leaf spring sagging 78'
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From: youngstown, ohio
leaf spring sagging 78'
i have a 78' f-150 4x4 with leafs on the rear and coils on the front. it has an old 3 inch suspension lift on it already. the passenger side rear leaf spring is about 2 inchs lower than the drivers side. got i have a spring shop re-bend my springs so they match? i wonder if the old lift kit ruined it because of the lift blocks under it. eventually, im goin to be a 6 inch suspension lift kit for it. i wasent sure if it would be cheaper to have them rebend them or just buy new leafs when i buy the lift kit package.
p.s. does it ruin anything if i keep driving it like it is? thanks ryan
p.s. does it ruin anything if i keep driving it like it is? thanks ryan
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it shouldnt hurt driving it, just wouldnt tow to the max capacity with it or somthing. if you are going to get a new lift kit, i would recomend new rear springs to match the front lift, and veer away from blocks if your budget allows you. and stock these trucks came with blocks between the axle and spring, if you buy a 6" lift kit with 6" lift rear springs and use them with the stock block you have your 6"s right there, or to eliminate the block all together (someone back me up on this) you can flip your rear spring perches (shackle flip) and prolly take out the block eliminating any chance of breaking drivetrain due to axle twist. maybe someone else will chime in that has taken out the stock block. i did the shackle flip and got some extra lift off mine. i did a 6 1/2" front superlift spring, and in the rear i got some 3/4 ton springs and added an overload spring to the pack and with the shackle flip it leveled it out and is almost a little higher. maybe thatl' get ya goin.
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From: youngstown, ohio
damn that sounds a little rough for my knowledge about suspension. haha. i've heard of people doing the shackle flip, but im not sure if i have the know-how or the right tools to do that. i was going with the skyjacker kit because it was a kit with everything included and it was the only company that i saw who sold it for a 78' ford f-150. i think it was at jackit.com. the kit with everything it was around 1700 which included new leafs for the rear. it seems a little steep. i think i 6inch lift would be fine...but a 9 inch lift looks a hell of lot cooler haha. but i think trying to install that would be way outta my league with changing the drive shaft crap. i bet you'd have bad axle rap with some 9'' lift blocks.. so many choices..i dont know
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yeah id stick with the 6" if you dont want to do the driveshaft thing. just as long as you used the rear leafs with stock blocks and dont stack blocks on to of another, you should be just fine. if you are careful, you can use an angle grinder to do the shackle flip. because you have to grind out the rivets, and just bolt it in when you re-install it. try www.broncograveyard.com and look at their lift kits for our trucks. i pieced my lift together (bought little peices at a time) cuz i couldnt afford it all at once, and they also have kits too. they have 2 kinds of springs for their lift, regular and superflex. if you are worried about a good ride, you might as well get the superflex, because my regular ones are kinda stiff, but i like em cuz when i sat the truck down on the springs they didnt compress much.
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spring sagging
Ryan,
I'll tell you what I'd do. I've got a 78 F250 with the same suspension config except for the lift. I would just replace the springs. I don't think that the lift block could cause that kind of bend issue unless the guys who put it in really did a poor job. Why do you want a 6" lift on it anyways? I've got no lift on mine and it sits pretty damn high on the 33" tires. Another 6"s and I'd need a damn ladder to get into it.
Well, I'd not let it go too long. I don't think it would cause much damage driving like that but you sure won't find too many ladies impressed by a lopsided truck.
War,
Brad
I'll tell you what I'd do. I've got a 78 F250 with the same suspension config except for the lift. I would just replace the springs. I don't think that the lift block could cause that kind of bend issue unless the guys who put it in really did a poor job. Why do you want a 6" lift on it anyways? I've got no lift on mine and it sits pretty damn high on the 33" tires. Another 6"s and I'd need a damn ladder to get into it.
Well, I'd not let it go too long. I don't think it would cause much damage driving like that but you sure won't find too many ladies impressed by a lopsided truck.
War,
Brad
