rancho springs?

[toddm]

I've got a set of springs someone gave me that are supposedly ranchos. They have 3 rather thick leaves in the front and the rear. I can't find any markings on them. I tried to measure the free arch of my stockers to compare to these springs and came up with the following: stock front 5.25" stock rear: 6.25" (i just jacked up the truck till the tires were just kissing the ground)

The mystery springs: front 7.5" Rear 6.75" free arch.

The mystery springs will probably be stiffer and not sag as much as the stockers giving me more lift than the free arch suggests but i'm afraid i won't like the ride.

I am currently running 34 x9.5 tires so a 4" lift is probably needed.

So my question is; should I waste my time installing them to see how much lift I get and see how stiff they are, or should I just snag a 4" kit from Hell Creek or CCOT?

Thanks!

Todd

 

[FF LC FREAK]

Stock springs have 7 leaves on front and 6 leaves in the rear. Yours have 3 thick leaves front and rear. I think you know how the ride is going to be. Heck, why not just bolt the axles straight to the frame.

If it were me, I would invest in a decent set of springs.

 

[65swb45]

IF, and that's a BIG if, you are running a rig with a LOT of extra stuff on it [accessories and spare parts], you MAY have enough weight to make those springs flex.

I ran them for many years on my 40 because of my weight load [and the fact that they came with the truck!] Eventually I managed to crack the main leaf.

I have since moved on to using two different lifts [2.5 front and 4" rear] to deal with the weight issue.

Hth

Mark A.

 

[CruisinGA]

No personal experience, but I've never heard anything good about the 3 leaf Rancho springs. I wouldn't mess with em.

 

[froggy]

I have them...and I hate them . No flex, terrible ride. Like FC LC freak said, it's like if you just bolt your axles to the frame

 

[MDTyree]

The Rancho's that I got are a 2 1/2" lift . They have 6 springs in the pack. It might be another type of lift you have, or a different rancho lift. If you are like me, money is an issue, so if you got a lift, try it before I spent a lot of money on a new on. Also, to get a good measurement on those stock springs you will need to unbolt the axle so you you don't have that extra weight pulling down on them.

 

[toddm]

Thanks guys, thats what I needed to hear. At least they came with two con-ferr shackles and they were free.

Anyone need a great set of mystery/Rancho springs?

Thanks!

 

[40's rock]

Check the classifieds....someone in south Texas has a 4" HFS, brand new for sale. Im waiting on CCOT to restock so I can get 2.5" set....they have been out of stock on springs for some time.

 

[toddm]

Thanks for the tip but looks like it is for 1980 or newer 40's, Ive got a '78.

 

[e rock]

Darn. I was hoping someone was looking for a set. I guess mine will live a long life of holding down my garage floor.

Yes, ~2.5" lift. Yes, suck-ass ride quality. I can't even imagine what it would have taken for Mark to crack one.

 

[toddm]

I talked to Tom at Hell creek today and ordered a 4" kit. Nice guy.

 

[Downey]

The 3 leafers never were made by Rancho, Rancho never was that dumb. And the post above that said you would be better off simply bolting your axle housing to the frame was spot-on (or welding a pipe from frame to axle housing). We should all be glad that the 3 leafers have been off the market for over 20 years, and any remaining sets should be put into a time capsule to show future generations how dumb we were in the 1970-80's.

 

[pbgbottle]

here are a some pics of the fat leave springs i have laying around one set 3 leaf the other 4 leaf didn't Downey sell 3 leaf springs ??


Jake



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