The Ford Barn

Brobrian · 07-01-2012, 05:38 PM

I've been working on leveling out the suspension on the '31 pickup. In the process I see that there is only an 8 leaf spring in the rear. I assume someone was trying to soften the ride. I'm pretty sure I want to increase the load capacity over what it is with the current spring. However, I thought I'd get some input about how the ride would be affected.
Any thoughts?

1931 flamingo · 07-01-2012, 05:59 PM

Probably going to get stiffer..............
paul in CT

jan bogert · 07-01-2012, 06:30 PM

someone put a 10 leaf in my coupe. very, very stiff. went to 8 much better.

wrndln · 07-01-2012, 07:11 PM

I believe pickups originally came with 10 leave spring to increase the load capacity. I would think using a 8 or maybe a hybrid 9 leaf would make the ride nicer at the expense of less load capacity. Model A pickups don't have much box room for loads anyway. I have a 29 CCPU and haven't decided what spring to use.
Rusty Nelson

Charlie Stephens · 07-01-2012, 07:40 PM

I replaced my pickup spring with one sized for a roadster. Like it much better.

Charlie Stephens

Bruce,Upstate NY · 07-01-2012, 09:33 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I replaced my pickup spring with a coupe spring. Excellent ride.

columbiA · 07-02-2012, 12:21 AM

The PU,s used the 10 leaf spring that used a higher deflection rate than the 10 leaf ones used on the sedans.When I had my 31 PU,I used the 8 leaf coupe spring & it rode much better.

Barry B./ Ma. · 07-02-2012, 04:23 AM

Likewise when Ihad my 29 pickup I put in an 8 leaf spring and it rode much better and the truck sat even. I still had good load capacity if you didn't fill it with stone or gravel. The 10 leaf made it ride so hard it was like there was no spring at all.

Brobrian · 07-02-2012, 11:24 AM

Thanks for the input, gentlemen.

Still in a bit of indecision. Not sure I can live with the load capacity as is. The pics show the way just a 600 lb. load made the suspension labor.
But, "made it ride ho hard it was like there was no spring at all," doesn't sound very good either.

1931 flamingo · 07-02-2012, 11:26 AM

Make two trips.................
Paul in CT

farmputzer · 07-02-2012, 11:34 AM

Mine rode very rough, then found out there were 12 leafs and totally rusted together to the point that when I twisted off the center bolt and unclamped it, the leafs didn't come apart! Restored it to 10 lubricated leafs and like it a lot.

MikeK · 07-02-2012, 12:03 PM

I have a spring with one leaf removed & air leveler shocks in the back of my 160B. Easy to adjust ride height! The air gives a soft, comfy ride, unlike a stiffer leaf spring.

juke joint johnny · 07-02-2012, 01:11 PM

I have 10 leaves in mine, Like Farmputzer says "Keepem Greased"

IMO What good is a truck if you can't put a load in it ?

Thats what Henry made them for!!

John Cochran

TomW · 07-02-2012, 01:59 PM

Mine also has 12 leaves in the rear (the two above the main leaf are doubled).
It rides pretty hard, but it sure can carry a load! I recently added shocks, which were missing, and that helped control the ride a lot.

Brobrian · 07-02-2012, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juke joint johnny

I have 10 leaves in mine, Like Farmputzer says "Keepem Greased"

IMO What good is a truck if you can't put a load in it ?

Thats what Henry made them for!!

John Cochran

Exactly.
I plan to weld up a lumber rack for it.
Just don't want to spend $250, and ruin the enjoyment off driving it. Tough call.

Bassman/NZ · 07-02-2012, 08:39 PM

If it's not a show car, then use some of the teflon spring liners from Macs and other suppliers. Better than grease, doesn't attract dirt, and it's a one time job.

columbiA · 07-03-2012, 01:16 AM

Dont forget,the"A" PU,s were rated as a 1/4 ton,not a 1/2 ton.Many years ago,I loaded my OCPU with as much gravel as I could get on it.I tried to drive away & found that the rear fenders were resting on the tires and the truck wouldnt budge.I used a Jack-ALL & raised the back end & shoved a block of wood between the banjo & crossmember & drove home with what seemed like power steering!

Brobrian · 07-03-2012, 10:04 AM

Turns out its the wife who made the final call for me.
"if you don't put the truck spring in it, you'll end up pining after another truck. And I'm not letting an AA follow us home."
So rough ride or not, I'm going with 10.

juke joint johnny · 07-03-2012, 10:46 AM

Oh Dear !!! Sounds Like we struck a Nerve on that one

I think you'll be fine with the 10 leaves

Any way a sore rear is a lot easier to put up with than a sore Wife !!!! IMO

John Cochran

07-01-2012, 05:38 PM	#1
Brobrian Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 315	8 or 10 leaves? I've been working on leveling out the suspension on the '31 pickup. In the process I see that there is only an 8 leaf spring in the rear. I assume someone was trying to soften the ride. I'm pretty sure I want to increase the load capacity over what it is with the current spring. However, I thought I'd get some input about how the ride would be affected. Any thoughts? __________________ Forty horses is plenty.

07-01-2012, 05:59 PM	#2
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,389	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? Probably going to get stiffer.............. paul in CT

07-01-2012, 06:30 PM	#3
jan bogert Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: whitehall pa. Posts: 439	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? someone put a 10 leaf in my coupe. very, very stiff. went to 8 much better.

07-01-2012, 07:11 PM	#4
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,159	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? I believe pickups originally came with 10 leave spring to increase the load capacity. I would think using a 8 or maybe a hybrid 9 leaf would make the ride nicer at the expense of less load capacity. Model A pickups don't have much box room for loads anyway. I have a 29 CCPU and haven't decided what spring to use. Rusty Nelson

07-01-2012, 07:40 PM	#5
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,030	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? I replaced my pickup spring with one sized for a roadster. Like it much better. Charlie Stephens

07-01-2012, 09:33 PM	#6
Bruce,Upstate NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, NY Posts: 385	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I replaced my pickup spring with a coupe spring. Excellent ride.

07-02-2012, 12:21 AM	#7
columbiA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,746	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? The PU,s used the 10 leaf spring that used a higher deflection rate than the 10 leaf ones used on the sedans.When I had my 31 PU,I used the 8 leaf coupe spring & it rode much better.

07-02-2012, 04:23 AM	#8
Barry B./ Ma. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southbridge, Ma. Posts: 1,614	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? Likewise when Ihad my 29 pickup I put in an 8 leaf spring and it rode much better and the truck sat even. I still had good load capacity if you didn't fill it with stone or gravel. The 10 leaf made it ride so hard it was like there was no spring at all.

07-02-2012, 11:26 AM	#10
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,389	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? Make two trips................. Paul in CT

07-02-2012, 11:34 AM	#11
farmputzer Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Andover, Minnesota Posts: 34	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? Mine rode very rough, then found out there were 12 leafs and totally rusted together to the point that when I twisted off the center bolt and unclamped it, the leafs didn't come apart! Restored it to 10 lubricated leafs and like it a lot.

07-02-2012, 12:03 PM	#12
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? I have a spring with one leaf removed & air leveler shocks in the back of my 160B. Easy to adjust ride height! The air gives a soft, comfy ride, unlike a stiffer leaf spring.

07-02-2012, 01:11 PM	#13
juke joint johnny Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: London England Posts: 908	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? I have 10 leaves in mine, Like Farmputzer says "Keepem Greased" IMO What good is a truck if you can't put a load in it ? Thats what Henry made them for!! John Cochran

07-02-2012, 01:59 PM	#14
TomW Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SW Florida Posts: 135	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? Mine also has 12 leaves in the rear (the two above the main leaf are doubled). It rides pretty hard, but it sure can carry a load! I recently added shocks, which were missing, and that helped control the ride a lot.

07-02-2012, 08:39 PM	#16
Bassman/NZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napier, New Zealand Posts: 2,001	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? If it's not a show car, then use some of the teflon spring liners from Macs and other suppliers. Better than grease, doesn't attract dirt, and it's a one time job.

07-03-2012, 01:16 AM	#17
columbiA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,746	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? Dont forget,the"A" PU,s were rated as a 1/4 ton,not a 1/2 ton.Many years ago,I loaded my OCPU with as much gravel as I could get on it.I tried to drive away & found that the rear fenders were resting on the tires and the truck wouldnt budge.I used a Jack-ALL & raised the back end & shoved a block of wood between the banjo & crossmember & drove home with what seemed like power steering!

07-03-2012, 10:04 AM	#18
Brobrian Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 315	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? Turns out its the wife who made the final call for me. "if you don't put the truck spring in it, you'll end up pining after another truck. And I'm not letting an AA follow us home." So rough ride or not, I'm going with 10. __________________ Forty horses is plenty.

07-03-2012, 10:46 AM	#19
juke joint johnny Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: London England Posts: 908	Re: 8 or 10 leaves? Oh Dear !!! Sounds Like we struck a Nerve on that one I think you'll be fine with the 10 leaves Any way a sore rear is a lot easier to put up with than a sore Wife !!!! IMO John Cochran

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