I have been reading around here alot and am having trouble finding info on what leaf springs and mounts to use to put my explorer axle under my 56 frame. I dont have stock f100 springs, and the explorer ones i have are very worn out.

 

www.midfity.com for the rear springs (unless someone here has an extra set), and the stock explorer spring pads relocated for the explorer rear axle. You'll then have to get different U-bolts and stuff since the axle tube should be bigger in diameter than the stock Dana 44.

 

TCI and others make rear spring kits.
http://www.totalcostinvolved.com/pdf/TCI_pg23-24.pdf

Sam

 

Am i best off running leaf springs for a f100? or adapting something else to fit?

 

wow.. that all depends!..

there are tons of trucks with leaf springs running along just fine.
I will keep them on my 56.

if you are going airbags then u will need something else..
I have a lincoln/mustang 8.8 triangulated rear on bags in my 55.

many like the ride of 4 bar suspensions, with coilover shocks.

and there are many different configurations of leaf springs that provide more ride comfort (less carrying capacity), lower ride height (remove leafs, flip the mount eye to the top, change the leaf spring rate, replace with monoleafs, ...)

just depends on how much skill u have or have available to go to whatever direction you want..

Sam

 

Hey Mustang5.0,
We also have an explorer 8.8 as a rear axle. Why do you think the springs are shot? We picked our axle off a 2001 Explorer for $125 - why not just go get some that aren't shot & replace the ones you have? The 4 link coilovers can be had fairly reasonably - I think I'd go that route if the Explorer rear end doesn't work out.

Pics might help. We have spent a lot of time in the Keene/Walpole area - lovely state.

Ben in Austin

 

Im just lookin for a realtivly cheap set up. The explorer springs are shot cause the truck they came off of had 240k on it. The left side sagged about and inch and a half lower than the right. You can visually look at the left spring and it looks straighter than the right. I got the axle for free so i can complain and the bearings and gears inside are still good.

The frame i have is a bare from with just front leaf spring mounts for the rear suspension. thats why i wondering if im better off with a different set-up. I thought i read one here about using ranger spring mounts and but cant find the thread.

 

Ranger might work. I have a 83 ranger frame sitting next to a 51 f-2 frame and it looks like they could be moved over to it,springs and all.

 

I just sold a 2004 Explorer but it had independent suspension in the rear (coils not leafs), handled like a sportscar!
I found this listing where a dude used a newer explorer to build his 1951... pretty cool build.

1951 Ford Truck ,All ford Explorer running Gear | Mooresville | eBay Classifieds (Kijiji) | 12247368

Wally

1951 F1 - "Lucille'

 

This is my Explorer 8.8 with TCI springs. I had to modify the perches and get new u-bolts that would fit the 3 1/4" tubes, but otherwise worked well. They use almost all the original holes from the stock spring mounts. About 500 through Speedway.
It is actually my '52 with an Explorer rear end.

 

I used a pair of 90 Dodge D-50 rear springs and shackles I found in a salvage yard for $70 in my 49 F-1 with a Chevy 10 bolt...worked out very well.

 

Hmm. I like some of these set-ups and deffinatly want to lower the truck. If im going to be at th $500 mark i like the look of 4-bar rear suspension, parallel leaf-springs, triangulated 4-bar kits

They have a leaf spring set-up that looks very complete.

 

Here is a pic of our Explorer 8.8. We had to move the cross member & have the shock perches re-welded. If you just use the explorer pieces & do a little welding it's not $500 - more like $200. Good luck over there.

Ben in Austin

 

With my Explorer rearend I used leafsprings from a Ranger/Bronco, they lowered the truck a little and rode very well. I used them for about 6 years before I went with TCI's lowered rea leaf spring kit.

 

Did you also use the mounts and shackles from a ranger? Also did you keep the axle over the springs?