I have been contemplating a transverse leaf rear end on my Ranger and was wondering what thoughts or advice you guys had. How should I go about it? What should I do or not do? Any considerations? Would I be able to do this with the Ford 8.8 independent rear axle from an explorer? Should I go Dana 44 instead? Thoughts please.

 

I may be displaying my ignorance, but the last transverse spring I saw was on a Model A, or was that a Model T?

Come to think of it, don't the new Corvettes have them?

 

The Corvettes have them as do the old Shelby AC Cobras

 

I would think the limiting factor would be payload. With two springs, you get maybe 1200 to 1400 pounds, with a single spring, that would be cut in half? How would you modify the rear frame to add a cross member above the rear axle to mount the spring? What happens to the rear tires during jounce and rebound with only half a spring controlling the travel?

 

The leaf springs as arranged now both locate the axle and provide suspension travel. Without them, you will need some sort of multi-link setup to locate the axle.