'72 suspension
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Calgary Canada
'72 suspension
Have any of you guys screwed around with the rear suspension on your F100. I never haul anything and probably never will so I would like to tune my rear springs to get a nice soft ride. I've done the usual thing of putting weight in the back but why haul around a couple of hundred performance sucking pounds when I don't have to. My truck is a '72 with 302.
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From: Virginia
'72 suspension
I would look at the later (80-up) pickups. The one I have has a very good ride. The ones you want to look at will have about three leaves with a very thick fourth leaf on the bottom that is somewhat flatter than the rest. The curved leaves give you the ride, and when you put weight in, they bow down till they hit the thicker leaf. I would look for the lightest duty truck you can find, and then build a spring using your main leaf so everything would still bolt up to your truck.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Calgary Canada
'72 suspension
Thanks. Right now I have 5 leafs plus the thick one at the bottom and a separate overload leaf on the top. I took out the fifth leaf and it didn't make that much difference so now I am going to take out the fourth leaf. I will keep you posted as to how it turns out.
By the way, the fifth and fourth leafs have clamps riveted to the their ends that wrap around the other springs and hold the stack together. Once I take these leafs out there won't be any clamps, is that a problem?
By the way, the fifth and fourth leafs have clamps riveted to the their ends that wrap around the other springs and hold the stack together. Once I take these leafs out there won't be any clamps, is that a problem?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Lower 48
'72 suspension
I went the other way on my '72. I put 3/4 ton springs under it to replace the sagging, worn out rear springs, that was about 3 years before I put the front and rear 3/4 ton axles under it - but then again I tend to overload it on occasion.
Trail Rider
Trail Rider
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Calgary Canada
'72 suspension
OK, I'm down to 3 leafs (plus the thick one) and this seems to be the ride I want. Now with nothing in the box, the truck has a fairly smooth ride plus it seems to handle a bit better. Instead of the back end bouncing around when I hit a bump it now stays planted.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Thanks for the suggestions.
