This is my first post here, have been lurking for years but I need some help choosing rear springs. I've got a 1955 f100, 2001 explorer rear that the previous owner poorly installed. I'm trying to make it right.
what I started with:








The shocks were shot & binding because they were mounted to the explorers sway bar mount, they were off center and chewing up the bushings, They also hit the exhaust, and I wanted to actually use the sway bar.

so I came up with this:



It still has the 60 year old springs on it that I would like to replace. The PO removed some leaves as well. The drivers side sags about an inch more than the passengers side but over all I like the current ride height so I don't want to change it much.

So I'm looking for 26 inches from the ground to the bed wood. Mid fifty has the calculator but im still not sure what springs to get any ideas?
It already has the mid fifty shackle drop


I'm almost ready to just purchase stock springs but want something a little lighter than original and im sure these have sagged but how much?

I welcome any thoughts, comments, or ideas.

Oh, and a pic of the full truck

 

Do your wheels rub on the wheel Wells? Just looks close, awesome truck though! I will leave the leaf spring ideas to the guys that have done it

 

They do rub up front if I drive it like I stole it with a passenger but not in the back.
Its not bad though, just a little on hard turns. The front suspension is next. New bushings, springs etc. The front suspension is from a 97 Ford Aerostar.

 

Well glad to see another old truck on the road regardless. I have to change out my rear springs too so I'm curious what the guys have to say for yours

 

Welcome Stub. I'm no expert on this because I have still to get to that part myself. What I do know is that there are numerous ways to skin this cat. So assuming you don't want to spend a lot of time and effort on it here's what I would do. Take both sides off and disassemble the spring packs. Compare the arch of each and look for a difference between sides to causing it to sit down. If you find some then take them into a specialist and get them to re-arch it. Re-assemble and done. If you don't find a difference then you could clean them up, repack and hope that does the trick. Otherwise buy new but run the risk of getting a height you don't really want. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

I'm no expert either but I've walked this path once - recently. there are bits of the story here in various places. My truck's PO removed all but 3 leafs and bent the tail end of the main leaf to get the ride height he wanted. I liked it and was working on a budget so when I replaced the 9 inch with a Explorer rear end (3.73, posi, disk brakes) I left the springs but the shock setup was really bad. The 3 leaf spring was way to light to tow a travel trailer so I had always planned to install air shocks but after breaking a leaf I replaced the springs with a 5 leaf set form Benz Springs in Portland, OR. I looked at the mid fifty products but they were a little more expensive and suspected it would be easier to work with a local supplier if I need to make adjustments. In the end I did need to have 2 inches of arch add to get 2 inches of clearance between the top of the pumpkin and the bottom of the bed. So after many iterations I ended up with 5 leaf reverse eye springs with 5 inches of arch on stock hangers with the front one flipped upside down, Monroe MA803 air shocks on DYI brackets.

 

Thanks guys! I may try to take them apart this weekend and check them out, maybe swap leaves around and try to get a common arch between the two.
​​​​i like the idea of having a local shop build a pack for me that fits though. You wouldn't happen to know of a place near Atlanta would you?