another sas question

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Aug 4, 2012 | 08:37 PM

f1001969mike

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Mountain Pass

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another sas question

okay so i got another question about doing a solid axle conversion on my 89 bronco
i wanna keep the truck right around the ride height i have it now, i dont want it to be riduculously high, i was wondering if anybody had used an f-350s front suspesion mounts on a bronco, just by taking the front shackles and hangers of a 89-95 f350 and modifying my broncos frame so they fit cause the front shackles on any 89-95 f150 require a knotch to be cut in the front of the frame rail for the hanger to stick down and attach to the leaf spring, id be comfortable with that ride height (89-95 f350) i just dont wanna compromise the structural integrity of the frame cause thats where my front end will be mounted, and would i have to box the rails? i only ask cause because the 89-93 f350s arent boxed

and what are the risks involved with grinding calipers? i wanna reuse my 33's when i do this but they are made for 15 inch wheels, they fit the rear drums for the sterling 8 lug, but i know they wont clear the calipers for the front (dana 60 95 f350)

Aug 4, 2012 | 11:25 PM

greystreak92

Lead Driver

Joined: Sep 2002

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From: Gateway to the West

The Bronco has ZERO provisions for mounting leaf springs to its frame. Modifying for leaves is tricky and a backward maneuver from coils. While I have never done this, nothing I have ever seen or found in my research supports the idea that swapping to leaf springs is preferred over keeping the coils. Even doing an SAS (backward in and of itself) needn't be more involved than it has to be. Modifications over OEM are almost always going to weaken something especially in this situation where you have a truck that the frame was designed to be held up via front coil springs. I know it has been done. I'm sure it can be made perfectly safe and sound. The idea defies logic for me. You have a better system in the coil springs (and in the IFS) and modifying would cost more time, effort and money to put leaves under it.

Aug 5, 2012 | 12:10 PM

huggyb1972

Tuned

Joined: Sep 2010

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From: Indianapolis,In

There are few guys that are running leaf SAS Broncos right now and seam to be having plenty of success most build a front spring hanger and put the shackle behind the axle. I have givin it some thought myself but I'm happy with coils so far.

Aug 5, 2012 | 03:05 PM

f1001969mike

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Mountain Pass

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call me crazy, but i think mounting leafs is much easier, and safer actually cause if you do coils and you dont get the track bar welded right and it breaks on the highway youve got NO steering what so ever, ive already got the leafs and a leaf spring front axle so thats half the battle, alls i need now is a few things, a 3/16 steel 2x4, and the shackles and hangars im gonna be useing i just dont want it to be crazy high, like i said i wanna re-use my 33's i just dont want them looking silly on my truck, if its to high theyll look tiny

now what about caliper grinding to fit 15s, anyone done this? is there a risk of the caliper splitting? the 15s will fit the back drums okay im just worried about the front

Aug 6, 2012 | 03:12 PM

PIKE

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I think the biggest problem most people run into with either coil or leaf spring ride height is crossmember clearance. You simply cant go that low without modifying the crossmember. Go here for your front spring mounts.
Ford Suspension Front Shackle Hanger Kit 88-97 - Sky's Off-road Design

Aug 6, 2012 | 04:33 PM

f1001969mike

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Mountain Pass

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yeah, i know some people have to cut the front portion of the cross member off so the axle doesnt strike it when goin over a bump, i saw one guy use chevy hangars in the reversal system, you know the ones that actually go through the side of the frame rail? he got a nice look out of it with 33's on it but of course that requires cutting a 1 and a half inch hole in the side of the frame rail i could always box the engine crossmember once i trim it to fit or even weld in an f350 crossmember (ill do some research on that one) whatever i do ill post picks it wont be a really big problem either cause i have another frame im putting it and im gonna do all the work on that before i swap the body on to it. the cummins the nv5600 everything will be mounted and fitted before the bronco's body gets swapped over so im lookng for the best possible way to do this and get the look and height i want

now what about caliper grinding?

Last edited by f1001969mike; Aug 6, 2012 at 04:33 PM. Reason: misspelling

Aug 6, 2012 | 04:42 PM

PIKE

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Caliper grinding, I dont know never done it. Have heeard of it being done. Take a sacrificial one and see how much meat you have to play with and go from there. There is more info on that on another site dealing with Boncos.