I’m doing a complete frame up restoration on my 92 Silverado 1500 two wheel drive. I’m going to keep it as original as possible. The truck has the original leaf springs. I’ve looked them over and I haven’t found any cracks or broken leaves. They look ok to me (other than being heavy as hell) I’m new to the rebuilding of vehicles. I don’t plan on pulling anything heavy with this truck, it’s just going to be my fun show truck. Since they are 32 years old should I replace them and if so what is a good company to go through?

 

I've got a 1996 still with the original leaf springs, and about once a year, it gets loaded down with a heaping load or two of mulch at the local garden center, which drops it about 6 inches if the mulch is wet. I've wondered about the springs in the rear myself, as I've severely overloaded the truck on occasion over the past 28 years. I do most of my hauling these days though with my 2006 Silverado work truck, since it has an 8 foot bed. The mulch thing is me and the wife getting both trucks full at once, so that we don't have to go back to the nursery a second time....

My thoughts are if you do not plan to haul or tow, the springs are probably ok. And weight in the bed will affect the springs more than towing will, assuming the tongue weight of the trailer is reasonable.

I am in a similar position with my 1996 step side, as I have dreams of a nice new paint job, reupholstery, and maybe an antique tag so that I can put around town in a couple of years when it turns 30. Saw several similar generation trucks pulling floats in a recent Christmas parade. It inspired me to start fixing little nagging mechanical issues this year.

I'll be watching this topic to see what you end up doing with the leaf springs.