Notices
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Slick Sixties Ford Truck

Rear leaf spring hack job

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 12, 2011 | 09:47 PM
  #1  
Spyderjohn's Avatar
Spyderjohn
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
Rear leaf spring hack job

Getting ready to tidy up the rear end on my '66. Obviously the PO cut the spring and made some modifications but I'm not sure what he did or why. Does anyone have a clue what he did here? guessing lowered a bit and de-stiffened the springs.

Also, does anyone have a pic of an original setup?



 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2011 | 09:55 PM
  #2  
63' f100's Avatar
63' f100
Elder User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 554
Likes: 1
I dont know how many springs are original, but It would seem to me like that extra one was added to allow it to carry more weight without flexing as much. Its jerry-rigged thats for sure.
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2011 | 10:30 PM
  #3  
Jetcopterpilot's Avatar
Jetcopterpilot
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 0
From: Rossmoor at Seal Beach
It looks like the PO added a Helwig helper spring set, and then later cut most of it off!
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2011 | 11:11 PM
  #4  
lvin4jc's Avatar
lvin4jc
Fleet Mechanic
15 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 4
From: Rapid City, SoDak
It would appear that your truck may have been used to haul a D9 Caterpillar Bulldozer in the bed at one time.
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2011 | 10:32 PM
  #5  
Spyderjohn's Avatar
Spyderjohn
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
anyone have pics of a stock setup?
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2011 | 10:42 PM
  #6  
Jetcopterpilot's Avatar
Jetcopterpilot
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 0
From: Rossmoor at Seal Beach
Sorry mine is an F250 with 11 leaves per side in the rear, quite a stack of metal!
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2011 | 11:40 PM
  #7  
Bill W's Avatar
Bill W
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,564
Likes: 4
From: Tucson
i have a couple of pics.






mine are 5 pack springs, i think they came in 7, 9 and 11 spring packs as well
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2011 | 11:50 PM
  #8  
Tobys351.9's Avatar
Tobys351.9
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: ?whr down the crazy river
Club FTE Gold Member
That is a stock setup

the springs that you have are the same as my '66
only someone hacked the ends off of the auxiliary
leaf.
Yeep, it's a hack job alright.
I think that they came with like, 3 different leaf
configurations for different load limits that one is
the middle one, 1650 lbs. Me thinks. I saw that on here
somewhere.
they obviously annoyed the owner of a torch at one
time in the trucks life.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 14, 2011 | 10:59 AM
  #9  
Spyderjohn's Avatar
Spyderjohn
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
where would one find a replacement auxiliary leaf? Is there a part number?
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2011 | 11:05 AM
  #10  
Jetcopterpilot's Avatar
Jetcopterpilot
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 0
From: Rossmoor at Seal Beach
here is a link to John's F-funhundreds, if they don't have it, they will know where to go.. But I would start in the junk yards first of all!

https://secure25.securewebsession.co...shop/index.htm
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2011 | 10:56 PM
  #11  
RJP66F100's Avatar
RJP66F100
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 398
Likes: 3
From: AR
Originally Posted by Spyderjohn
where would one find a replacement auxiliary leaf? Is there a part number?
As far as function, your pics look like it would work like original.

Cutting ends off shouldn't have lowered ride height any.

(As others have said)At sometime someone added a aftermarket "overload spring" which didn't effect ride when the truck was "empty". When loaded heavy enough, the overload spring would touch the extra brackets bolted to the frame and start helping hold up the load.
Later someone torched the ends of the added leaf off for whatever reason making it all useless.

Yes I would want to remove it, but it would be to tidy it up as you said. Wouldn't be any other effect.
Bad part is you need to round up some stock length u-bolts & possibly u-bolt plates & misc.
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 03:55 AM
  #12  
NumberDummy's Avatar
NumberDummy
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by Spyderjohn
where would one find a replacement auxiliary leaf?

Is there a part number?
C3TZ-5588-A .. Auxillary Spring-Use w/5 leaf spring pack-1963/66 & 6 leaf spring pack-1963/65 only / Obsolete

No Ford Dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.

"As original" 1965/66 F100 2WD:

5 leaf, 950 lb. load rating.

6 leaf, 1,250 lb. load rating.

9 leaf, 1,650 lb. load rating.

Any spring shop can make new springs, but do you really need it?

Your truck has the 5 pack spring set. If you don't require the extra spring, either leave the remains of the auxillary spring in place or remove it.

If you remove it, you will have to replace the U-bolts, as they're too long to use w/just 5 leafs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1965 F100 4WD as original: 7 leaf, 1,450 lb. load rating; 11 leaf, 1,950 lb. load rating.

1966/69 F100 4WD as original: 6 leaf, 1,250 load rating; 9 leaf, 1,650 lb. load rating.
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 04:41 AM
  #13  
The Masked Rider's Avatar
The Masked Rider
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,670
Likes: 8
I used to have a heavier set in my truck but I had a fab shop build me factory spec 950 lb set. Rides much nicer. For those heavier loads, I have a set of 2,500 lb air bags I installed. Have had the air bags in for 15 yrs now. Work great. The air pump is mounted on the frame just under the cab. The air control/gage in mounted under the dash.
Nice set up.
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 09:45 AM
  #14  
Tobys351.9's Avatar
Tobys351.9
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: ?whr down the crazy river
Club FTE Gold Member
Axle vent hose

The pic in post #7 has a good view of
the axle vent hose and how it is attached
to the frame, that was discussed a while
back, looks original.
Mine was rotted off and plugged.
Caught that when I did the brakes.
Just tryin' to build me some post #s
Peace
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 02:53 PM
  #15  
Spyderjohn's Avatar
Spyderjohn
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
I think I found an auxiliary spring at the pullapart. This one is off of a '65. Might need a coupla bumpes but it looks to be in decent condition. Is there any way to tell from my VIN tag which springs came on this truck originally?
Tag was posted here
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
capelo
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Oct 27, 2013 05:21 PM
silly34
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
101
Mar 11, 2013 07:51 AM
KhanTyranitar
Aerostar
6
Aug 27, 2011 09:29 AM
polarspeed
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
22
May 12, 2011 07:04 PM
SkySkiJason
Excursion - King of SUVs
22
Mar 30, 2011 07:46 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:06 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE