Competition Rear Springs for Pulling

[RyanB]

Hey all- just thought I would post a question about the rear springs on my brothers 1997. His class doesn't allow blocking the rear suspension while pulling but this weekend he was at a non-points pull so we thru the blocks in to see how it would do. The results were WAY better than without. He is running traction bars.



So my question is... for those that can't block there suspensions what springs are you using to keep the suspension stiff? The springs he has now just have 3 leaves in the pack (can't believe these are 3/4ton springs... my GMC has 5 in the pack) I thought of adding at least 2 or 3 more springs to the pack and maybe even having the 2nd spring down (2nd largest) having it a military wraped. He would like to have a fairly decent ride on the road but its not a big deal if its ruff!



Anyone have any ideas?



Thanks... Ryan

 

[jwilliams3]

Ryan,

Sounds like you answered your own question there.

 

[RyanB]

Well, that was what I was figuring but just want to hear what others are doing/using. Its a stupid rule if you ask me. In the same rule it says... Suspension must have at least 1" of suspension travel but there must be no blocking of suspensions.



Think I am going to get him going to the spring shop tomorrow!

 

[Graphic man]

Ryan,



if you need a spring shop, a good buddy of mine owns a shop here in Brampton



Scott

 

[Tcolesanti]

If he has the big flat overload spring on the bottom of the pack, just clamp the rest of the pack to it, and when he drives it on the street, pull them off. Use some big U-bolts or, build them out of some channel steel and bolt them together.

-Tom

 

[RyanB]

If he has the big flat overload spring on the bottom of the pack, just clamp the rest of the pack to it, and when he drives it on the street, pull them off. Use some big U-bolts or, build them out of some channel steel and bolt them together.

-Tom

Yeah I have seen this done and unfortunatly he doesn't have the over loads! He is actually as I write this leaving to go to the local spring shop... I told him to check out the Military wrap instead of just adding leaves to the pack!



See what happens!

 

[Tcolesanti]

For a cheap way out just find two overload springs, throw them under the stock pack, add some longer U-bolts and clamp 'em.

 

[JDailey]

You could throw on a set of factory overloads, or make a heavy set. And then just throw in 4x4's between the springs and perches. With the inner fenders in, it can't be seen. Cheap, and still keep your stock ride. Or... I've heard of people running stock appearing shocks that were solid. Is that the dumbest rule or what?

 

[firemanmarc]

Hate to admit that my truck uses extended bump stops when it pulls. We made them easy to change out and there is 1" of suspension travel. Just about all the trucks around here do it, or clamp there springs together. .

 

[RyanB]

Hate to admit that my truck uses extended bump stops when it pulls. We made them easy to change out and there is 1" of suspension travel. Just about all the trucks around here do it, or clamp there springs together. .

Thats all the ones that I made were for his truck were and they said they couldn't be used. He is currently looking into adding leaves to the pack.

The idea of putting over loads on and clamping them all together with the main pack... . how much of a difference will that make?



Thanks. . >Ryan

 

[Tcolesanti]

A huge difference, but a soon as you take the clamps off, its back to stock ride.

 

[RyanB]

Anyone have any pictures of this over load/clamped setup? Also, what is it going to take to put the over loads on? you have to take the U-bolts off and center pin right? or can you get away without doing that?



Ryan

 

[BILLVO]

I used to work at a driveline shop a while back and am curious what a "Military wrap" is? I built spring packs for about 3 years and never heard that term before.

 

[RyanB]

This isn't a very good picture but this was a set of springs that I had on my Gas Super Stock puller I built a few years back. If you look at the pic you can see the main leaf, then the 2nd leaf... notice that it wraps around the eye of the main leaf? I know its very hard to see in that pic but it gives you an idea. The 3rd leaf is then in the position of where the 2nd leaf would normally be on a normal pack.



Again... sorry for the bad picture!



RyanB

 

[jerrethomas]

looks simliar to a class 8 front spring off a truck. I believe they wrap the first two leaves around the bolt.

 

[RyanB]

yeah I think your right now that I think about it!



So does anyone have any pics of the over-load setup? and know weather you have to dissasemble the whole pack to make them work? could you put just a block above the spring pack and then lay the over load springs and then use square U-bolts and and bolt them down to the pack beside the regular u-bolts bolting the pack to the axle?



Ryan