I'm getting locally or ordering my new springs within a few weeks. Finally gonna have the cash. I sent an email to a spring company that Pete (pjwoolw) gave me a link to to see what they had to say. I was going to just order 99-06 F450 or F550 springs as they are almost the exact same, just the rear mount is 5/8" off but was told by someone else on here they work. I'm also getting new fronts as they are shot too. I asked them for more help as I don't know how much the rear will go up so I'll need to raise the front some so it doesn't look like crap. I'm gonna gain 1- 1 1/2 inches on the front with just stock replacements as mine are close to the bump stops. But if the back goes up 3-4, I'm gonna need an add a leaf or different leafs to start with.

I hope it doesn't go up too much in the rear or it may need bigger tires and lower gears to look right, and pull accordingly. I really don't want any taller tire with these 3.55's with what I do. Maybe then I'd have to find someone who wanted to do a swap..

I'll take some before and after pics, along with some while the work is going on also.

 

Anything higher than the stock two leaf springs will require a drop bracket for the D50. Otherwise you'll never get it aligned.

If there is a shop local to you ask them for a recommendation. Guessing is expensive!

 

Hmm, I don't want to mess with the dana, its in really good shape now. I realize its just a drop bracket, but..

All I really want is stock relplacement in front, but don't want it with a drag car rake ( or how Evan's truck was before he got the 4wd done! ). Going to check with our local shop and see what that spring company says also. Maybe I'm asking for the impossible...... How about stock replacements with an add a leaf?

 

Once you get to foolin with that D50 hight wise its a bear to align. The three leaf spring (43-498hd) was nice but I couldn't get it aligned with out a drop bracket. Even then its put you in between a rock and a hard place. As the drop brackets are designed to a higher lift. So I went back to the two leaf 43-498. So guessing was expensive. LOL. The two leaf spring is fine really. If the rear spring pack is too tall maybe a shorter or no spacer might be in order. The F250 is 2". F350 is 4". I don't think you would ever hit the frame bumper with a F450 spring.

 

I think that most add a leafs for the TTB were just a bandaid for the saggy oem springs and just brought it back up to factory ride height. Any more than that and you can't get the camber back to specs.

 

I'm sure you're right on the bandaid Rodney, that's the reason I never put one in. I however didn't know about the alignment issue being that stubborn with the 50. I knew it kinda sucked, but I guess you really don't want to mess with it.

I never thought about having a short block or no block at all in the rear. Thanks Pete, I'm gonna look at that tomorrow real close. Maybe my 10 spring pack and no block in the rear with stock fronts will work out for me.

Thanks again guys.

 

I've got a '97 with two leaves in the front and a '97 with three leaves in the front. Can I swap those without an alignment issue? The truck with three leaves seems to sit a little higher in the front and it's a parts truck so I was gonna put those springs in the one I'll be driving.

 

From what these two guys are saying Bill if the springs are worn, which they probably are, the 3 pack will probably work. Only one way to find out for sure....

 

Yep.........

 

Looked at my springs close today, I see no reason why I can't remove the block completely. It is of course 2 inches, and has no taper front to rear so my pinion angle should not get messed up. I will double check it for sure when I do this, but that is the plan now. New 10 leaf packs in the rear, and new stock replacements in the front. I'm gonna guess a 1 inch raise in the truck all the way around.

Thanks for the idea Pete! Tried to rep ya, but....maybe someone else can for me.

 

The company Pete gave me the link to answered my email yesterday (sunday!) and then another one right away this morning. He's got new springs off of a 2012 F550 super duty that were removed by ford and an air ride suspension installed (ambulance). 150 bucks each, which is quite cheap. 180 to ship the pair though but still reasonable. 148lbs each! Holy crap, I'm gonna need to eat about 10 bowls of wheaties the day I work on them!

Dad is checking today with our local spring shop and see what they can offer. ,

 

Local spring shop wants 310 bucks a piece for the rears, I'm gonna email this guy back and get the rears from him if I can. Save me around 140 bucks. I'm just gonna get the fronts locally though as the price isn't much different.

Pete if you come back on here, or anyone else for that matter, the number the local guy wrote down is 43-476 for the fronts. I just want to make sure that is right.

 

The 43-476 is the lowest weight rated spring at 2575 lbs. Followed by the 43-478 at 2755 lbs and the 43-498 at 3485 lbs. Darin what does the sticker on the driver door say for front end capacity? I put in the 43-498 springs in mine.

 

I believe front end sticker is 4600lb. Glad I asked, I'd think mine would take the same spring as yours. I'll double check the sticker today.

Thanks again Pete.

 

Ordering the rears tomorrow. They are a 5900lb, 10 leaf spring pack. Forgot to check the sticker, but I'll get it.