Wondering what everyones opinion is about installing a MII suspension and spending all the money for it. Or just rebuilding the straight axle for a budget minded build. Does the MII really give you that much better ride than a complete rebuilt straight axle?

Thanks,
Adam

 

It's more than just "ride". It's an entire handling and driving experience. And it all depends on what you want your truck to do. Replacing the stock stuff with Mustang II based kits will transform your truck from old lumber wagon to car-like handling. So if you like driving a truck, keep it stock. If you want the cool looks of a truck, but really wish it drove like a car, you will be happy with the transformation. You can spend about as much money rebuilding a straight axle front end as you would doing an IFS swap, too, so don't let that be the deciding factor. My 2c.

 

Yes, and Merc is right, if the straight axle is/was the way to go the manufactures never would have changed to Independent Front Suspension, they do not like spending money unless there is a advantage, and that benefit is the ride and handling, even including four wheel drives. (Heavy load large trucks are an exception).

 

mustang II up front
four link in the rear
air bags all around....on a budget?
maybe a big budget but worth it...yes

 

I don't know if I'd agree completely. And one of the reasons is that if you do install the MII, there are secondary impacts - motor mounts, oil pans, exhaust routing, frame boxing, master cylinder swap, new wheels and tires, steering box, welding costs (@ 85/hr)etc. So don't think for a minute that the $1800 you are going to pay TCI for the MII is going to be the cost of the swap out. It'll be closer to $3500/$4000 with all said and done. Remember, all that smooth MII front end won't be worth a darn unless you rebuild or change out the rear suspension as well.

But it's up to you.

Let me provide the other side of the coin:

When I got my truck driveable (engine, etc) I wanted to drive it daily and have it drive fairly comfortably at free way speed. I installed the engine/transmission/rear end gearing/wheel and tire size that would best accomplish this - and it took some experimenting - especially with tire size.

My truck to drive above 45, would wander from side to side, shake, was rough, sloppy to steer and in all honesty, a veritable death trap above 50.

So, I set out to take care of the problem by buying a TCI MII front end with discs etc. After I realized that I couldn't use my $1700 custom headers (that was about the only workable exhaust routing in the 51 with the 390) I sold it because I didn't want to go to the time, expense, and trouble to convert all the things I mentioned above.

I took the stock front end and replaced kingpins, wheel bearings, tie rod ends all for under $300. Then I took the truck into North County Spring and had the front springs, shackles, frame bolts eyes and pins all replaced with new reverse eye springs and the Castor angle incorporated into the springs. The was all about $300. So, for a complete front end custom rebuild I spent roughly $600.

The truck still didn't ride up to my expectations, so I got rid of the four different used tires I had put on it just to roll it around and bought four new tires at Discount Tire for $300 for the set. They were 1 inch in diameter larger in front and 3 inches larger in the back. The ride difference was tremendous.

But it still wasn't riding right. I had a shake that kicked in at 25 mph and steadily lessende up as the truck hit 50. Upon closed inspection, my right rear leaf spring had 5 broken leaves. I took it in to North County Spring and also discovered that the rear end pinion angle was off almost 15 degrees - thanks PO.

So, I spent another $750 on new reverse eye custom rear springs, pins, bushings, rebuilt holders and the pinion angle corrected as built into the new suspension.

When I was talking to Tony at NCS, he described my rear springs with words like "Annihilated" and worst he's ever seen. One litterally fell into pieces as the unbolted it.

When I drove the truck for the first time after this last bit of work, the final difference was PHENOMINAL! There was no shake or vibration - it's completely gone. The truck handled so well in corners that I have to be careful not to stall it (my Edelbrock Carb tends to flood in sharp turns). The steering is smooth, solid, and straight. I have regularly driven the truck at 75 to 80 miles per hours and it literally floats at those high speeds. I can control and steer it with two fingers on the steering wheel. It rides solidly , smoothly, and very comfortably at speeds up to 90 mph (fastest I took it up to). And the shock absorbers haven't even been installed in the back yet, I'm still breaking in the new springs.

And here's my comparison. I have a 2002 Ford Ranger that has about 85K miles on it. I have intentionally driven the Ranger over the same stretches of roads and freeways at the same speeds as my F1 with the new suspension. And the F1 is notably smoother and as easy to drive than the Ranger. The only thing th eRanger does better is corner, and I believe that to be more of a comfort factor having to do with how high up you sit in the F1 as opposed to the lower Ranger.

I really can't imagine the ride being much better than it is on my F1 now. Frankly, the roads I drive on are dictating ride more than the truck is at this point.

So, what ever you do, I'm sure it will be an improvement. For me the decision to sell the MII front end and all it's adaptation problems (I already had the new drive train and cab installed in the truck) and rebuild the stock suspension (with modernized new springs and reverse eyes) was a great decision and I am very happy to have done it that way. It actually did cost about $1700, and not the figure I quoted for the MII conversion.

OBTW, all the items in red are additional costs you will have to pay for if you install the MII front end - at a minimum.

Good luck and have fun!

 

Well the reason I'm going with a MII is about 3 or so years ago my wife bought me a chassis engineering MII "bolt in" crossmember for my 51 f1. I installed on a frame that turned out I wasn't even gonna use ( got a different 51 truck) so i got some practice at putting it on lol. Now that I have a better frame than the first one I contemplated on this same thing, but I already had the crossmember and I knew i wouldn't get 700 bucks back out of so i decided to stay with the MII setup.

Anyways with a SFB motor mounts weld on option and shipping the crossmember itself was a little over 700 bucks, but It made me very happy when I was able to install it without any help from anyone. I have found a place that will sell the rest of the MII kit for a 1000 bucks with power rack and free shipping, so when I get the dough I'm prolly gonna get that.

You see when you get the MII suspension you get all the benefits plus power steering and disc brakes in one wack.

by the time you put money into setting up power steering, rebuilding the front end, and putting disc brake conversion on the stock front end it comes out to about the same anyways.

 

Nice cost comparision Julie. I just added up the cost for my drop axle, king pins, tie rod ends, tie rod and the repair of my spindle arm. I also remove three springs per side and new shocks. Total cost not including grease, $683.
I bought a truck inpart because I like old stuff from the 50's and I wanted to be reminded what it feels like to drive vintage iron. If I want to drive something that drives like a car, I'll go drive my car. In the end it's up to you.

 

Thanks everyone for the input. New at this and I want to get as many opinions as I can before I spend money I dont need to.

HD74,
With your drop axle what type of springs are you using for the front and rear? I want my 52 to sit lower than stock and want to know what I should get if I go the straight axle route.

 

Here are several theads I think should be of interest to you;

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/916115-rear-spring-kit-is-here.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/917679-front-straight-axle-replacement.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/879959-another-piece-of-the-puzzle.html

 

Great post Julie, I have been considering options in my head for some time now as my truck drives much like I imagine yours did in the beginning. The steering box needs adjusting (fingers crossed it has some left) and the at speeds over 45 it weaves at the sight of bumps, forbid it was to hit one. Don't get me started on the really badly pitted roads in the area, those are off my driving routes due to the scary pulls that come of them. You really got some concrete numbers in my head and to what I'm looking at in the future thank you.

 

I agree with julie.My 54 panel has had a complet front axel rebuild,king pin,bearings,disk brakes,spring bushings,springs rearched,shocks,toyta power steering,heavy duty tie rod, and new radial tires.The rear was replaced with a 9 inch,shocks, tires and spring bushings,I am very happy with the handleing of the truck.I run it on rt85 at 75-80 mph and it drives as well as some late modle trucks I have owened.I also run it in the north Ga mountains and have not had any complaints.Althought I have not driven truck with the independent front,I can not belive there could be that much difference.