Advice on 63" chevy springs

I know there's guys here with a lot more leaf spring knowledge than myself and I'd appreciate any advice.

So my 1/2 ton 63" set up worked awesome off road, very flexy, no complaints. However, it was too soft for on road and then I added a tire carrier and some other stuff and it got to the point it was sitting a few inches lower than the front. I tried to bastardize the pack but that didn't work so well and ended up with some 3/4 ton 63" springs. These seem to hold the weight and handle better on the road and I can still stuff them but they're not as flexy unless I unbolt the clamps. I'm assuming that's probably too much weight for just the main to handle though and I'm concerned that I'm going to break the main off at the ubolt plate. Just looking for feedback and ideas.

Full droop with the bolts in the spring clamps I was getting 11" of shock shaft showing out of my 14" shocks. With the bolts pulled I was getting 13" and it was easy to bounce a little on a tire to fully extend my shock. With the bolts in, I could bounce pretty hard and not use the full travel of my shocks.

With the spring clamps unbolted, flexing one side, front or rear, I don't quite use all that shock shaft but I know I use all my up travel when I bottom out the rear. If I stuffed one tire in the front I would have 12" shock shaft showing on one side and a few inches on the other (and use up all 14" of my c/os in the front). If I stuffed one tire in the rear I would have about 10.5" of shock shaft showing and a few inches on the other side (and the front used all travel). Some or none of this may be pertinent, IDK, just throwing it out there.

The obvious answer here is to link the rear and that may happen in the future but for now I just want to get these leaves set up half decent.

So... bolts or no bolts? Will I break a main leaf? Can I add clamps else where? Should I? Would a longer shackle help? What else would change? I could probably raise the ass end up another 1" or 1.5". I may need to anyway. It is sitting pretty level for now.

I had originally looked into getting a set of leaves from Deaver but the wait just wasn't going to work for me. They're a ways out, and it was pretty pricey. I didn't realize 3/4 ton 63" springs existed and so not seeing any other options I decided to order a set of fox 2.0 air shocks from down south. I was hoping they'd help up the ride height a touch, help with body roll, and damped as well as these 5125s I'm running. I was looking for another set of unmolested 63s when a friend told me he had a 3/4 ton diesel chevy pickup and I could have the springs if they'd fit... sure enough... Anyway so now I'm almost thinking I don't need the air shocks at this point... They should be here early next week. Not really sure what to do there either. I could see about selling them to pick up some resi 2.0 14" shocks... or I could just run them and see what happens. I had talked to fox and they said they thought it would work out great for me (with the original 1/2 ton 63 pack). With this pack I'm not sure how much nitrogen I'd want to add and I don't know how low you can go... I know fox had said they'd try like 40 psi or so, not sure if theres a minimum. I assume they're going to cavitate regardless of nitrogen pressure and I won't be doing anything crazy high speed, just some washboard roads and stuff.

I should also add, I have an anti-wrap bar.

Thoughts?









Thoughts?

@jberry813

 

Leave the bolts and clamps tight, they will prevent your from killing your leafs, breaking your main leaf and prevent them from fanning out. 2" more of droop isnt anything and i bet you will be close to that wheeling on them for a season or two.

 

Thanks dudes, I'll run the bolts.

Jason, you got any thoughts on the shocks?

 

Well they're 500$ air shocks... wonder if I'd be better off with some 2.0 resi's if I don't need to add spring rate. IDK

Could probably sell them and buy resi's and still have some $$ in my pocket.