Soften ride

[Grey owl]

My Bronco is used in an urban setting, paved roads would be 99% the norm. I amw looking to soften the ride. The rear will get new modern 5 pack leaf spring. But the front coils a bit of mystery. What are people recomending for a softer spring that willgive a softer ride.

 

[serial car restorer]

Stock height, or lifted?

 

[SteveL]

Hadn't heard of newer 5 pack springs. Most I know are running in 9 or 11 pack rears. As for the front anything from an eb vendor will be an improvement. If you want softer you can got the longer radius arms but then your adding body roll

 

[gnpenning]

No matter what you decide, make sure you take into account the load the suspension will be expected to hold. Hard top, extra passengers, spare, etc.

The front you can choose between progressive and linear.

As you know quality shocks will make a HUGE difference as well. Hopefully as close a match as you reasonable can to match weight.

 

[.94 OR]

My memory tells me the 9-11 pack leaves were supposed to ride better since the thinner pieces could individually flex more than the ones in a 5 pack stack.
Tire sidewall compliance and shocks can help soften the ride too.

 

[Colo77Bronco]

When you soften the ride these things can get squirrelly in corners so you will want sway bars to keep handling acceptable with the softer ride.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Echo the above...
Ride height?
5-leaf isn't known for the best ride, usually the 9-13 leaf packs (of thin leaves) have the better ride.
Soft ride, high CG, short wheelbase = not the most stable at speed. Sway bars are a good idea
Ever look at the Duff street 4-link?

 

[Grey owl]

Stock height, or lifted?

Stock

 

[Grey owl]

Hadn't heard of newer 5 pack springs. Most I know are running in 9 or 11 pack rears. As for the front anything from an eb vendor will be an improvement. If you want softer you can got the longer radius arms but then your adding body roll

It came with a 5 pack leaf spring.

 

[Big Slim]

there is a new kit out there that have longer leafs. a bit pricey for me.
solo motorsports
i would have thought by now they would have come out with some softer springs that are made to be used with sway bars. let the sway bars take some of the force.
i have 11 pack and new duff coils with the duff premium shock and still rides ruff.
long arms are suppose to help with ride quality but will also get more sway

 

[Madgyver]

Stock height coils and leaf springs from WH.
That's what I did.

 

[bmbm]

My Bronco is used in an urban setting, paved roads would be 99% the norm. I amw looking to soften the ride. The rear will get new modern 5 pack leaf spring. But the front coils a bit of mystery. What are people recomending for a softer spring that willgive a softer ride.

Do you have the stock original 5 leaf spring pack now? Stock original front coils? Old shocks? If so it probably does not ride to well. Some currently available front coils are progressive and the 9-11 pack leafs maybe a softer ride than a 5 leaf. Also the shocks will make a difference. Chat with the Bronco vendors and see what they say. Also replace your old rubber body bushings because if original they are probably squashed flat. You are probably in need of all new bushings up front while at it.

 

[bmbm]

Also old tires can get hard.

 

[Broncobowsher]

there is a new kit out there that have longer leafs. a bit pricey for me.
solo motorsports
i would have thought by now they would have come out with some softer springs that are made to be used with sway bars. let the sway bars take some of the force.
i have 11 pack and new duff coils with the duff premium shock and still rides ruff.
long arms are suppose to help with ride quality but will also get more sway

Oooo...
I forgot about the Solo stuff. I've heard it is really good.

 

[Grey owl]

Do you have the stock original 5 leaf spring pack now? Stock original front coils? Old shocks? If so it probably does not ride to well. Some currently available front coils are progressive and the 9-11 pack leafs maybe a softer ride than a 5 leaf. Also the shocks will make a difference. Chat with the Bronco vendors and see what they say. Also replace your old rubber body bushings because if original they are probably squashed flat. You are probably in need of all new bushings up front while at it.

 

[Grey owl]

Original front springs and leaf springs, but new sky jacker shocks

 

[.94 OR]

Original front springs and leaf springs, but new sky jacker shocks

Might be a good place to look for improvements.

 

[bigmuddy]

Might be a good place to look for improvements.

Second that...

 

[DC_Gearhead]

Second that...

Third that….

Some progressive springs in the front with bilstein shocks would be a noticeably better ride. If you have a healthier budget, Duff arms with a front sway bar would be about the best ride you can get. It would feel like butter.

The rear is more difficult because of the unknown weight or use. Roll cage, heavy rear bumper, tire carrier, hard top, passengers, etc impact the flex of the rear leaf and what you should get. Plus my rear rides hard so I’m not giving advice. lol.


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[ntsqd]

Deflective disc valved dampers are the best way to go. Fox used to get kudos for their small bump ride quality being better than Bilstein, King, FOA, etc. No idea if the others have caught up or not.

Best rear ride is going to come from air-gapped leafs. The only mfg of any type that I know of offering that is GM so you'll have to make that mod yourself. Pretty simple to do if the springs have tip sliders. This mod will increase the desired damping specs in the rear dampers. In Bilstein numbers their default shim stack for a leaf spring is the 255/70. With air-gapped springs I's start with their 275/78 shim stack.