Count your leafs
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
Count your leafs
I'm planning on removing some leafs on my springs both front and rear. I'm just curious how many leafs people have on their truck and how the ride is? Hoping removing a few will drop the truck to where I want it to sit. I'm running six in the rear and four up front. Thinking about pulling two on each end.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Seattle WA.
You should think about other options, removing anymore leafs on stock springs could lead to breakage. I would opt for having the eyes reversed it runs around $60.00 a spring if you R&R. New springs, or one of the new 3" dropped axles from Mordrop.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Littleton, New Hampshire
You might get away with 4-5 leaves on the rear if you don't use the truck for hauling, but I wouldn't remove any more from the front. You can consider mono leafs, reversed eye springs, lowering blocks, or raised spring hangers. 
Vern
Vern
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From: Iowa
imlowr2
I know I've given my opinion on this one before. I am running 4 in the rear and it rides very nice. I could fill up the back with groceries, but I wouldn't haul a load of dirt. I ran five for a while, it was much stiffer, to the point of uncomfortable, but I could have hauled a lot more.
I agree with the other guys for the front. I've read a lot of complaints from dumping too many front leaves.
Important question is what are you building? I admit I am building a car disguised as a truck.
I know I've given my opinion on this one before. I am running 4 in the rear and it rides very nice. I could fill up the back with groceries, but I wouldn't haul a load of dirt. I ran five for a while, it was much stiffer, to the point of uncomfortable, but I could have hauled a lot more.
I agree with the other guys for the front. I've read a lot of complaints from dumping too many front leaves.
Important question is what are you building? I admit I am building a car disguised as a truck.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Minnesota
Which leafs are you leaving in the front? I removed every other in the rear on my F3. In the front of my F3 I have 8 leafs. I am leaning heavily towards running the 5 longest ones and leaving out the three short ones. That would allow me to keep the spring clamps in place and the longer springs should have a better spring rate.
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From: Santa Clarita
Lets see if I can answer some questions. 51 Ford, as for my truck right now, the front already has a dropped 2" axle installed. I've looked into the reverse eye and mono leaf springs, however people state that don't like the mono leafs for various reasons. Not sure on the reversed eye springs. Fat fenders, I remember reading your posts on five springs. I guess this means you removed one more? Did it lower the truck with one more out? As far as your question? I know its a truck, it will always be truck. However, I love the look of these trucks when they are low. (mind you, not slammed, just low to the point where the fender meets the top of the tires. That's what I'm trying to acheive without spending a few grand to do it. It appears that a majority of us in here are opting not to remove leafs from the front? I need about two inches in the rear and one in the front, I should be good. And I'd be a happy camper. It seems whenever I go to shows, everyones truck sits lower and looks sweet that way. Just my opinion. Any help is appreciated.
Last edited by imlowr2; Nov 1, 2004 at 09:05 AM.
Posting Guru
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From: Michigan
I have 5 leaves with reversed eye on the rear plus I moved the spring mounts up 1 inch.
The only thing with reversed eye (I can only speak about the 56 F100) in the rear you do need to swap the front mount side to side and flip them so the spring won't bind.
I would not remove any leaves from the front, I would reverse the eyes on the main leaves.
One interesting observation my 2003 F150 SC came stock with 3 leaves and the bell tech lowering springs that I installed are only 2 leaves.
Chuck
The only thing with reversed eye (I can only speak about the 56 F100) in the rear you do need to swap the front mount side to side and flip them so the spring won't bind.
I would not remove any leaves from the front, I would reverse the eyes on the main leaves.
One interesting observation my 2003 F150 SC came stock with 3 leaves and the bell tech lowering springs that I installed are only 2 leaves.
Chuck
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From: Iowa
IMLOWR
I'm only referring to the rear here. Yes I have recently pulled the fifth leaf. I am also running lowering shackles and have raised the front spring mount higher on the frame. Pulling the last leaf got me just into the soft spot of my springs. A very noticeable ride difference. It was still harsh with 5. Probably good for another 1/2-3/4" lower when spring 5 left. Your mileage could definitely vary. I have well over 3" of suspension travel left. I can snap a PIC of my stance if you like. But yours will obviously be somewhat different.
I'm only referring to the rear here. Yes I have recently pulled the fifth leaf. I am also running lowering shackles and have raised the front spring mount higher on the frame. Pulling the last leaf got me just into the soft spot of my springs. A very noticeable ride difference. It was still harsh with 5. Probably good for another 1/2-3/4" lower when spring 5 left. Your mileage could definitely vary. I have well over 3" of suspension travel left. I can snap a PIC of my stance if you like. But yours will obviously be somewhat different.
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From: Santa Clarita
Merc, I did the spring mounts in the rear like you did. I moved them up about 1". It did lower it some, but I still need to bring it down more in the rear. I'm confused on the front? Are you guys purchasing a reverse eye spring for the front? or are you merely flipping the main spring and replacing the leafs? Never heard of that? How much does the reverse eye lower the front? Fatfenders, I'd love to see a pic of the truck. I was looking into the rear shackles, but for whatever reason, it looks like there is no room between the top of the spring and floor board on the bed for any extension of the shackle? That's why I opted to not use the shackles. I understand they come in various drops. 1,2,3" shackles.
Last edited by imlowr2; Nov 1, 2004 at 09:41 AM.
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From: Michigan
I have a Volare frt susp but to answer your question you need to replace the main with a spring that has the eyes reversed in other words instead of the mounting curl facing up it's curled down. I'm not sure how much sense that made, maybe you can look in a catalog like Mid Fiftys and see what one looks like.
Chuck
P.S.
I just looked in my body mods gallery and found a pic of the rear spring reversed eye. Look at the next to last picture
Chuck
P.S.
I just looked in my body mods gallery and found a pic of the rear spring reversed eye. Look at the next to last picture
Last edited by merc546; Nov 1, 2004 at 10:11 AM.
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From: Santa Clarita
Merc, great gallery! Very informative. I noticed something different. I noticed that your leaf spring mounts seem to be reversed? What I mean is the ubolts and nuts are on top of the leafs. I have the squared U bolts but they go downward and the nuts are on the bottom of the shock plate? Did you do something different? Reason, I'm asking, I need new Ubolts in the rear. It looks like my Ubolts don't fit well because of the diameter of the rear end housing. The bolt are actually bent in order to fit into the shock plate holes. Hard to explain without seeing it. (I didn't do it, it came that way when I bought it) I'd like to change it to something else. I like your idea of the nuts being on top of the springs. By the way, you've done a lot of work to that truck. Great job.
Last edited by imlowr2; Nov 1, 2004 at 11:06 AM.
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From: Michigan
Thank you,
It sounds like the person tried to use the stock "U" bolts and lower mounts with a late model axle. In the stock application the square "U" bolts went over the springs and the lower mount trapped the axle and I believe had the lower shock mount also.
I have mine mounted using the larger 3 inch "U" bolts and the late model plate. When you do this you lose the lower stock shock mount. I removed the mounts that were on the axle and welded on new ones to fit my shock location.
If you have a Mid Fiftys catalog you can see the difference in "U" bolts and axle/shock mounts in fact thats where I bought my new mounting parts. I know other suppliers should have the same stuff they just happens to be where I bought mine.
I did add a "C" notch to my frame still haven't installed the jounce bumpers yet, it seems I welded the plates in and forgot to weld a nut for the bumpers and of coarse I ran the fuel lines thru the same area. So much for planning ahead.
Thanks again, Chuck
It sounds like the person tried to use the stock "U" bolts and lower mounts with a late model axle. In the stock application the square "U" bolts went over the springs and the lower mount trapped the axle and I believe had the lower shock mount also.
I have mine mounted using the larger 3 inch "U" bolts and the late model plate. When you do this you lose the lower stock shock mount. I removed the mounts that were on the axle and welded on new ones to fit my shock location.
If you have a Mid Fiftys catalog you can see the difference in "U" bolts and axle/shock mounts in fact thats where I bought my new mounting parts. I know other suppliers should have the same stuff they just happens to be where I bought mine.
I did add a "C" notch to my frame still haven't installed the jounce bumpers yet, it seems I welded the plates in and forgot to weld a nut for the bumpers and of coarse I ran the fuel lines thru the same area. So much for planning ahead.
Thanks again, Chuck
Last edited by merc546; Nov 1, 2004 at 07:33 PM.