Better ride
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Southern IN.
Better ride
What can you do for a better, smoother ride. I know I am not exactly driving a Lincoln, but anything could help. I have a 79 F-150 Supercab 4x4 with a leafspring, solid axle front end. It is used mostly for a daily driver/tow vehicle. The only offroading it sees is my driveway. 2 inch is about the most I would want to lift it.
Thaanks, Matt
Thaanks, Matt
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
You're sure it's an F-150 and it has leafsprings up front? If so something is goofy here . . . F-150's should have coils up front. If they are leafs how many per pack?
Typically the leafs ride pretty poor compared to a coil spring. You can have a spring shop custom make a set which use more leafs, but thinner so they flex a little better. Downside is this gets pricey and still doesn't improve your ride very dramatically.
Typically the leafs ride pretty poor compared to a coil spring. You can have a spring shop custom make a set which use more leafs, but thinner so they flex a little better. Downside is this gets pricey and still doesn't improve your ride very dramatically.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
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From: Senoia, GA
to start out....try removing some leaves from all your packs. this always helps and it lowers the truck a lil bit! be careful though on the back! i wouldn't remove more than one leaf from your rear packs if you still tow/haul with it. also throw down the money and get a good reputable set of shocks! that always seems to help!
-cutts-
-cutts-
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From: GANS
Originally Posted by ivanribic
You're sure it's an F-150 and it has leafsprings up front? If so something is goofy here . . . F-150's should have coils up front. If they are leafs how many per pack?
Typically the leafs ride pretty poor compared to a coil spring. You can have a spring shop custom make a set which use more leafs, but thinner so they flex a little better. Downside is this gets pricey and still doesn't improve your ride very dramatically.
Typically the leafs ride pretty poor compared to a coil spring. You can have a spring shop custom make a set which use more leafs, but thinner so they flex a little better. Downside is this gets pricey and still doesn't improve your ride very dramatically.
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,415
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From: Reed Point, MT
Yeah, Bremen is right. I crapped my diggers when I first saw it too. The 1/2 ton four-wheel-drive supercabs used leaf springs in the front. You'd be surprised at how many true 'Ford people' don't know that. I only found out about 4 years ago and I've been a 'Fordaholic' my whole life.
Cody
In reponse to the question; you've got a leaf-spring vehicle. You don't drive a Lincoln.....hey, it's easy to lift, though!!!
Cody
In reponse to the question; you've got a leaf-spring vehicle. You don't drive a Lincoln.....hey, it's easy to lift, though!!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
Now I'm really confused. All the supercab F-150's around here have coils . . . I was just looking at one this weekend, it was a 78. 
Fishy, if it uses the same setup as the F-250 then you only have 2 leafs up front which doesn't really leave you much to pull there.
Fishy, if it uses the same setup as the F-250 then you only have 2 leafs up front which doesn't really leave you much to pull there.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
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From: Senoia, GA
o yea! i forgot stock packs only come with 2 leafs to begin with!!! you are right those front springs are dad-gummed STIFF! you might try to find a set of rear leafs from and old chevy 1/2 ton! i can't remember the years but they bolt right in and offer a MUCh better ride!
-cutts-
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Oregon
Custom leaf packs using more, thinner leaves. Order them to give you the two inch lift you want. Problem solved.
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Ivan, according to what I have found out, the 150 and 250 used the same frame and all, just different axles. Maybe the rear springs are a little different. In all, though, they are the same. Weird. Of course, now they use ifs and solid axle between the trucks, back then it was coils and leaves. I guess ford it so rich they can afford to tool up 2 sets of trucks 
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Southern IN.
It is a 150 it has two leaves up front with 5 lug axles. The frame is actually going to be a transplant for a 66 crew cab project I have going on. I wanted to upgrade to power steering, power disc brakes, etc. Plus, I figured if I am going to have a solid axle it should be 4 wheel drive and not a single i beam, 2 wheel drive.
Why woudn't air bags and a 4 link be good for a driver tow vehicle? They use bags on big trucks, don't they? Or is it just the 4 link part of it that woudn't be good?
Matt
Why woudn't air bags and a 4 link be good for a driver tow vehicle? They use bags on big trucks, don't they? Or is it just the 4 link part of it that woudn't be good?
Matt
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
Well sure enough this got me curious so I stopped to check on an F-150 Supercab yesterday and it did have the leaf springs (exact same horrible springs as the F-250). I'm going to have to drive back out to CDA, Idaho this weekend and have a look at that truck again to see if it's a custom hack job or what. Who knows, maybe they lengthened an F-150 frame to stick a supercab on it.
Fishy, when ho did the rear springs up front did he have to move the shackles back? They're longer springs, right?
Fishy, when ho did the rear springs up front did he have to move the shackles back? They're longer springs, right?