Mechanic info check, rear suspension shot

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Derick

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Hey all, so I'm trying to get by another 6-8 months on the 2500. I had a clunking in the rear end and took it to my [relatively new to me] mechanic. I'd like to get your opinion on this and a break down of what he said.

"You need both rear leaf spring assemblies. All the spacers are gone, and theyre slapping together and they should be solid"

So bit of background, I had him replace the body mount bushings a few months ago. The shocks are 4 years old at this point, and he did say that the front left shock, a bilstein 4600, is shot as well. As well as my rear bearings.

Ok, so the truck is 202k right now. The bearings, well I've never done them in my 70k of ownership...so I have to assume theyre factory. So those dont bother me. The bilstein failing at 4 years seems odd, but its not too expensive or time consuming to replace. My biggest concern (and cost) is the failure of these leaf spring packs. I dont do a LOT of heavy hauling. Most I do is take my enclose 12ft trailer with my goldwing in the back. That's about it, adn even then its only gone a max of like 600 miles in a weekend. I was actually hoping to to haul down to TN and back, twice, within a week, so about 1k miles....just to see if it could do it. I'm pretty confident it would be fine.

Anyhow, what's your take here? Springs aint cheap, shipping those springs aint cheap either....can they be rebuilt, or is this just a maintenance item at 202k?
 

Joseph Garcia

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I cannot personally help you with your question; however, other members on this Forum that are much more knowledgeable than me will chime in.
 

swathdiver

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Anyhow, what's your take here? Springs aint cheap, shipping those springs aint cheap either....can they be rebuilt, or is this just a maintenance item at 202k?

Any spring or truck shop ought to be able to re arch the springs and or rebuild the spring packs. Replacements whether GM or from Dayton Parts I do not find objectionable cost wise, at least for my 1500s. 22-1277 or 15752842, less then $300 each.

Years ago, my buddy's '06 2500 Silverado went just over 200K before needing new brakes and bearings and such.
 
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Derick

Derick

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Any spring or truck shop ought to be able to re arch the springs and or rebuild the spring packs. Replacements whether GM or from Dayton Parts I do not find objectionable cost wise, at least for my 1500s. 22-1277 or 15752842, less then $300 each.

Years ago, my buddy's '06 2500 Silverado went just over 200K before needing new brakes and bearings and such.
Well, I took your suggestion, and gave a truck/spring shop a call. They said replacing them is cheaper than rebuilding them. They wanted about 400ish per spring. I can get the pair on wrong auto for 460ish plus a hundred in shipping. I'm thinking of putting a for sale sign in the window.
 

OR VietVet

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Pics of the bad parts/places on springs. I used to work in a shop that did springs. I am also assuming that the spring shop you went to was giving you an installed price, parts and labor and that price is pretty good.

Back to the first tech. How is that shock "shot"? Leaking fluid? Bushings busted out of it? What?

Rear bearings? Axle bearings, right? Will get new seals and bearings and new fluid for how much? Is this a semi float or full float axle?

After you did the transmissio and if you do the work, if you sell, the price should reflect all this.
 

mb1500

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Makes no sense.

Leaf spring insulators, bushings, rebound clips, etc all available cheap. As OR VietVet said, pictures would really help here.
 

OR VietVet

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For a clunk noise, those springs would have to be in real bad shape, which I doubt just started all of a sudden. Maybe a loose u-bolt or problem at a perch? Need pics. Maybe spring eye bushings and make sure the spring shop included those in the $400 each side estimate. Maybe a loose spring eye bushing bolt? Maybe a shackle bushing problem? Maybe, maybe, maybe....
 

swathdiver

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SDTruckSpring is $707 for two new spring packs delivered to my door by truck freight. I know you've not been happy with that truck for time now. Sell it and get what you want.

Those Dayton and Dorman prices at RockAuto aren't bad either.
 
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Derick

Derick

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SDTruckSpring is $707 for two new spring packs delivered to my door by truck freight. I know you've not been happy with that truck for time now. Sell it and get what you want.

Those Dayton and Dorman prices at RockAuto aren't bad either.
That's what I'm trying to do. Found a 16 suburban/1500 in ohio that I'm trying to get lined up. But there are some administrative issues that I'm running into.

And I should calrify. It's been annoying, but the thing has never let me down. The paint is jacked up on it. There are 200k mile issues coming about, and thats OK. Those dont bother me. I'm just about done with it. I bought it as a work truck, it served me as such, helped me get all my debt paid off......it owes me nothing. it has never left me on the side of the road.
 

Geotrash

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That's what I'm trying to do. Found a 16 suburban/1500 in ohio that I'm trying to get lined up. But there are some administrative issues that I'm running into.

And I should calrify. It's been annoying, but the thing has never let me down. The paint is jacked up on it. There are 200k mile issues coming about, and thats OK. Those dont bother me. I'm just about done with it. I bought it as a work truck, it served me as such, helped me get all my debt paid off......it owes me nothing. it has never left me on the side of the road.
If you're in the market, I highly recommend getting one from Arizona, NM or another dry state. It's worth the flight and drive home for a rust-free truck.
 

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