Does anyone know if a second gen Dana 70 spring pack is similar to a first gen's? Did second gen 3500s even have Dana 70 rear ends anyway? I'm looking into sulastic springs to soften the ride on my truck. Unfortunately upon searching their website, they don't even have any for pre-'94 trucks. The sets of sulastic springs go for $350 and I'm trying to determine if it would be better to just have my leaf packs rebuilt and have a few of the 12 leaves (yes, 12 per pack!) removed to soften the ride. Can anyone offer some insite on this? Thanks!

 

The springs on any 2nd gen are 3" wide, so no go

 

Sounds like too many springs in the rear. Unless you need those twelve to carry heavy, the stock configuration was 6 leaves plus the one thick flat base leaf (250, 350 p/u and c/c all here in driveway- all the same). If it is a 1 ton it got the overload pack up top. If you have 12 in the lower pack you could definitely benefit from loosing some.

^^x2 on the 3" sec gens. 3 leafs on a 94 2500 I have here.

 

so first gen 1-tons don't have 3" wide leave, huh? the thing about the sulastic springs is they take place of the existing rear shackle. so if at least the bushing holes are similar in size, i don't see why they couldn't work. anyhow, i browsed the classifieds last night looking for anyone parting a d350 with a stock leaf pack i could pick up but turned up with nothing. i'll have to browse other forums or find a suspension shop that would rebuild mine for a reasonable price.

here's sulastic's website... www.sulastic.com

Edit: although, after giving it one more thought. if the 2nd gen leaves are 3" wide, that would mean the eye is 3" wide as well. boo!

 

I talked to them and they said their unit would work on a first Gen if you grind the bracket a little. Here is the clearancing info.

 

i just spoke with someone there a few minutes ago. i was told about a tech document that I could fill out which asks for some shackle information. it asks for the shackle type and dimensions along with hanger type and position. i then fill out a space for specific vehicle information including and mainly, load capacity. all that's left after that is to give them my contact information and give them the paperwork. they'll then do some research to find the model of spring based on load capacity, shackle type and measurements and hanger type and position and contact me with results. kinda pricey at $350 for the pair but i think it may be the cheaper way to go rather than either having mine rebuilt and a few leaves removed or buying new packs to replace mine with. i think it'd be worth it to try them out. they have a 30 day, 100% money back guarantee if you don't like them.

as for the load capacity, do i give them the load capacity of the dana 70? if so, i found that to be 6900lbs for a 350 truck. is that correct?

Edit: here's the document they mentioned... https://www.sulastic.com/SulasticAdm...5ba8016677.pdf

 

thanks for the pic mark. i don't think i'd feel comfortable cutting/grinding part of the hanger and risking a loss of structural integrity. however, looking at all sulastic springs they have, it looks as so i may have no choice than to do just that if i do decide to use the springs.

 

Here is a better view. The first picture over states the amount of cutting needed....

 

I just picked up a sponsorship to help them design units for the front of our trucks. I'll let you guys know how they work.

 

help them design the springs for the rear as well so that we don't have to grind the spring hanger for clearance!

 

From the looks of it I think a little clearace grind on their shackle would do the trick.

 

are those pics from your truck or a 1st gen? do you have more pics of them installed?

 

Those were sent to me by the company, but they are supposedly 1st gens.

 

the first pic is definitely a 1st gen. the second pic doesn't quite look like one although the hanger is similar.

 

Has anyone installed these? If so, how well do they work and how long do they last?