Leaf Springs
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 14
Likes: 5
Leaf Springs
Just finished painting the frame on my 1949 F2 and now getting ready to hang the leaf springs. I've run into a problem though, as I've noticed that the front leaf springs are not the same. One has 8 leafs, and the other has 9. Same situation on the rear leaf springs, as one has 12 leafs and the other has 13. Looked at my parts manual, and it lists two sets of front leaf springs for an F2; one with 8 leafs and one with 9. Same goes for the rears. Why would the truck have had different leaf springs on like this on it?
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 336
From: Bakersfield, CA
When considering the handling of a hi performance race car that must compete against similar cars to win a race, it's important that spring rates be tuned perfectly for the right situation.
When considering the ride quality of a factory car being sold new, it is paramount that the quality be smooth and comfortable, and reliable in demanding situations.
When considering getting your 16 year old work truck to the store tomorrow at 6am, loading it with 3000lbs of brick and mortar, then hauling it to the suburbs to build a wall, and your spring breaks on sunday afternoon and your brother in law runs the local wrecking yard, you put whatever the darn heck you need to make sure your truck makes it to the warehouse in the morning to complete the days job.
When considering the ride quality of a factory car being sold new, it is paramount that the quality be smooth and comfortable, and reliable in demanding situations.
When considering getting your 16 year old work truck to the store tomorrow at 6am, loading it with 3000lbs of brick and mortar, then hauling it to the suburbs to build a wall, and your spring breaks on sunday afternoon and your brother in law runs the local wrecking yard, you put whatever the darn heck you need to make sure your truck makes it to the warehouse in the morning to complete the days job.
Last edited by mOROTBREATH; Nov 7, 2025 at 11:30 PM.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 314
Likes: 259
I would guess a spring broke in the shorter stacks and was removed.
My truck had three broken springs in the rear. One in the main stack and two helpers. I simply removed the broken springs, cut down a couple springs and shuffled them around so both sides matched.
Was hoping it would soften the ride, but I hardly noticed a difference.
My truck had three broken springs in the rear. One in the main stack and two helpers. I simply removed the broken springs, cut down a couple springs and shuffled them around so both sides matched.
Was hoping it would soften the ride, but I hardly noticed a difference.
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 14
Likes: 5
Thanks for the replies! This shouldn't really surprise me since I found that the rear axle on the truck was a 53'/54' rear axle, so as mOROTBREATH stated, they used what they could find as things broke on the truck. Luckily the added leafs are shorties at the bottom of the stack, so I'm just going to pull those out to balance things out.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
