploring, it stays home otherwise. So when it's all loaded down it's about 700lbs of extra weight in the back, maybe 800 if I bring extra water and fuel. Two leaves would be tough to do that on, it's noticably flattens the truck out when loaded.

 

So im still on stock leafs, and i sit with maybe an inch lift, probably less.
I think im fairly light, but ive moved weight around a bit.
I bobbed a foot off the bed, put a fuel cell in the bed, relocated the battery to the bed and usually carry a floor jack and 12v fridge. Plus 2 spares cv axles and maybe 100lbs of tools and gear.