Saggy Backside
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 20
From: Four Oaks, NC
Saggy Backside
No, not talking about the style of pants I wear 
My truck (69 F100) sags pretty badly on the passenger side. I added a set of helper springs a couple of years ago and that restored the ride height for a few months, but steadily drooped and drooped until it was back where it was before. I replaced the front coil springs a couple of years ago as well, so now I think my best way to address it is to replace the rear leaf springs with new ones. I was thinking, instead of just stock replacement, should I go for an upgrade? Springs from a 4wd bump perhaps? Or a mid 70's dentside? I use the truck pretty often to carry lumber, topsoil, etc, so it works to earn it's keep. Tougher is better and these springs have just gotten too soft I believe.
My truck (69 F100) sags pretty badly on the passenger side. I added a set of helper springs a couple of years ago and that restored the ride height for a few months, but steadily drooped and drooped until it was back where it was before. I replaced the front coil springs a couple of years ago as well, so now I think my best way to address it is to replace the rear leaf springs with new ones. I was thinking, instead of just stock replacement, should I go for an upgrade? Springs from a 4wd bump perhaps? Or a mid 70's dentside? I use the truck pretty often to carry lumber, topsoil, etc, so it works to earn it's keep. Tougher is better and these springs have just gotten too soft I believe.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 20
From: Four Oaks, NC
I'm busy surfing right now, looks like 2wd springs from 73-79 will fit, but the 4x4 springs are wider I don't know about them. But I am seeing a lot of upgrade possibilities. Too bad the 4x4 ones don't work for me I found a good deal on Jeff Bronco Graveyard. Another possible problem though is that there are different length springs depending on whether I have standard shackles, or EZ ride shackles. I will have to measure the springs to see which I have.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
Price a local spring co. to make them.
Ford's spring chart does not list with or without Dana 60.3, with or without Flex o matic, or anything. This was the heaviest F100 4X2 spring:
68/72...6 LEAF...1650# capacity (1850# for 72 because rated different)....C8TZ5560C...(C6TZ5588G aux spring)...2 1/4" wide....from center of bushing to center bolt are 24" and 32".
4-1/4" thick leafs.
1-5/16" leaf.
1-5/8" leaf.
68/72...6 LEAF...1650# capacity (1850# for 72 because rated different)....C8TZ5560C...(C6TZ5588G aux spring)...2 1/4" wide....from center of bushing to center bolt are 24" and 32".
4-1/4" thick leafs.
1-5/16" leaf.
1-5/8" leaf.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 20
From: Four Oaks, NC
Ford's spring chart does not list with or without Dana 60.3, with or without Flex o matic, or anything. This was the heaviest F100 4X2 spring:
68/72...6 LEAF...1650# capacity (1850# for 72 because rated different)....C8TZ5560C...(C6TZ5588G aux spring)...2 1/4" wide....from center of bushing to center bolt are 24" and 32".
4-1/4" thick leafs.
1-5/16" leaf.
1-5/8" leaf.
68/72...6 LEAF...1650# capacity (1850# for 72 because rated different)....C8TZ5560C...(C6TZ5588G aux spring)...2 1/4" wide....from center of bushing to center bolt are 24" and 32".
4-1/4" thick leafs.
1-5/16" leaf.
1-5/8" leaf.
Leaf Springs 1942 - 1972 Ford F100
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
I don't think those prices are high. Except freight will be! Let your fingers do the walking in your local Yellow Pages. Call some local spring shops. You might get some local and not pay through the nose in freight.
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
Ford's spring chart does not list with or without Dana 60.3, with or without Flex-O-Matic, or anything. This was the heaviest F100 4X2 spring:
68/72...6 LEAF...1650# capacity (1850# for 72 because rated different)....C8TZ5560C...(C6TZ5588G aux spring)...2 1/4" wide....from center of bushing to center bolt are 24" and 32"
68/72...6 LEAF...1650# capacity (1850# for 72 because rated different)....C8TZ5560C...(C6TZ5588G aux spring)...2 1/4" wide....from center of bushing to center bolt are 24" and 32"
C8TZ-5560-A (#1250) & C8TZ-5560-C (#1650) F100 2WD springs were used with Flex-O-Matic, as their dimensions are 24" > eyebolt < 32"
OP's F100 4WD C6TZ-5560-M (#1250) or C6TZ-5560-N (#1650) rear springs (Flex-O-Matic not available with 4WD) are 24" > eyebolt < 28"
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,008
Likes: 250
From: North Pole, Alaska
Just get some 68-72 250 springs and put under it. I put 69 f-250 springs under my 72 F-100 back in the 80's. It improved the ability to glide through curves besides carrying a load. My brother and I changed them in the driveway with 2 Hi-Lift jacks and two 24" wide pieces of logs as jack stands. We wore the F-100 springs out hauling 4000lb loads of hay.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 20
From: Four Oaks, NC
That link I posted was to "generalspringkc.com", that was to show the actual prices you could expect to pay for springs. If you go to LMC you'll find them for between $379 and $499 EACH. Wow.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,399
Likes: 40
From: El Dorado, Arkansas
You mentioned Dentside rear leaf springs. They are 2-1/2" wide. If you didn't change to the wider spring perches, the sides of the leafs would be hanging off the narrower Bumpside perches.
Dentside leaf spring U-bolt plates are also wider than Bumpside.
Dentside leaf spring U-bolt plates are also wider than Bumpside.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
Just get some 68-72 250 springs and put under it. I put 69 f-250 springs under my 72 F-100 back in the 80's. It improved the ability to glide through curves besides carrying a load. My brother and I changed them in the driveway with 2 Hi-Lift jacks and two 24" wide pieces of logs as jack stands. We wore the F-100 springs out hauling 4000lb loads of hay.
C8TZ-5560-B; D & E & D2TZ-5560-A are Flex-O-Matic springs: 24" > eye bolt < 32"
OP's F100 4WD springs (no Flex-O-Matic) are 24" > eyebolt < 28" / Same size as 1968/72 F100 2WD's without Flex-O-Matic.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 20
From: Four Oaks, NC
Well I knew there was a difference of 2.25 for original vs 2.5 for the Dents but I thought being only 1/4 inch difference, if it was to tight to fit in there a few minutes a grinder would clearance it for me. But sounds like it's not quite as simple as that?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 20
From: Four Oaks, NC
http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/...pst24bftoo.jpg
I had to remove the shackles that came with the new leafs and instead use my EZ-Ride shackles. The springs themselves are not too wide to fit in the bump brackets, but the eyelet that runs through the center is; it's about 3 inches. A minute or so with a cutoff wheel solves this problem.
http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/...ps54ph9k5w.jpg
"New" leafs in place with fresh hardware, truck sits level. Mucho improvement over my old leaf springs.
http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/...psypfvsedy.jpg