I have a '72 F100 (2WD) that I have changed all four springs on. I first put a set of F250 springs on the rear, then a new set of AutoZone fronts on it. AutoZone told me they listed the same fronts for F100, F250, and F350. Personally I think it is a crock, but I bought'em anyway. My front end sags on the right corner about 1-2" compared to the left. Then I put F250 axles from a '73 on it and used the '73 springs. That made it worse, so I put the new ones back on, this time swapping sides with the springs thinking they might have different tension on them due to the fact that I was told that Ford offset their engines 2" to the right. I still have the same results - the right side sags compared to the left. Any suggestions? This truck has been this way longer than I care to admit. I wouldn't even be opposed to a mild lift (2" or less) as long as it evens up the front end.

TrailRidr(No Email Addresses In Posts!)

 

I wonder these things myself, The only things that I think may attibute to this is. Power steering box, brackets and hoses. Power brake booster, Aux.gas tank all on the same side among other things. 2 trucks of mine have all this and the one that does not sets level. I would love to hear other opinion on this also.

 

While we all would like our vehicle to be perfectly balanced from side to side, not all are. Since you changed the coils between sides, they obviously are matched. Assuming that the rear heights are okay and there isn't anything else abnormal with your front end, you can either shim or trim the coil to level the vehicle. You probably will need to make a shim part to raise the low side (don't know of supplier) or cut the coil with a power saw (hacksaw won't do it). If you cut, go a maximum of a half coil at a time. You are not alone, I have had to do this too.

 

seems odd that people would say they are biased left ... when the motor sits on the right side of the truck ... look at your fan shroud, i think you'll find your engine an inch or two to the right (left as you face the truck) ... lots of theories on it ...

also check the spring pads, be sure one of them isn't packed with dirt or anything ... top and bottom ... a loose one would also cause it to sag ... along with the radius arms ... a bent one or bad joint on the wrong side would make things interesting ...

Just my $.02
wish
<a href="http://www.public.iastate.edu">http://www.public.iastate.edu</a>

 

Thanks for all the input. It looks like as with many other things that there is going to be no pat answer. I thought I may have been overlooking something, but apparently not. Looks like I'll have to create something to make it sit level.

Thanks again
Trail Rider

 

I have been thinking about this and re-reading your post. If you have only an inch difference, than I would say to just cut the higher spring; that wouldn't take more than a half coil or less. But anything more than an inch makes me wonder about the radius rods. I sure hope you aren't measuring from the front bumper as they are notorious for being off and easily corrected.

 

I have been turning my attention to other things on my 69 F100 now that the engine is running. I put some bigger tires and wheels (31" diameter) from my 76 yardbound F100 onto my 69. The tires barely clears the passenger side and occasionally rubs the fender. I can visibly see that the bottoms of the wheels are splayed out. I haven't been able to get the truck to an alignment place yet. I have wondered whether the I beam could be bent. I thought about the King pins but it seems like they wouldn't be able to splay as much as they are. My steering (manual) doesn't have a dead spot of slop in the middle like other old ford trucks I've had but it does dart some because of it's need for an alignment. This truck also has a driver's side aux tank (currently removed) At one time it had some kind of airbag assistance in the rear. It has some rear spring mismatching in the back. It looks like there are overload springs where one side has broken the overload leaf. The shocks have all been replaced recently. Air shocks in the rear. The front shocks had very loose mounts at the radius arm. The passenger side was particularly bad where the bracket has cracks and the holes elongated. For now they have new tight grade 8 bolts. I am a little bit leery about some of the alignment places snowing me with BS. This news of others haveing a low passenger side caught my attention.

 

I understand what you're saying about cutting the left spring to make it match the right, but what I'd really like to do is get the right side up to match the left. I'll see what can be done as far as coming up with some kind of spacer for the the right, what I may have to do until I find the correct springs is get some of those spacers that go into the springs themselves and spread them apart.
Big Brown it sounds like you are also in need of front springs.
Now I did know a guy who put springs in out of an F600 and really jacked the front up but he had to bend the ##### out of the I-beams to do it and afterward it sat up like a 4WD - don't want to go to that extreme.

 

you can get spacers that fit in between the coils to lift the low side of your truck. they come in packs of four, one raises 1/2", two = 1" and so on, you twist them in with a 1/2" drive ratchet,
of course this will stiffen the spring some, but not much,
i put these on my truck when i had some 31x10.50x15 tires on 10" rims on it and the front rubbed alittle, have since put smaller tires and rims on it but left the spacers on because they seem to help elimenate some of the body roll when making turns. my truck sits level in the front anyway though, but the spacers may be an easier fix than cutting one of your new springs.
also once years ago i took my truck to an old alignment shop (been in business for years) and the owner heated each i-beam alittle at a time and fixed my caster problem (tires in at the top),
and i've never had any more front end problems. however i trusted this guy, cause he was a real good mechanic, and knew how to do the heating process without weakening the beams. hope this helps.
Don

 

I'll have to give that a try, Thanks.

 

I thought I'd make a contribution to this subject
of springs.
I have a 1966 F100 that was about 3/4" to an 1"
low on the passenger side. I have a factory service manual that gives the factory spec's on
springs and I found that the front coil spring on
the right side of the truck was a full inch shorter than it was suppose to be so I order a new
set of spring that were to factory spec's.
When I got them in I noticed that one of them was
almost an inch longer than the other and it had a tag on it that indicated that it was for the driver side only.
After installing the new coil springs the right side was still down about a 1/4" which I found was
caused by a right rear leaf spring.
It even steers better now.

 

Who did you order them from?

Trail Rider

 

look at your cab mounts on that side of the truck. i had a 72f250 2wd that sat like that.it was a cab mount causing that appearance.measure the frame on both sides on flat ground.that will tell you if it is suspension or not.fords are notorious for bad mounts in these years.also check radiator support mounts.(if this has not been checked already).just my 3cents!

 

Trail_Rider,
I ordered the front coil springs through a local
Auto Pro Parts Supplier here for my 66 F100.
I would imagine that most major auto supply parts
stores should be able to get parts like coil springs. So far I've had pretty good luck with
getting springs, carburetor, brake parts, etc;