Tech Question - Studebaker Truck Springs

Mike,

My son bought a 1949 Studebaker pickup that has a 283 Chevrolet motor. I took a ride in it and it rides like a tank. Years ago I had a pick up just like it only with the original motor, I don't remember it ever riding that rough.

I noticed that the leaf springs were stacked from shortest to longest as they progressed from the bottom to the top, with the top being the longest.

We have a friend that owns a 1953 model that has a different stacking pattern long and short inter mixed.

I suspect that my son's has been restacked and that is why it rides so hard.
Do you know how these springs should be stacked? - Pat

By the way you describe the way the spring leaves are stacked, I would say your son's truck is correct. Starting with the longest at the top and the leaves getting shorter and shorter as they go down.

Learn all about leaf springs in our Spring Tech 101. Download your copy today.

The 49 1/2 ton pickup front used 1.75 Inch wide springs and either 8 or 9 leaf. And there was a left and right spring. The 49 rears used a spring also 1.75 Inch wide spring with either an 11 or 12 leaf. The 1949 3/4 ton pickup front used the same front as the 1/2 ton but the rears had an 2 Inch wide spring with either a 10, 15 or 16 leaf spring. Now remember Pat, this is back when trucks were trucks, so we must keep that in mind when checking it's current ride quality.

A Cadillac ride it did not have, but we can get it close, but first we have to find out where the problem lies.

There can be several reasons why the ride is rough from the springs being old and tired to the springs being too strong or even the wrong shocks being used. The way to narrow the problem done is to 1st start by fully removing the shocks. Do not just disconnect them and leave them hanging by one end because we don't want them to get damaged.

Now take her for a ride. If the ride is the same, then the problem is with the springs. If the ride is a little better then the problem is both the springs and the shocks. If the ride is greatly improved, then the problem was with the shocks.

If it is the shocks then replacing what is there with a pair made to handle the weight of the truck will do the job. Many times with older or custom vehicles shocks are chosen just because they fit. The correct way is to go with a high quality shock that is designed for the weight of the vehicle. See This Tech Question. The same theory talked about in the article applies to all vehicles.

Now if it turns out to be the springs, you have come to the right place. The 1st thing we would do is to ask how your son wants the truck to sit as compared to stock height. Then how does he want it to ride. Then we apply our magic and create springs that will do as he desires.

It is just that simple. - Mike