Leaves for moving rear back

[45acp]

Ok, ive been searching, and searching, and...... well you get the point. I cannot find a definate answer as to what leaves anyone is using with an offset centerpin to get more wheelbase. Overall length doesnt matter much, although the longer the better. I know that you cant run the F150's backwards because the wrap will be at the shackle end, thus placing the weak end at the hanger which is a no go. I do know that XJ/waggy rear leaves are 51" long and have a 4" pin offset.... but i dont know which way they're offset.

Does anyone know of a stock spring preferably longer than the EB that has an offset centerpin with the short side at the rear?

 

[45acp]

bump..... at this point id take a guess, a wild thought, or even someone telling me to just give up. ;D

 

[Dusty]

I doubt you'll be able to find what you're looking for in a stock application. I don't know for a fact, but I would suspect that any leaves with an offset pin will be shorter toward the front. That's because its the shorter, thicker part of the spring pack that also helps control axle location through travel, in effect acting sort of like a control arm as well as a spring. The military wrap is always on the short side, and all of the secondary leaves extend farther forward than they do rearward, making the front part of the spring pack stiffer than the rear.

The only thing I can think of is if you could find a front leaf spring application, where the shackle is actually to the front. I doubt you'll find anything long enough that's not extra heavy duty though.

I'm running the F150 leaves and I have the rear shackle hangers right at the end of the frame rails and I'm at the stock wheelbase. Like you I'd like to stretch my wheelbase but at this point my options are looking like ditching these springs and going links/coilovers. I don't really want to do that though because these work so well as-is. I've thought about having Deaver make me a custom set of springs, to the same specs as my current F150 springs but with the center pin further back. I'm afraid having them custom made might be your only solution if you want to run leaves that are longer than stock AND stretch your wheelbase.

Good luck and let us know if you find out anything,

Dusty

 

[Skuzzlebutt]

HIJACK!!
I've been considering moving my axle back 1" by simply drilling a new locating pin hole behind the original. I would only have to drill thru the top leaf and then slide the rest back to match.
Any thoughts on this?

 

[Madgyver]

Just wondering how much difference would 1" longer wheelbase do?

 

[mxpaz]

I wouldnt go through all that trouble for 1 inch. I moved mine back 6 inches. Im a ledge cramln mo-fo now.

 

[Skuzzlebutt]

I'm going to put 33x10.5s on an uncut EB. Clearance at the top is fine but the forward lower corner looks to be a problem. It is 16.25" from this corner to the axle centerline.

 

[45acp]

I wouldnt go through all that trouble for 1 inch. I moved mine back 6 inches. Im a ledge cramln mo-fo now.

Care to elaborate?

It wouldnt be worth it to me to just go an inch or two. I need 5" or more. Also, ive heard that you cant drill through a leaf pack- it will stress crack at the hole over time. Never tried it, just know someone who did.

I dont know..... im thinking about giving up and just 4-linking it with coils.

 

[joules]

I'm running the F150 leaves and I have the rear shackle hangers right at the end of the frame rails and I'm at the stock wheelbase. Like you I'd like to stretch my wheelbase but at this point my options are looking like ditching these springs and going links/coilovers. I don't really want to do that though because these work so well as-is. I've thought about having Deaver make me a custom set of springs, to the same specs as my current F150 springs but with the center pin further back. I'm afraid having them custom made might be your only solution if you want to run leaves that are longer than stock AND stretch your wheelbase.


Dusty

What's the skinny on the F-150 leaves Dusty? Are they just the stock leaves? How much lift are you getting from them? Are they just bolt on? Need custom shackle hangars?
Thanks,
J~

 

[Unregistered]

What's the skinny on the F-150 leaves Dusty? Are they just the stock leaves? How much lift are you getting from them? Are they just bolt on? Need custom shackle hangars?
Thanks,
J~

Well mine are from an early 90's F150, which are wider and about 10" longer than stock EB springs. I've heard that the earlier F150 leaves are the same width as EB springs. If that's true you could re-use your EB shackles and hangers, but of course you would have to move them. For mine, since the leaves are wider I had to run the late F150 hangers and shackles too, plus move the spring perches outboard slightly on the axle housing. As for amount of lift I cannot say. I set my ride height and then welded them in place. So since you have to move the hangers anyhow you can basically move them up or down to your liking for whatever ride height you want. I run early BC Broncos 5.5 coils up front that were originally designated "302, no winch". Well, I have a 351 and a winch and heavy winch bumper, so its hard to say how much lift I'm running in the front. But the rear sags some now, since I started carrying a spare tire, tools, etc. and now I'm building a rear bumper. I took some leaves out of the stock F150 spring pack to lighten up the spring rate some. It rides very smooth as-is, flexes pretty well, and takes the fast and rough stuff very well. Also, I believe that the wider leaves are contributing to my lack of axle wrap. The only real bummer about these springs is, like I said I have them moved all the way back and I'm still at the stock wheelbase (can't stretch my wheelbase with them without lengthening the frame horns). Also I couldn't buy a rear bumper to fit since the shackles swing right where most bumpers want to be so I'm having to fabricate my own rear bumper with clearance for the shackles. Other than those caveats I like the springs a lot. If you want to know any more about them just let me know.

Dusty

 

[Dusty]

oops it looks like I needed to re sign in after the forum upgrades! Sorry bout that (I hate Unregistereds too!)

Dusty

 

[joules]

Sounds interesting, thanks Dusty.
J~

 

[Amac70]

if you just want to gain an inch much easier to just redril spring perch and top mounting plate.