using heavier duty leaf springs

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Apr 21, 2021 | 03:43 PM

plainroller

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6th Gear

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using heavier duty leaf springs

Hi, I need some advice I have a 1989 f-250 that has a GVWR of 6800 lbs. the rear leaf spring on the passenger side is broken and I would like to harvest a pair of spring from the junkyard to do the repair. I need to economize if I can and this truck isn't a daily driver so it doesn't need to be perfect. The problem I'm having is that all the junkyard trucks are 8600 lbs up, I think I've got a weird truck it also has a semi float 10.25 rear end which seems odd too, but I don't know a lot about these trucks.

So I can find donor trucks but there rear axle weights are like 6000 lbs mine is 4012. plus, I have a solid front axle unlike many of the trucks I see so I might not be able to swap out all 4 springs at once,if that would help.
The gist of it is
Can i swap springs with such a huge difference without the rear end lifted ridiculously and the handling thrown way off. and would it be possible to make the swap if I can swap front springs from the same truck too

i

Apr 21, 2021 | 03:55 PM

ford390gashog

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jan 2004

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From: Brentwood,CA

Well the springs will just be stiffer that's all. They will work fine. You say your truck has been converted to solid axle? Finding those in a junkyard can be hard. You will be looking for F-350 trucks to source those springs.

Apr 21, 2021 | 04:11 PM

Conanski

FTE Legend

Joined: Jun 2006

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

You have a light duty F250, those were more common in the early days and were often equipped with the smaller motors. Your truck did not come with a solid front axle some previous owner would have swapped that in, and trucks with a GVWR above 8500lbs were HD F250 or F350 models. You can use junkyard leafs for a repair without issue just make sure they are the same width, there were 2.5" and 3" wide leafs used for different configs.

Apr 21, 2021 | 04:51 PM

plainroller

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6th Gear

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I might be confused on the "solid" axle terminology, I just mean it isntt the TTB. It is a 4x4 and the little research I've done seems to indicate that not all 4x4's came with the TTB? I just got this truck not questioning you just trying to get myself sorted. And yes it has a 5.0 so not a big engine

Apr 21, 2021 | 05:01 PM

rla2005

Fleet Owner

Joined: Oct 2005

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From: Kentucky

Twin I-Beam (TIB) is the 2wd version of the Ford front suspension.

Twin Traction-Beam (TTB) is the F150/Bronco/F250 4wd front suspension

The F350 4wd trucks used a solid Dana 60 front axle.

Apr 21, 2021 | 05:06 PM

Conanski

FTE Legend

Joined: Jun 2006

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

Except for 1-tons all of the '87-97 4wd Ford trucks were originally equipped with a TTB. Have you run the VIN on this truck just to see if it matches the current config? Doing a SAS(solid axle swap) is popular in some areas.

Last edited by Conanski; Apr 21, 2021 at 05:09 PM.

Apr 21, 2021 | 05:08 PM

plainroller

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6th Gear

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Well I put mouth in front of brain apparently, Went back and looked at the mighty interweb again you guys are dead on. So going to go out fire up the grill for some ribs and see what axle I have. Guessing it will be from an f-350?. The buy a cheapo truck to help do house and landscape work around the place officially dead. The like a dog with a bone I'll fix this POS is on. Had some other issues too.