Leaf springs
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From: Illernois
Leaf springs
Well a couple weeks ago i put some 2 inch blocks on the rear of my truck. In the mist of that i found that my drivers side leaf spring has a broken leaf in it. *believe the 2nd from bottom*
Anyways, im wanting to swap some new springs out from a junkyard truck or maybe a donor i can find.
So what leaf springs years are swapable into my truck, a 1981 f-100. Would certain years maybe beef it up a bit? How much am i looking at these costing?
Anyways, im wanting to swap some new springs out from a junkyard truck or maybe a donor i can find.
So what leaf springs years are swapable into my truck, a 1981 f-100. Would certain years maybe beef it up a bit? How much am i looking at these costing?
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Rochester
I'm not 100% positive but I think 80-96 are the same. I replaced mine in my truck when I got it I had broken ones on both sides! I thought I had 5 leafs on it but I was counting the over load. So when I got them from the junk yard i got f250 leafs now it raised the rear of my truck about 3 inches! I paid $75 for mine. That was about the going rate around here I didn't think it was to bad.
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From: In my own world
check the width of the spring before you buy, there are 2 different widths available. if you add more leaves than what is currently on the truck, you will need a front end alignment, changeing spring rates will change your camber, causeing bad steering, and tire wear. used go from $65, and up, new about $170, right from ford, if not discontinued.
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From: Loganville, WI
I found one place that sells new rear leaf springs that are around $170.
1980 - 1997 Ford F250 Leaf springs - front and rear
all the rest are around $300 and most of them I find are progressive.
1980 - 1997 Ford F250 Leaf springs - front and rear
all the rest are around $300 and most of them I find are progressive.
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IIRC leafs from a 2wd F150 is what's needed, the 2.5" wide ones, but like said already taking some measurements should be in order first.
Not true - lifting the rear will change the caster, which on his truck is most likely non-adjustable without the special I-beam bending tools that most alignment shops do not have and haven't even seen in years. With reduced caster the truck won't wear tires any more than it does now, but it will be somewhat more "darty" when he turns the wheel, it won't tend to straighten itself as good as it does now.
Not true - lifting the rear will change the caster, which on his truck is most likely non-adjustable without the special I-beam bending tools that most alignment shops do not have and haven't even seen in years. With reduced caster the truck won't wear tires any more than it does now, but it will be somewhat more "darty" when he turns the wheel, it won't tend to straighten itself as good as it does now.
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From: Illernois
Okay so what i should be looking for when i go find a set of springs is:
2 1/2 inch springs from a 80-96 f-150/f-100.
That is if course the springs in my truck are 2 1/2 inches. I will measure once it quits rainin!
2 1/2 inch springs from a 80-96 f-150/f-100.
That is if course the springs in my truck are 2 1/2 inches. I will measure once it quits rainin!
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From: Illernois
Hey, im buying a parts truck this weekend.
An i was going to be taking the leaf springs off of it to use on my truck. But i had just realized that the truck was a 4x4 so it will prob have the 3inch springs?
Is there any way to be able to still put these in my 2wd truck?? Thanks
An i was going to be taking the leaf springs off of it to use on my truck. But i had just realized that the truck was a 4x4 so it will prob have the 3inch springs?
Is there any way to be able to still put these in my 2wd truck?? Thanks
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in order to run the 3 inch leafs you need to source the shackle mounts and hangers off the donor truck and correct me if i'm wrong, they should be riveted to the frame. bronco graveyard has these hangers and shackles you need, but it would probably be more time and money invested on swapping leafs than it is to replace the broken spring.
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Postmaster
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Well what you could do is use your factory 2.5" wide top leafs (the ones that hold the axle to the frame brackets), and then stack the 3" one below them, you'll also need the 3" top plate or else the U-bolts will not clear. When you tighten the U-bolts good there shouldn't be much of a tendency for the 3" leafs to rotate around the pinch bolt in the center, especially on a 2wd truck like yours that probably won't see much of actual heavy use as a truck (based on your drivetrain combination) - I personally am definitely dumb and at the same time brave enough to try this, but in the interest of public safety I'm not sure I'd actually recommend that you do so too... Probably not a good idea.
By the way, I though your truck was lowered - what's the need for taller rear springs then?
By the way, I though your truck was lowered - what's the need for taller rear springs then?
Elder User
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what exactly are you trying to do, just to clear some things up, are you trying to lift it, be able to put more weight on it, or simply trying to replace a broken leaf and stick with a stock setup? whatever you plan to do with swapping out rear leafs, be sure to do both sides, however, if you're replacing a broken leaf, replacing the one will be fine.
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stacking a 3/4 or 1 ton leaf pack underneath a 1/2 ton top spring is not a good idea, it places a lot more strain on that top spring as well as the inherent problem on putting that strain on the hanger and shackle. i have seen stranger stuff, but i wouldn't recommend it
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From: Lost
If the donor truck is 4wd, why not put the entire drivetrain under your truck? It's basicly a bolt-in swap, other than the rear leafs/hangers as previously mentioned.
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From: Illernois
The parts truck im getting has the engine pulled.
I mainly wanted to just replace the broken spring as of now. The springs are getting old on the truck and are starting to sag, which is why i put a 2 inch block lift on the rear, and is when i found the broken spring.
Now the biggest reason for buying this parts truck was to grab the leafs, and now im finding that these ones arent going to work.
That is unless i install the new shackles that hold the leafs to the frame?
Hummmmmmmm, anyone wanna trade their 2wd 80-96 f-150 leaf springs for some 4x4 leaf springs??
I mainly wanted to just replace the broken spring as of now. The springs are getting old on the truck and are starting to sag, which is why i put a 2 inch block lift on the rear, and is when i found the broken spring.
Now the biggest reason for buying this parts truck was to grab the leafs, and now im finding that these ones arent going to work.
That is unless i install the new shackles that hold the leafs to the frame?
Hummmmmmmm, anyone wanna trade their 2wd 80-96 f-150 leaf springs for some 4x4 leaf springs??
FTE Legend
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From: In my own world
The parts truck im getting has the engine pulled.
I mainly wanted to just replace the broken spring as of now. The springs are getting old on the truck and are starting to sag, which is why i put a 2 inch block lift on the rear, and is when i found the broken spring.
Now the biggest reason for buying this parts truck was to grab the leafs, and now im finding that these ones arent going to work.
That is unless i install the new shackles that hold the leafs to the frame?
Hummmmmmmm, anyone wanna trade their 2wd 80-96 f-150 leaf springs for some 4x4 leaf springs??
I mainly wanted to just replace the broken spring as of now. The springs are getting old on the truck and are starting to sag, which is why i put a 2 inch block lift on the rear, and is when i found the broken spring.
Now the biggest reason for buying this parts truck was to grab the leafs, and now im finding that these ones arent going to work.
That is unless i install the new shackles that hold the leafs to the frame?
Hummmmmmmm, anyone wanna trade their 2wd 80-96 f-150 leaf springs for some 4x4 leaf springs??
