Looking at replacing my rear leaf springs. They are so worn out that I can't hardly haul anything without the rear end dragging the ground.

Truck is a 1984 F150 2WD 133"WB

I want something a little more heavy duty, and yes, I know that I can't haul more than GVWR

That being said I was looking at a stiffer spring for vehicle handling and I want to be able to tow a car hauler with a light car without it looking like my bumper is dragging the ground.

I did upgrade the front coil spring to CC820 w/ #1428 lb rating
Awesome Upgrade BTW!!

For the rear I was looking at the
43-711 @#1850 lb rate 5(4/1) 31"
43-711HD @#2450 lb rate 6(5/1) 31"
43-883HD @#2200 lb rate 5(4/1) 32"
Taller than stock ride height is ok

I see that one is 31" and the other is 32" in length...
Will either one work/fit or am I stuck buying what ever length spring is currently on the truck??

Also how stiff of a ride are we looking at with these??
I want stiffer but not rock hard...I don't mind a truck that rides like a truck

Any comments concerns or opinions would be great.
Especially if you have tried any of these choices

Cheers!!

 

I am going to assume when you replaced the front springs it raised the front some and got rid of the stock rake the truck had(higher in the rear empty)?

Originally the truck sat higher in the rear and had a progressive spring pack. If you look at your spring pack, it will have lightweight curved springs on top, and a short thick flat spring on the bottom. The thinner curved springs give a nice ride empty, and when loaded they flatten out till they hit the stiff thick spring on the bottom.

The fad the past few years are front leveling kits. This makes the truck sit level empty, but when loaded makes the truck look really bad when the rear springs flatten out. Look at the springs you are going to buy if you can. If they are all thicker and curved, they are going to ride terrible, the truck is going to bounce around empty and be harder to handle. Some people don't mind this, but I am getting old and appreciate a nice cushy ride.

After saying all this, if I were looking at spending some money on this, and the truck sits and rides good empty, I would consider getting a air bag kit. You can deflate them when empty and not affect your ride comfort or ride height. When you are hauling or towing you can adjust them to suit the load.

 

With 5 post you are new(ish) so welcome to FTE.


Who are you look at for the springs?
If on line from where and what will shipping be?
If on line have you looked for a local shop that makes springs? When I lived in CT there was a spring shop that had been running since the 30's and if they did not have the spring in stock would make it for you. They also had bushings and U bolts/nut.


Now for that that trailer towing and springs. How often will you be towing this trailer and how often will you be driving the truck with no load in the bed or trailer in tow?
I ask because if you go to heavy on the springs besides riding ruff when you hit bumps the rear end can jump out on you. This is where you are going straight hit a bump and the rear jumps left or right, not fun at 60+ MPH!


So what you may want is a stock HD spring and add a helper spring that only works when you have a load in the truck or maybe better air bags so when you have weight you add a little more air to the bags.


Another option is stock HD springs and a weight disturbing (WD) hitch for the trailer.
My 02 Durango uses this setup to pull my open deck car trailer and truck has the trailer towing package.
I am building a 81 F100 flare side with a 300 six/T18 trany as a back up. It will also used the WD hitch setup with the stock 1981 springs.


Also DO NOT over look a brake controller for the trailer. My 81 is far from being on the road but it will have a controller for the trailer brakes.
Dave ----

 

Do you know what your trucks spring code is?

 

Sorry to say I don't.
The project truck is a 81 F100 flare side SB, parts truck is a 81 F100 style side LB.
The cert. sticker on the door post for both my trucks are for 4700 GVW.


I know the FS had 1 helper spring, other spring was MIA but the brackets were still there. The SS was all stock and sat level so I have been using the best parts and that seams to be from the parts truck.
I am also adding some of the options from the SS to the FS like duel fuel tanks that never came on a FS truck.
Dave ----

 

Thanks for the welcome FuzzFace2!!

I am looking at places like, SD Truck Spring, General Spring, and Stengelbros(expensive) to buy springs. I think Sd is in Kansas...not too far from Dallas here

Good idea though! I will search for a local company here in Dallas

The truck is not my daily driver but does need to be safely driven un-loaded as I take it to work sometimes.
I did get the truck specificity to haul weight...but not deticated to a trailer if that makes sense....

Yes the new front springs leveled the truck which I know is bad for towing but my plan was to match them with a stouter rear spring and bring the rake back.

Ill try and load a shot of my door sticker but i know this truck has had like 30 previous owners and had an 8.8" rear end when it was suposed to have a 9".... so who know if the springs are stock. I did put a 9" back in her with 3.89 gears.

I don't want to go airbags....i like simplicity. Maybe hd stock springs and the nicer helper springs load leaf....like the Dodge hd trucks

 

If you can take a shot of that door jam sticker that would be awesome. It would be a good starting point.

Let me know if I can help you out with getting you setup with a spring that'll match your needs. We can make something up that will work for you if you don't want a super heavy spring but something more than what factory was able to offer.

 

http://www.eatondetroitspring.com/leaf-springs/

 

ATS sorry I just saw you are a sponser of springs and that question was for the TCFM.


Thanks for helping.
Dave ----

 

No problem!!

 

Adjustable coil-over shocks are an option that could be considered also. They do not take the place of weak springs but assist well with good springs under load. When empty, it will be a stiff ride though.

 

This is not so bad on our trucks as the upper mount is pretty solid but in a car going to a sheet metal mount you push the shock up thru the mount (trunk floor).

Now even with the better mount I still don't like to "lift" on shock mounts because they are not made for it. Over time they can crack and break off then you got to get them welded back on.
The mounts can also break if you run a stiff shock, had Rancho's do this more than once.

If I was to find the stock (good) springs could not handle the loads I needed to haul I would go with air bags first. They mount to the axle & frame cross member both made to lift. They can also be adjusted for load or no load as needed, like air shocks did but see above, and the ride would be like stock unloaded.

Next is a toss up between helper leaf springs add to the stock springs or a helper coil spring that mounts like the air bags do.

The add a leaf only comes into play when you have a load and the truck squats down some and the springs hit the helper mounts so truck rides like a normal unloaded truck.

The ones on the axle are in play all the time so can ride ruff all the time.
That's my .02
Dave ----

 

I agree with the helper spring and I have only used coil-overs with trucks...never on cars.

 

Blue Ox is a work truck, hauling and towing so her 5 leaf/coil-over set up suits her well. She's always hauling stone, mulch, lumber,etc. and plowing with weight on her hind-end.

 

That is why they make all the options they do so people can pick what works for them.


Is you "coil over" over the shock?
My project truck had helper coil, yes 1 the other was MIA when I got it, that mounted like the air bags do.
I may have kept them if I had both.


Just thinking have to see if I still have the mounting hardware as I think I could get new springs say thru Speed Way like they use on race cars once I know the spring size off the one I have.
That is far down the road.
Dave ----