Chevy 3100 Total Cost Involved Rear Leaf Spring Kit Upgrade - Leaves That Keep The Green In Your Pocket

In your kit will be enough...        read full caption In your kit will be enough hardware provided by TCI to cinch down all the new parts, including Nylock nuts and flat washers, like these used on the front leaf spring mount. This means no unplanned trips to the hardware store, which is priceless!

On some factory frames, the...        read full caption On some factory frames, the running board bracket by the front leaf mount needs to be persuaded with a hammer and a wide chisel to make it possible for the spring mount to tuck in between the frame and the running board bracket ever so much.

Another benefit of the TCI...        read full caption Another benefit of the TCI kit is that you'll now have modern, readily available suspension pieces like the leaf spring shackles. These types of shackles are not only durable, but also widely used in the aftermarket, which helps keep costs down and makes it easier to find than N.O.S. GM parts-especially in, say, 20 years!

To locate where the new tubular shock crossmember goes, measure 28 1/8 inches from the rear bed mounting hole forward and mark a line across the frame (do this on both 'rails). Now, mark the center of the 'rail on the line, center-punch the mark, and start drilling, working your way up to 7/16 inch. Once the holes are drilled in the top of the 'rails, install the crossmember and transfer-punch the hole to the topside of the bottom 'rail and drill it out. You can get a transfer punch set at a discount tool store like Harbor Freight that will work just fine.

You can see from here how...        read full caption You can see from here how simple yet effective TCI's shock crossmember is. Just remember to install it with the shock spacers pointing forward.

From the side, we see the...        read full caption From the side, we see the finished install with the rearend housing mounted on top of the leaves, which lowers the back of the truck about 4 inches. The kit can also be used to mount the rearend on the bottom of the spring pack like a stock setup. If you want to go real low, you'll need to C-notch the frame and throw in some lowering blocks.

And that about wraps it up!...        read full caption And that about wraps it up! Your rearend choice may vary, or you can just keep your existing unit and flip the leaf spring pads to mount it on top of the leaf springs. This chassis was set up with a Currie 9-inch, and of course, TCI can get you going with any number of parts, upgrades, and as always, knowledgeable tech help!