What a difference!
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
From: Temecula, California
What a difference!
Finished removing a couple of leaf springs on all four corners and added some poly slide material between the springs after some clean up. The truck now rides like a dream. Installed caster wedges up front(missing) and the sterring has improved.
Now it's time to start collecting the parts needed to do rear gear change. Will be changing ratio from 3.92 to 3.54. Need little more speed for freeway driving.
Have a great day
Now it's time to start collecting the parts needed to do rear gear change. Will be changing ratio from 3.92 to 3.54. Need little more speed for freeway driving.
Have a great day
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,014
Likes: 9,967
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Thats great! I've been considering doing something like that but I wasn't sure it would make that much of a difference.
How many degrees were the shims you put in the front?
I recently changed my rear gears from 4.11's to 2.75's....highway driving is a breeze now.
Bobby
How many degrees were the shims you put in the front?
I recently changed my rear gears from 4.11's to 2.75's....highway driving is a breeze now.
Bobby
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
As far as how many leaves to remove... The good news is that it's not a permanent mod. Pretty easy to throw one back in if you over do it. I run a four leaf rear spring and my truck rides very nice. My truck does no work either. The truck sits lower than it did 10 years ago when I did it. I am about to add the 5th leaf back. It's probably an hour job if you don't allow the hardware to rust and use air tools.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
Hey Garry, my COPD has hampered the knee recovery, so they now have in a pulmonary rehab program.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
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From: Houston
Joe, do you know what caused the COPD? I have a friend that had it from welding his whole working life. He never smoked or painted, the doctor told him it was from the welding. Hazards everywhere if overdone I guess. When I paint with urethane, I use new carbon filters in my respirator each day that I use it. Expensive, but cheaper than any visit to the Doctor. Luckily I don't very often paint with Urethane.
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
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From: Crossville, Tn
Joe, do you know what caused the COPD? I have a friend that had it from welding his whole working life. He never smoked or painted, the doctor told him it was from the welding. Hazards everywhere if overdone I guess. When I paint with urethane, I use new carbon filters in my respirator each day that I use it. Expensive, but cheaper than any visit to the Doctor. Luckily I don't very often paint with Urethane.
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
From: Temecula, California
IThe poly slide material goes between each leaf. I only removed two leafs from the rear and 3 from the front because someone installed an extra leaf. I used 4 degree caster wedges. Will be going to the alingment shop in the next few weeks to get it checked out.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 892
Likes: 85
From: Western Massachusetts
I did the same on my 54. Purchased the poly liners from Mid-Fifty. Removed every other leaf from both the front and rear. It's not road ready yet so I don't know the effect on ride quality. I may need to put one or more back in the front because most of the arch is gone and the front shackle doesn't have much swing room remaining. There is only about 2" of space to the bump stop on the frame. Any idea what the stock dimension would be between the bump stop and spring mount? Have not purchased shocks yet. Posts on this forum have said that higher quality shocks used with stock suspension also improve ride and handling quality. Then there is the question of which shocks to get after we have altered the spring travel limits. For me I like the idea of improving the stock set up rather than transplanting a new front suspension.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
The good HMW slide strip like MF sells has raised edges to keep it in place. You can safely remove every other leaf. There are instructions in the MF catalog on which leafs to remove. You will need shorter centerbolts. Also use the centerbolts with taller heads if you are going to double up the wedges. If they are too long you can shorten them with a grinder, just be sure they are long enough to fully index into the holes in the axle spring pad. 2" between the spring and the bump stop should be enough travel if you don't use poor/worn out shocks and/or don't go off-roading, just don't remove the bump stops all together.
FTE fan
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,674
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From: paradise, northern calif.
Congrats, and thanks for sharing your results with the rest of us. Ive read alot of posts over the years about spring removal, but this is the first that I remember of doing all four, using the spring liners ,and posting the "post" install the results. I get the feeling from alot of the replies, that Ford may have over sprung these trucks for todays driving conditions? PS thanks AX, for reminding me that I forgot the bump stops when I did my front end.
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