Just look up spring wrap or axle wrap on YouTube and watch the videos. Without the overload spring or a traction bar to counteract the wrap, you'll have really bad wheel hop, terrible ride quality, and possibly broken drivetrain parts(depending on abuse levels, driveline angles, etc).

Most of the traction bars for these trucks are adjustable. Adjusting the preload affects how they act. Basically more preload pushes or pulls down on the front of the leaf spring, thus raising the rear of the truck.

Here's a crappy pic that might help that make more sense. I'm not always the greatest at explaining things.

 

Here's an AWD SS that has keys & spindles up front, and a flip kit in the rear with a notch. We did a few extra things up front for wheel alignment.



Overload was left in place, no axle wrap problems, no traction bars.

 

that does look good but ill deal with how it looks before i goto a flip kit and notch. I think i will remove the overload though as i planned on traction bars anyway. Maybe later down the road ill do a helper bag if needed, thats if i even tow something

i dont thnk ill be doing cal tracks but normal ones that go to the frame

any suggestions on good front/rear shocks?

thanks for all the advice

 

I removed the overload spring on my truck about six months ago and have had no problems. Im not easy on the rig either.

 

good to know, do you have any type of traction bar?

 

how did you remove the overload spring? any pics?

 

You'll likely need new u-bolts and new center pin bolts for the leaf pack, unless your truck is so new that corrosion hasn't set in. Here's an old pic of how they come apart.



Tech tip > use a couple of C-clamps to hold the spring clamp together when removing the center pin bolt.