Notices
GM Drivetrain & Suspension Chassis | Transmission| Driveshaft | Gears/Rear End/Differential | Traction Aids

Does GM make different leaf springs?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-21-2008, 12:39 PM
  #1  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
KevinF56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North of Boston
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Does GM make different leaf springs?

I was down visiting GMracer last night, dropping off some door panels for him, and we were looking at our trucks.

His: Bone stock 1999 2wd
Mine: 2004 4x4 lowered by removing lift blocks and 2" shackles (as well as turned out the torsion keys)

Here's the problem: his truck is easily 2" lower than mine in the rear. Technically I should be 2" lower than him because I have shackles, but I'm not. Now, my tires are bigger than his, but it shouldn't cause that much of a difference.

We then looked at our RPO codes...

Mine: Z82 : TRAILER PROVISIONS, SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, H.0.
His: Z83 : CHASSIS PACKAGE, SOLID SMOOTH RIDE

Are my leaf springs different than his? Are they sprung higher?
Old 06-21-2008, 10:33 PM
  #2  
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (31)
 
hirdlej's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 3,471
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Count tge leafs, my dad's 97 c1500 work truck has 4 leafs for his trailering package, my truck is a smooth ride susp package and I only have 3 leafs.
Old 06-22-2008, 02:02 AM
  #3  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
KevinF56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North of Boston
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

i have 3 leafs; 2 leafs and an overload. here is a picture of my current set up:

Old 06-22-2008, 01:11 PM
  #4  
TECH Regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Da 'Cuse, NY
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

His might have sagged alot more due to being 5 years older...plus it seems the '99-'00 trucks all sag in the rear, both 2/4WD. I have my blocks removed and when I'm on stock 265/70/17s I'm still sitting higher in the rear than most stock '99-'00 Z71s...most of them sit at SS height or even lower it seems.

Every '99-'06 1/2 ton truck I've seen has the 3 leafs...I always thought the leafs were all the same between the 2/4WDs, the 4WDS got the 2" blocks for height and obviously all trucks got diff. shocks depending on what susp. pkg.(Z85, Z83, Z71, etc)
Old 06-22-2008, 09:29 PM
  #5  
On The Tree
 
dlstewart01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: middle Tennessee
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Z82 does not have any thing to do with the springs, that a trailering RPO.
You probably have Z85 suspension. That the heavy duty suspension thats normally used with the Z82 option.

Don
Old 06-22-2008, 09:34 PM
  #6  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
agreif's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Chicago Burbs
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

What's HD about the suspenion to make the packages different?

Andrew
Old 06-22-2008, 09:41 PM
  #7  
On The Tree
 
dlstewart01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: middle Tennessee
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Most of the 2 wheel dr trucks have Z85 suspension. If you look up that RPO code it will say heavy duty suspension. I would say the springs are a little stiffer. The smooth ride suspension will squat more under load.

Don
Old 06-22-2008, 09:43 PM
  #8  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
KevinF56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North of Boston
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

yeah i do also have the Z85 suspension.
Old 06-22-2008, 09:45 PM
  #9  
On The Tree
 
dlstewart01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: middle Tennessee
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I just looked the RPO code Z85 up and it says increased capacity.

Don
Old 06-22-2008, 10:49 PM
  #10  
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (10)
 
00Silv4.8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mesa AZ
Posts: 3,278
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I would think that u have more springs than he does being a Z71?


Quick Reply: Does GM make different leaf springs?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:26 AM.