Opinion shopping re: front spring interchange

[coolotisdog]

The springs are from both a 94 and 96 f150. Run-o-the-mill 2 1/2" width, just like the Chevies I put up front. I picked the Ferds due to being able to reuse the stock rear hanger in the stock location and still keep the wheelbase the same (my yet rectified screwup non-withstanding of course). Plus the ever so slightly improved departure created by the shorter rear arch when compared to 63" Chevies. Granted, there's plenty of folks in the minitruck world who are still happy with their 63" Chevies. It was as noted, a chance at something different nearly as much as anything else.

Thanks for the props.
Lots of views with few replies makes a fella think he brings the meh.

You don't bring the meh. I bet a lot of dudes just read this and thought, "why did this guy not just get old man emu springs like, they're the best thing ever blah blah blah"

 

[Cruiserdrew]

So on the rear springs, Are you running them backwards on purpose? If so, why?


My guess is you should hit the junk yard again for some extra leaves. With the big butt on a 60, you'll need some hevay metal back there, especially if you go SOA.


Funny on the 3/4 ton Chevy's I have, I could not figure out which end went forward. The springs themselves are only lightly different forward and back. One eye takes a 5/8 bolt and the other eye takes 9/16. I spent some quality time with a 3/4 Ton PU in the parking lot at work and figured it out. The owner thought I was nuts. Anyway, the larger eye points forward. I don't know if Fords have this oddity or not.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Andy, from post #60:

...Plus the ever so slightly improved departure created by the shorter rear arch when compared to 63" Chevies.

With the short side rearward, the low hanging shackle is moved just a bit closer to the tire, perhaps dragging it over a few less rocks. So now, yes the bigger spring eye is rearward. On my S-10 springs up front, the eyes are the same size.

As far as current spring rate, actually if I never planned to add any constantly carried weight, I'd have to shorten the overload or pull a spring. It's that stiff right now. Look at the earlier poser driveway flex pics and you'll see the flex is notably front-biased. A small 'boony box' I always carry along with 80-100 lb bumper and bigger spare should impact that favorably.

 

[Juntura]

WEC,

How do you like the ride now that you have gone to all of that work? I am especially thinking of washboard type roads.

Thanks for posting so many pics.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

WEC,

How do you like the ride now that you have gone to all of that work? I am especially thinking of washboard type roads.

Thanks for posting so many pics.

First of all, thanks for your interest.

I've not really done much further to it however, so the assessment will mostly be from as it was last described in this thread. No new shocks, no sway bars, no further tuning of the spring rates, etc.

The biggest positive is that I now have usable uptravel to absorb typical fire road ruts, and enough droop to keep the tires on the ground when in the rougher stuff.
The two biggest negatives are that the front spring's spring rate is way too soft still. Lot's of brake dive, and it's quite easy to hit the bump stops. Also, I have an annoying intermittent front wobble at 30-45 mph, with a mild rear wobble at 55-65mph.

I have fixes in mind for the most likely causes of all of the above, so further improvements seem very reasonable to expect.

To summarize, and to answer your specific question, backroad washboards are manageable at speed, but the underdampened front end likes to hop too easily and will slam the bump stops too easily. Doesn't feel like the truck wants to swap ends yet, but the steering wheel sure hops a lot.