Converting to coils
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Converting to coils
I've searched & can't find anyone who's done this. I have a 79 F-250 that came from the factory with the snow plow, and now that its in my hands and see's some serious off-road use, I'm snapping axle shafts like crazy cause the front end hops so much....
Has anyone ripped out the leafs and converted to a coil front suspension? Or should I just have some custom leaf springs made that are more off-road compliant?
Has anyone ripped out the leafs and converted to a coil front suspension? Or should I just have some custom leaf springs made that are more off-road compliant?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,222
Likes: 1
From: East Central Florida
1st of all, WELCOME to FTE and the 73-39 Forum 
As for your question, my opinion is that the "coil" spring set up is for the lightest duty F-100- F-150 version 4X4s which have a somewhat different frame[chassis} cinfiguration.
Based on the above consideration and the posit almost anything can be done with enough redources thrown at it. That makes the question is not so much about do-ablity, but one of practicality & cost effectiveness, IMHO.
Given the cost & practicality issues, I would think your solution is the 2nd alternative, the Leaf springs, of course you will then need to re-tune your shock absorber capacities after you increase flexibilty of front leaf springs.
In closing, I suggest you shop around to find the most qualified shop or suspension specialist. I doubt a general purpose or a General Repair [gen-rep] facility has the understanding & knowledge to actually address your dilema in the perspective you really need.
Again this is my opinion, others may not agree, but it's how I'd spend my $$$.
FBp
Last edited by FordBoypete; May 22, 2006 at 08:11 AM.
Its Comin Right for us!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,135
Likes: 2,629
From: GA
what size tires are you running? front locker?
a coil conversion will eliminate axle wrap and its pretty easy to do if your a decent fabber, especially if you can find a f-150 donar truck with coil buckets, radius arms, radius arm brackets, trac bar and mount, then buy a set of c wedges from jbg and weld them onto your axle....if your breaking dana 44 shafts now, i doubt anything you do will stop, they arent made to take much abuse, you can upgrade to stronger axles and u joints with full circle clips, or you could swap in a 60 when you do a coil conversion
a coil conversion will eliminate axle wrap and its pretty easy to do if your a decent fabber, especially if you can find a f-150 donar truck with coil buckets, radius arms, radius arm brackets, trac bar and mount, then buy a set of c wedges from jbg and weld them onto your axle....if your breaking dana 44 shafts now, i doubt anything you do will stop, they arent made to take much abuse, you can upgrade to stronger axles and u joints with full circle clips, or you could swap in a 60 when you do a coil conversion
