Having a hard time finding anything for this front end keeps destroying upper shackle bushing inside frame at the front of the leaf. I was thinking coil conversion but need ideas

 

I have no proof but I would think you can do this using F250 4x2 parts or even F150 4x4 parts, or a combination of those.

 

I've always thought those bushings were too small-they're TINY!

 

This has been discussed and I don't think it can be done without a lot of custom fabrication. The more popular thing to do is a sas... Solid axle swap.

 

I was afraid that's what you would say. I think I will try some fabricating to get polyurethane bushings in there and see what happens. I like the twin beam in the sand and loose gravel, would be nice to find someone who has conquered this design flaw without scraping the ifs I like the f-150 parts idea just don't know if u could get a heavy enough spring in there

 

I'm watching for a solution too. My reading tells me that:

-The rear spring mounts of a 4x4 and the rear mount of a 2 wheel drive radius arm use the same frame holes. Which also means a 2 wheel drive radius arm is a good starting point from a design and fabrication perspective.

-The 2 wheel drive coil spring tower should attach in place of the 4x4 shock tower.

The serious challenge is how to attach a radius arm to the TTB. If someone could solve that issue relatively cheaply I believe the rest of the system would use factory items. A custom coil spring may be needed.

 

F150 and F250 4x2 coils will interchange. I have F250 springs in my F150 right now that I took out of the 460 donor truck.

As far as the radius arm attachment goes, can't you use an F150 radius arm and bracket and just drill holes in the TTB arm? They just bolt on and the upper bolt also holds the coil spring mount on.

 

You could juist swap in a D44 TTB, i have read that you can use some of the D50 parts to "beef" up the D44. Also you'd then have to convert it to 8 lugs, which isnt too hard, jsut gotta find the pieces, but since you have a D50 donor, you'd prolly be good to go on most of the parts required.

 

Thanks for the good ideas never thought of 4x2 f-250 springs. Now all I have to do is get it done lol

 

Maybe leave the drive shafts out until the connection design is finalized?

And aren't the E250 vans a independent front too? Maybe use their radius arm as a starting spot rather than a light F150 arm?

 

Yes, the vans have the twin I-beam front. I had E-350 front springs in my 95 F-150.

I don't think converting to coils is really a good answer though. It's not going to just be a bolt in process, it's going to require custom work to get the suspension geometry right.

Why not just keep the leaf springs and put a good set of polyurethane bushings in? They will last much longer than the stock rubber ones.

 

It's two suspension designs fighting eachother. Running with the keep the leaf spring thought it seems to make sense to have good solid bushings on the leaf ends and the softest possible at the pivot points.

 

I agree about susp. geometry, my worry is that because that small bushing is the only thing that allows the leaf to twist as the beam travels that I will loose a great deal of suspension travel or end up bending the shackle that the bushing is in by going to poly. They should have put the coils on the 250 stock, what were they thinking putting leafs on a single pivot IFS.