Best way to fix.....

[2007HummerH2]

I need to know the best way to fix my rear leaf springs....they are junk! The last owner pulled a boat with my CE Edition, and well they took most of the abuse. Does anyone know of an aftermarket company that makes new leaf springs + bushings for our 3's?
I found one company called suspension king, but don't know the quality of their stuff.....anyone have experience with them?

 

[erdlen65]

Try checking around where you live I know all around Pittsburgh their is shops that make springs and add a leafs, I've never personally had to replace a leaf but I work with a lot of guys in construction that get them made a lot.

 

[cgalpha08]

Who needs leaf springs?? just do a coilover conversion with a dynatrac pro rock 60!

 

[Griff22usmc]

I just googled "coilover conversion with dynatrac pro rock 60" because it sounds BA... and it is.

 

[cgalpha08]

I just googled "coilover conversion with dynatrac pro rock 60" because it sounds BA... and it is.

Haha. Its what recon runs on his rig, it's also what the guys at off road evolution do to their rigs. If i had the cash, i would definitely do this to my rear axle.

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[alrock]

I don't know if there is a fix for worn or bent springs - replacement may be the only answer. People do use an add a leaf to enhance springs for heavier weights, but I don't think they can be brought back to life.

Not sure about the aftermarket options.

 

[JR3T]

Rocky Road has sold the H3 OME springs for awhile. Springs include bushing kit and go for $201 each side. But, I don't know anyone using them on a H3. You can go to their site and check them out.
Timgco may also have an option at Expedition Hardware.

 

[4speedfunk]

I just spoke to Deaver yesterday. They didn't really list the H3 as an application (even though many H3's and Colorado's run them), and when I mentioned that I would run them in a spring-over arrangement...I was met with "we don't have anything that will work". That was followed with a rambling response about spring rates, custom leafs, blah blah...$700 for a pair. Is everyone in California high or what?

If I'm gonna spend $700 on rear springs...it ain't gonna be leafs! So at this point...I'm looking at some stock replacements, or getting some custom springs here locally for about $250 (what they're supposed to cost). I do have some Rancho springs left-over from my kit but, they have relaxed a tad as well. Right now I'm running stockers and my shackles are folded back nearly touching the bumper, and the main leaves have hardly any arch left in them. This is true regardless of the the position (over or under the axle). I'm only wanting a inch or so more height so a new set of stockers might do the trick. I'm not totally against add-a-leafs but, I've never been satisfied with them on past trucks. I can clearly see "bent" leafs in the spring packs right where they are clamped to the axle, so I know they are shot. After the SOA mod...I had to move my axle to the forward hole on the perches to get it centered in the wheel-well. While welding the perches to the axle I was thinking..."why are there 3-holes in them?" I guess I know now.

The flat spring doesn't bother me that much but, the lack of travel at the shackle does. As a leaf wears...it gets flatter and grows longer, and the result is the "reclined" shackle position. This "relaxing" also moves your axle centerline rearward because the front of the spring is rigidly mounted to the frame...so the spring's growth is entirely to the rear. This in turn, translates to the driveshaft yoke being pulled further out of the tailshaft than you might desire. Regardless...leaf springs are not rocket science. I'll come up with something.

BTW these stock GM springs have 12,000 miles on them, and they're junk. So, you're not alone. I suspect its an issue with the tensile strength of the steel...Brazil?...China? Who knows.

 

[06 H3]

Im sure they jumped away from the word spring over...they do a lot of prerunner stuff and prerunners want spring unders...what I don't understand is that I have seen guys in trucks with a spring over stock and look for spring under kits

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[Hunner]

It's common practice around here for rice trucks and farm trucks to have the springs re-arched. The place here puts them in a forge and puts any extra arch in there you want. I guess if they determine they are junk metal to begin with they may recommend replacement. They cut custom packs all the time here, it ain't rocket science! it's Farmer science very common and affordable. Once you place "specialty" or Offroad on a product made where there is a market for that stuff the $$$$ start to go up.
Some of you may recall that is how I "lifted" my LandCrusher in the 70's with front and rear springs so Armstrong Tru-Trac tires would fit.

That's back when hippies the served in the military were, well, Hip!
I later got the spoke wheels which were all the rage back then.

 

[2007HummerH2]

I wish I still had a shop in my area that would redo springs....but they went out last year. Never expected that after they had been around for 50+ years!
I'm thinking of going with the suspension king set. I have to do something. The passenger's side doesn't look to nice under there. The middle spring looks bent or could be cracked, just can't see it. Plus I have a feeling that the bushing is pretty much junk as well.

 

[4speedfunk]

I might try the re-arch but, I must admit....it sounds a bit iffy. If they can be re-arched...they can probably re-sag. -HaHa

I'm not sure why a spring-over would matter one way or the other...its still the same weight, and the spring pack is still sandwiched between the perch and the u-bolt plate. The forces acting on the spring are still the same in either position both sitting still and during articulation. The only thing that might change is the tendency for spring wrap, and many H3 owners have already proved this is usually not an issue.

 

[Hunner]

Just don't drive in 1000 degree heat and you will be ok. They explained to me that spring steel will retain it's arch better when heated and blanched in oil and they always over arch to achieve the desired height when the vehicle weight is supported.
That is how they are made in the first place and as far as I could find out they don't have a memory and will all eventually settle.
Why buy new when you can pay for some labor to freshen them up.
I guess you can wear anything out if you use it enough, I'm hoping some of my parts will last a long time!!!!:shifty:

 

[Steve #1]

BTW these stock GM springs have 12,000 miles on them, and they're junk. So, you're not alone. I suspect its an issue with the tensile strength of the steel...Brazil?...China? Who knows.

Or soccer moms wanting a cushy ride. As our vehicles age and get more miles on them we are finding the trade off for that nice ride they had when new with sagging springs and warn out bushings.

 

[2007HummerH2]

from experience if you re-arch springs, they will go right back to where they were in a short time. once the metal is worn, it really can't be fixed like new again.