idea for the Frontend
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Freshman User
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idea for the Frontend
I am thinkin about takin out the coil springs and puttin leaf springs on the frontend of my 79 4wd 1/2 ton Has anyone tryed this before or have it on there truck now My truck sits low in the front I figured it would be cheaper and easyer (maybe) to level it up with leaf spring then buyin coil springs Anyone have any oppionion on this Thanks
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F250s tend to hop violently when all 4 tires are spinning. I Believe it is becuz of the leaf springs, I would buy new coil springs. The ride is terrible with leaf springs too. As for the work involved I believe you need to replace the saddle where the springs will set. Dont know if steering linkage, tracking bar will clear. May have to replace that with the F250 stuff too.
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Freshman User
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Well I have been helpin my buddys workin on there Chevy stuff and it looks like leaf spring are easyer to mess with and this is a 79 ford so I really dont care about the ride I dont want to spend the money on new coil springs and still not have it sitin level and i know the bigger coil springs for liftin the 1/2 ford are high to. me and my buddy were thinkin if I got all new leaf springs shackles and toke are time and did it right I would be happier with leafs then coil springs Thanks for your all oppions
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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just keep in mind that you're ride height is gonna be tricky to achieve by the time you fabricate everything and get it into place... it'll be a far cry from a bolt in affair, and probably quite a bit more expensive than going down and picking up some replacement coils from your local tire shop... new coils will only cost about $100 i'd imagine, leaf spring packs run about $180 a side for new, not sure about used... used springs tend to have memory and sag more on the drivers side also because every time the truck goes anywhere, it's packin an extra 150 or more for the weight of the driver... jmo
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Northshore, MN
truck manufacturers agree that the 78/79 f150 coil spring/disc brake system was the best engineered for them years.Without going into detail progressive rate coils provide a much better ride and give more up/down travel without swinging the truck cab side ways. Every four wheel magazine praises the coil set-up and most rock buggies adapt a version of the coil spring set-up. it is also a precursor to the 4 link. coils springs are easier to replace than leafs cuz your axle still stays attached.
PS: every chevy friend of mine wishes they had coil spring fronts. They're all tired of the harsh ride.
PS: every chevy friend of mine wishes they had coil spring fronts. They're all tired of the harsh ride.
Last edited by havi; Jan 28, 2006 at 11:31 AM.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2004
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From: Maryville
You'll find getting the steering hooked up will be a big challenge, your current setup will not work with leaf springs, the drag link will touch on uneven terrain. Take a look at the site scarysteering.com and see the difficult time these people had getting one setup.
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While I appreciate it that people THINK that they want leaf springs in the front, your coil spring front end is really a good piece of engineering and I would leave it alone. The idea that it would be cheaper and easier to swap in leaf springs is absolutely ridiculous and I would like to smack whoever put that idea in your head. It will be far cheaper and much less frustrating to install new coils up front to level the ride. You will find it to be surprisingly easy to install new coil springs. They also will not cost you that much money. In fact, I bet it would cost you ten times more money to change it over to leaf springs by the time you are done. Of course, it is your truck and you should do what you want. If you want leaf springs, that is cool. But, this conversions will not be cheap or easy.
Last edited by T.R.Bauer; Jan 28, 2006 at 03:57 PM. Reason: word missing
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Freshman User
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Well i guess this was a bad idea on my buddy and myselfs part I guess I will throw it out the door and look for new coil spring I guess it sounds good comin out of someones mouth hehe Thanks again Dustin
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I got my coil springs from Bronco graveyard and they were a 6" lift superflex coil and they were about $160, I think the 1.5" or 2-3" lift cost about $120.
If I were you I'd get some 3" or possibly even 4" coils with some 7 degree c bushings and possibly a add a leaf to go in the rear and you'd have a very cheap and good looking lift.
If I were you I'd get some 3" or possibly even 4" coils with some 7 degree c bushings and possibly a add a leaf to go in the rear and you'd have a very cheap and good looking lift.
Logistics Pro
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Are you looking to lift it, or just get back to stock height? For the cost, I would recommend either a kit from rancho or rough country, or just look in JC whitney for rough country 2.5" coils. There are better systems, but it sounds like you want cheap.
