For all you leaf-spring 'gurus', why couldn't I get a set of 1-ton leafs from a boneyard, do away with the top helpers, and put the main stack on my 3/4 ton??? They're main stack is 1 leaf more than mine.

Situation: I changed my green keys and lifted my front 2" to clear 245/19.5 rims and tires. Looks *****en!

Problem: When I load my heavy-ass Lance, then air-up my bags to level back out, I come way up off the lower helper spring. This induces a tad of sway, riding almost more on bags than springs.

I've put in thicker bumpstops on the ends of the helper but don't know yet if that will help. Will know next time I load the camper.

Thanks ahead, Randy

p.s. I have an '03 GMC 2500 D/A(I'm in the 'see your ride' sticky)

Just take it to a spring shop and have them put in a leaf or two. I had 2 leaves and a extra helper added to my 3500. Mine came up about 3 inches.

I'm not looking to lift the truck, just trying to help it carry the weight better.

Do you have your air bags setup with seperate fill valves? If you tee the lines together to use only one fill the air can move from one bag to the other through the fill lines and allow the truck to sway more. Just a thought.

Are the leaf springs on a long box the same length as the short box? I ask as both my trucks are long boxes, and I do know that you can't put a 1 ton pack on a short box due the the frame differences.

If you just added a leaf you would have less sag reducing the amount of air required. Allowing the leaf pack to remain on the bottom helper spring.

Sure looks like the frame on my LB 2500HD is ready for the top mounted overload bumpers. I'd like to add these and the spring pack from the 3500 and see if it handles my camper better also. My '02 Dodge 2500 used top mounted overloads and they worked great; now just have to find some wrecked 3500 to buy the parts.

How about a sway bar?
I have 1/2 ton taller springs and air bags and had some sway.

Added a bar and it's solid now.

looks like you could all just go and look at a 3500srw to me. This is probably about all that chevrolet did to those trucks to increase the gvwr.

I thought the 3500srw just has springs (one extra?) and steel wheels???
I'm not positive though.

I had 1 leaf added to my 2002 when almost new. I also have Air Lift bags on it. After getting my 2005 3500, I see how the ride is better with appropriately valved Bilsteins so I am having a couple made up.


All but the dozer pics are w/o air bags:

http://www.kennedydiesel.com/photogal/dmaxtrailer.html

Wow! Sittin' around here snoozin' and got a bunch of replys. Thanks all, I'll see if I can catch all of you.

MJB: Yes, I have separate fill valves.

RVC: Good question! Didn't have a tape to measure while I was at the dealer the other day. Sure look the same. There was a 2500 next to a 3500 dually and I just kept looking back and forth. 3500's MAIN stack has 1 more leaf. Adding a leaf just may be the ticket.

Mike330R: Considering that too!

Kennedy: May I ask? What the extra leaf set you back.

Again, thanks to all of you. This site is great!!!

Randy

Well I got an answer from another forum, a guy with a 3500 SRW measured his leafs and came up with the same as my 2500. Now, would a set of 3500 leafs from a boneyard be cheaper than a trip to a spring shop for them to add-a-leaf? Guess I'll have to call around and find out.