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

Will rear suspension settle after reinstalling leaf springs?

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Old Sep 26, 2017 | 03:25 PM
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Default Will rear suspension settle after reinstalling leaf springs?

Probably a stupid question, but I just installed some VAS traction bars and to make a long story short, I had to remove the leaf springs because of the hangers I am using for my 2/4 drop. I reinstalled the leaf springs with the truck in the air and now the truck sits noticeably higher in the rear then it did before. Will the rear suspension settle and go back to the height it was? The traction bars are now installed as well.
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Old Sep 26, 2017 | 04:14 PM
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You need to tighten the leaf spring bolts with all the weight on the vehicle.
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Old Sep 26, 2017 | 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by FFDP
You need to tighten the leaf spring bolts with all the weight on the vehicle.

and make sure you're not over torqueing the springs/shackles. a majority of people just crank them down and put everything in a bind. I'm guilty of it.
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Old Sep 26, 2017 | 06:43 PM
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Originally Posted by FFDP
You need to tighten the leaf spring bolts with all the weight on the vehicle.
so, you think if I loosen the leaf spring bolts and then set it on the ground and tighten the leaf spring bolts again, it will return to the proper ride height?
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Old Sep 26, 2017 | 06:48 PM
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yes, it's possible. Also make sure there is no preload on your traction bars when torqueing it all back down.
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Old Sep 26, 2017 | 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by TXsilverado
yes, it's possible. Also make sure there is no preload on your traction bars when torqueing it all back down.
+1 on this. Preload will raise the ride heigth
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Old Sep 27, 2017 | 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by terravast4
+1 on this. Preload will raise the ride heigth
Well, the bars were actually not installed when the ride height became higher in the rear. At that point, I had only installed the traction bar brackets and removed/reinstalled the leaf springs. So, maybe something with the springs or brackets is in a bind causing the higher ride height?

Last edited by Lane_Hesser; Sep 27, 2017 at 10:33 AM.
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Old Sep 27, 2017 | 05:04 PM
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Did you get the right bars? There are two kinds, flip kit and non flip kit.

Like everyone else said, check to make sure you didn't preload the leafs.
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Old Sep 27, 2017 | 06:47 PM
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did u remove both side leaf springs? maybe u switched sides???
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Old Sep 29, 2017 | 02:33 PM
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Well, I figured out the problem. The traction bar bracket was in a bind resting against where the front hanger bolts to the frame. It didn't appear to be an issue originally when the truck was in the air, but when I put it back on the ground and the weight was put back on the truck, it got put in a bind and wasn't allowing the rear to drop all the way back down.
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