Ok, so I did a forum search and maybe its my lack of patience but I didn't find threads on my idea specifically so if there is one please help me out with a link


IDEA:

1990 Eddie Bauer. Swap leaf spring (I want it to be leaf springs!) solid axle Dana 44 front end!!

GOAL:

Have a nice street riding/light dirt Bronco with a solid axle and not go broke on custom parts. No need to over engineer with Dana 60 or rockwells, I have other trucks for mashing Dana 44 is cool for me.

CONSIDERATIONS:

1. Use 8 lug Dana 44 for future sterling rear-end swap, or 5 Lug Dana 44 and keep rims (cheaper for now not to replace rims)

2. Can I use a donor 80-91 F-250 for leaf spring shackles and mounting brackets? How about the springs too? What years frames are similar enough for me to use for my swap?

3. Cheapest place to find my donor Dana 44 and what are the best years to look for?

4. Steering linkage? Is it as "easy" as measuring proper drag link?

5. Shocks? Keep Bronco double shock set up and weld tabs on new dana 44?? Go single shock?

GENERAL SUMMARY:

So here is how I see it going down... Remove old Dana 44 TTB (brackets, coils, radius arms....etc) Next weld Spring brackets on front of frame, then mount shackles behind axle where shackles would go..ha! Hang leaf springs and set axle under. U-bolt axle up and now it's a "roller". Figure out shocks and steering, hook up brakes and drive shaft. Bronco should ride a little higher depending on what springs I get...


SUGGESTIONS:

Lets hear them! I think for a similar price of a lift kit I could fab this project... Am I off track or on the right idea (note...I do not like the TTB so lets skip talking me in to keeping it...)

thanks>>>

 

HAHA!!!!

Found me a website with my project done up the way I wanted!! Link:

SAS

any opinions?

 

I could be wrong, hell I probably am but does the '90 have the front crumple zone?
If it does you'll have to either cut them off or box over them.

 

I think crumple zone was 92 and up??

Anyone want to confirm?

 

yea 92+ when the bronco got airbag.


i wanna know why you want leafs up front. its not really any cheaper, the ride will suck and if you want to keep 5 lug you will spend hours grinding on the half ton d44

 

I WANT LEAF SPRINGS MAN!

 

making this so hard on yourself lol. have you been over to FSb to read up on their sas forum. EVERYTHING you need to know is there.

 

I agree with Kemical. Everything you need is on FSB. I don't see any advantage to using leaf springs up front, I actually see more disadvantages in addition to be harder.

Some people like to reinvent the wheel tho.