I am replacing my front springs, and looking online at some stores they have listings for regular springs and heavy duty varible rate option. Did Ford offer this option or is it just beefier springs the store is offering. If Ford offered it then how do I tell I need the HD springs?

 

cmon you mean nobody has an answer???

 

F100 was not considered HD by any standards, so no.

What they are selling are generic standard and HD springs.

 

Depending on your truck there could be as many as 6 different spring sets. You need to get the right one. Which engine do you have? Auto or manual tranny? A/C or not?

 

It originally had a 302, it is a 4X2. no A/C, and a C4 auto, The engine was swapped at some point to a 351W.

 

Me?
I put the heaviest ones I could find, checking several wrecking yards.
Took my .001" reading vernier caliper with me. :)
If you're game for that you -could- get by with a couple opened-end wrenches.
3/4" 11/16" 5/8" 9/16"... what size you got?
Mine are .740" if I remember right.

Me?
I wouldn't put variable spongyass feeling springs on my pickup if you paid me. :/
No matter how heavy-duty the salesman said they were, when he wrote the copy.

Didn't notice where you are, that could make a difference on the quality of the used springs.
Really rusted up ones aren't worth messing with IMO.

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/coilspring.jpg

That's the original "weak spring" from my '75 F150 360FE T18 .725"
it was paired with a .740" (the purple and white stripe means .725")
Yep Ford puts a weaker spring on the driver's side.
Not me. :)
YMMV on that :)
With a 302 for sure I'd go with two springs that are alike.

Ok the story is... while it was still under warranty I got them to put "lumber wagon springs" on it and take -off- the crappy-spring-like-things that came on it. It was so stinkin bouncy I could hardly drive it through Willcox AZ.
It's one of those AZ towns with the ditch on either side of the intersection to drain water.

BTW, shocks can't fix wimpy springs!

Alvin in SE AZ

 

As original ~ Front Springs ~ 1977 F100/150 2WD

1250 / 1330 / 1410 / 1490 / 1570 / 1650 lbs.

 

Please, Number Dummy,
Do you know pounds and P/N available for '77 F-150 4x4 ? I'd like much stiffer front springs. Hard for me to measure spring OD but it is close to .650.GVW is 6350.
Don

 

Even if I could find used springs I wouldn't use them. The whole purpose in replacing them is the right side is whooped. I'm not interested in stiff springs either, my truck is crude enough with the springs it has.

 

2-D6TZ-5310-U .. Front Spring / .653 / 1575 lbs.

2-D6TZ-5310-Y .. Front Spring / .693 / 1775 lbs.

Both part numbers are obsolete.

The website I usually check for obsolete parts is down.

I'll try it again, later.

 

You are unbeliveable. Thanks for taking the time.
Don
.

 

Yes he is. :)

BTW, one step up won't be worth the trouble IMO, from experience two steps is just enough to make a difference in "feel" to make it worth while.

Bill, have I got my diameters and colors right? :/
Ford specs (theory) is prob'ly different from practice tho. ;)

My driver's side spring varies between .735 and .740". (yellow and white)
It -was- on the passenger-side.

My new-to-me passenger-side spring measures between .740 and .745"
...put it on the passenger side on purpose. :)

My "old" driver's side spring is .720 to .725". (purple and white)

Were there heavier ones made to fit our "non-Super Camper Special" pickups?

Shooer, if you haven't got a .001" reading caliper, do yourself a favor and get one. :)
...even a plastic-dial-type is better than nothing, IMO.
If for nothing else to measure little drill bits.

I tend to use a micrometer except where a micrometer can't reach or won't work so good like with these -installed- coil springs.

My caliper is a Verier-type which i like better, but I'm weird(!) I enjoy using a slide rule too. :/

Alvin easily entertained in AZ

 

One step up with new springs will be some improvement because the old springs have sagged over the past 30 years.

Parts catalog sez: .739 left / .744 right.

There was even heavier: .755 left / .805 right.

 

Napa has the spring kits for around 88.00.

 

what could I expect if I chose the varible rate springs over the standard?