Spring Pack Alteration

[fng]

I have the stock springs under the truck with no visable sag's or deformations.
My question is: has anyone ever taken out any leaves to improve the ride quality? I'd like to take some of the jolt out of driving around empty.
If so how many and which ones? I thought about removing two per pack but don't know whether to remove the two middle ones or to alternate (every other one).
Also what size/type of shocks do most people use?
I know this will reduce the load capabilities but I don't plan to haul anything heavier than 1000-1500 or so pounds anyway.
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

Tracy

[2ndA]

I remember a couple threads on pulling one and even two leafs per corner. I plan on yanking two, myself.

[brute4c]

You can pull 2 leaves all around if you like...on winch trucks pulling only 1 up front might be prudent before going to 2...

Usually, the shortest leaf is removed from the bottom of the stack...then skip one and take the next one also.

People have noticed that if one takes 3 out of the rear, axle wrap occurs...

[Hammer]

I took two out. You could feel the difference by putting your weight on the corners.
Any more, and Jon is right, you get axle wrap issues. It is NICE feeling, but you need something to control the axle wrap.

[wrecker]

Did you guys use new U-bolts? I think someone said not to re-use the old ones as the threads are not as deep on new ones to allow the nut to cut in deeper providing a locking mechanism. I've always re-used them in the past, but whoever brought that up--(Tacoma I think), it made sense to me. Just curious.

[fasteddie]

You should always use new u-bolts , cheap safety insurance .

[kaiserkoski]

While your spring pack is apart clean your leaves with a "pearl pad", they are wheels that are for a grinder that have small pieces of sand paper on them, to get them smoothed out. When i did mine it had grooves where the leaves rubbed. After that spray them with a dry moly lube and the ride will be amazing.

[Hammer]

In addition to the lubrication, you can easily put the pads on the ends of the leaves. Just drilling a simple hole in the end of the leaf allows for the pad. Doing it this way means you don't have to run the clamps around the pads to keep them in place.
As for reusing the ubolts. It's always safer not to. I had enough threads on mine, and I used them for testing purposes. That was the end of their life span, testing.
Remember, those things are relatively soft metals that stretch a lot, and are not meant to be stretched many times.

[fisherman]

I painted each individual leaf with two coats of slip plate, a graphite based paint available at my John Deere dealer. It dries very hard, and is very durable. It is meant for water proof protection as well as providing a very slippery surface for contact between two metal surfaces. Gives the leaf packs a pretty cool look also. Was reasonable at around 30 per gallon.

[Binford]

In addition to the lubrication, you can easily put the pads on the ends of the leaves. Just drilling a simple hole in the end of the leaf allows for the pad. Doing it this way means you don't have to run the clamps around the pads to keep them in place....

I must be missing something here. What do you mean by "pad" and what does drilling a hole do? You'd think I could handle leaf-spring tech, but I'm at a complete loss here!