Hi, my front end is pretty low and would like to jack up by adding a leaf or completely replace the springs set. What do you think?
I replaced my rear ones and they were pretty hard to remove from the shackel. Is the front a big job? How hard is it to remove from the support.
If I had a leaf, do I have to remove them from the truck first or can I just add a leaf under the existing one.

Any suggestions is appreciated.

Thank, Mike

 

longer u bolts and a block under the leaf seems like the easiest way to go. I wouldnt go more than 4 inches. You might need a drop pitman arm but maybe the shop can get enough adjustment out of the tierod ends when you get it realigned.

 

puting blocks in the front springs is not a good idea just my 2 cents worth

butch

 

I like the block idea. Right now, I have rancho's ajustable shocks on it but I only have about 1 to two inch of travel. Adding a 2 to 3 inch block would get the body higher. I wonder if it is possible to add a leaf? But don't know what type.

Dieseldan, have you seen truck with block under the springs? Where can we get those blocks?
Butch, why woudl'nt you put a block? I have block under my rear leaf spring.

 

with the load on your front end i think your puting to much sterss on the frontend in the corners on the hiway let alone off road do some reserch on the subject before you put the blocks in
just my thoughts on the subject

butch

 

blocks under the front are a bad idea. the rear blocks are factory. you can get a 2 inch add a leaf from just about anyone, i got a set from bds suspension $75. I took the springs out to install them, it might be possible to do it while they are in, but I dont think you will save yourself any time because you need to take the spring pack apart.

 

I'm not sure about where you live,but here in Texas putting blocks under the front is illegal.Lift springs or add-a-leaf is the way to go.

My two cents,Ron

 

front blocks are a really bad idea & could lead to a lawsuit if ever in an accident. try ride rite air bags between the spring & frame for an adjustable ride hieght & no worries about steering problems like if spring slide of lift block.

 

The blocks are a bad idea on the front axle.
It will not pass inspection in WV with any block under the springs.

Also on a 250 with IFS front axles, the blocks will make it impossible to align the front end.

Check the front spring shackles, when I replaced my front springs and shackles I found out the top shackle bushing was completely gone. So I raised my front end an inch with new shackles alone. I also had an extra leaf installed in my new springs when I ordered them. The extra leaf did not raise the front as much as the new shackles did.
Most spring shops will not install more than one extra leaf if you have an IFS front axle due to alignment problems.

I also have a set of Ride RIte front air bags installed for when I have my plow on the truck. If I had over 15 pounds of air in them the front end alignment was so far out that there was not enough adjustment to bring it back in alignment. So I just put more air in them when the plow is on the truck.

I have since upgraded the front axle to a Dana 60 straight axle with an additional leaf in each spring. Now it sits where I like it and alignment is not a problem. More air in the air bags does not change the alignment either.

 

Thanks you all, I think I will go for a new set of springs. For the shackel, I think I will replace them as well, I never thaught that the shackel would lower the front. It will be that much less problem to remove the hole thing, cut the shackel from the frame.

 

You can't really cut the front shackle out of the frame. It is up inside the frame at the front. On my 86 the entire top bushing was gone. I did not know it till I pulled it out of the frame, you can not see it at all while it is installed.
I soaked mine every evening for a week with PB Blaster, an impact wrench and it came right out.

The rear bolts were a different story though, I was saying a lot of choice words to get them out.

I also pulled my front bumper to make it easier to work on the springs and shackles.