Notices
Offroad & 4x4
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Broken leaf spring

Old Aug 14, 2012 | 06:17 PM
  #1  
Norton72's Avatar
Norton72
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
From: Burton, Texas
Broken leaf spring

I found that I have a broken leaf spring on my 71 F250. It's the front passenger side, the top leaf about 2-3 inches from the front. I don't drive on rough roads much, other than my .5 mile driveway and some crappy roads in town. How much of a problem is this going to be until I can get it fixed? I have a 600 mile road trip coming up in about a week (all highway miles) and I don't know that I'll be able to replace it before then. Can it be welded? Or some kink of strap put on it? Know where to get a replacement?
 
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 06:23 PM
  #2  
hav24wheel's Avatar
hav24wheel
FTE Chapter Leader
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,273
Likes: 100
From: North Dakota
Club FTE Silver Member

Should get replaced asap
 
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 06:59 PM
  #3  
Norton72's Avatar
Norton72
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
From: Burton, Texas
Thanks, that's what I figured. Got any idea how to find one? I find a lot of rear leafs, especially 2WD, but no fronts. How late of a model truck can I get one from? Or is there an even broader compatibility with other trucks/vans? These are stock leaf springs. The one that broke on mine has rust that shows it's been broken about halfway across for a good while. I just bought the truck in May.
 
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 09:53 PM
  #4  
Norton72's Avatar
Norton72
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
From: Burton, Texas
I see Summit sells these sets but seems like they are all for 2" or 4" lift. I'm having a hard time finding stock height. I guess if I had to use springs off another brand of truck, or a later model truck or whatever, I would have to know the width, length and arch of my stock leaf springs, right? What other figgers would I need to know?
 
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 09:54 PM
  #5  
alpha/omega's Avatar
alpha/omega
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 2
Buy 2" lift springs for a 77.5-79
 
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 10:02 PM
  #6  
Norton72's Avatar
Norton72
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
From: Burton, Texas
Awesome, thanks a/o. I knew you guys knew your shiite here. Hell, I've heard some of y'all can cobble together a truck out of just about anything.
 
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 10:12 PM
  #7  
alpha/omega's Avatar
alpha/omega
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 2
Whoever told you that is a liar
 
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 10:15 PM
  #8  
alpha/omega's Avatar
alpha/omega
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 2
Oh, you may have to clearance the front hangers slightly depending on the front wrap of the spring.

Regardless, 2" lift lowboy springs will be cheaper than factory height highboy springs from someone like lmc blueoval or carpenter and are essentially the same height
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

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

 Brett Foote
story-7

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 10:22 PM
  #9  
Norton72's Avatar
Norton72
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
From: Burton, Texas
Originally Posted by alpha/omega
Whoever told you that is a liar
Hey, I never said they meant it in a good way.

Originally Posted by alpha/omega
Oh, you may have to clearance the front hangers slightly depending on the front wrap of the spring.
Ok, I'll deal with that question when I get to it.
 
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 10:25 PM
  #10  
alpha/omega's Avatar
alpha/omega
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by Norton72
Hey, I never said they meant it in a good way.
No one on FTE speaks of the offroad forum regulars in a good way.
 
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2012 | 08:08 AM
  #11  
kjett's Avatar
kjett
Post Fiend
20 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,121
Likes: 1
From: Springfield, VA
Originally Posted by alpha/omega
No one on FTE speaks of the offroad forum regulars in a good way.
quoted for truf.
 
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2012 | 09:48 AM
  #12  
Norton72's Avatar
Norton72
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
From: Burton, Texas
Confused

LMC shows my leaf springs here. It says 5 spring set is $349.95 and 6 spring set is $174.95 Why such a discrepancy in price? I gotta get home and see which I have. I guess while I'm doing this I'll replace the shocks, mine are in bad shape. Urethane bushings and such as well? And I see that many here do the u-bolt flip. Does that entail much more than simply flipping the u-bolt?
 
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2012 | 10:20 AM
  #13  
mark a.'s Avatar
mark a.
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,922
Likes: 153
Are you saying the main leaf broke ?
 
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2012 | 10:30 AM
  #14  
Norton72's Avatar
Norton72
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
From: Burton, Texas
Yessir, it's the main leaf. The top one that attaches to the shackle.
 
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2012 | 12:34 PM
  #15  
alpha/omega's Avatar
alpha/omega
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 2
inhales deeply...


The difference is likely due to the gvwr of your truck. Do you haul heavy loads? If not go cheap. The individual leaves in the 5 leaf pack are probably thicker than the individual leaves in the 6 leaf pack.

Shocks, go fairly cheap. Your truck wont ride like a Caddy with the best shocks. $40-50 ea is a good price. I like the poly bushings. They dont seem to last as long but in their lifespan they work better if that makes sense.

For the ubolt flip do a search for my George v4.0 thread. I flipped my ubolts on my 60 among other things. No, it is not a simple flip the brackets over. You have to make/buy new top plates and buy new round ubolts as opposed to square ones.
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:37 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

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


VIEW MORE
story-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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