Whose rear leafs are best for street?

[lilthom]

My 73 is transforming into a 95% street ride. I want to soften up the ride some for the Mrs. Who wants to chime in on which vendor's product is superior? I am leaning towards BCs right now.
Thanks,

 

[dave67fd]

Most if not all the vendors here have pretty good springs for what you need. I'm a WH's fan personally. May make more sense on which vendor your closest to for shipping.

 

[bronconut73]

BC's may be the stiffest of the multi-leaf packs.

Deaver's are supposedly the softest. (JBG's more expensive leaf packs), but super soft isn't always good.

WH, TBP, and Duff's are probably similar and seem to be the "happy medium" for ride quality.

I like Duff's and WH's.
Shipping can be expensive with such heavy items so choose a vendor accordingly.

 

[lilthom]

Most if not all the vendors here have pretty good springs for what you need. I'm a WH's fan personally. May make more sense on which vendor your closest to for shipping.

Since I am right smack in the middle of the country none of them are very close. Thanks. I have a list of some other things I need so I will likely go with the one who offers everything I need.

 

[doghows72]

I've found that shocks make a huge difference as well. I'm running a WH 2.5" on mine now with the Bilstein option. She rides firm but my wife wouldn't like it. If you run the same lift with the RS9000 you can dial down the shock and she rides smooth as butter.

 

[hucklburry rev2]

My Duffs 3.5 ride nice, I like them alot on my 69. For my 66 grocery getter I'd like to end up with a more firm ride on 2.5". Duffs in TN isn't too far.

There will be some Bronco's in Salem, MO camping the weekend of Aug 26th, you could probably get a ride in a few to test some setups. Missouri Early Broncos on facebook, doesn't look too far from you.

 

[JAFO]

I installed the Wild Horses 2.5" lift and a 1" body lift. The truck rides really nice. Not too bouncy, but sort of floats along. l love driving it. It is totally a street rig. Night and day difference in ride when I get out of my all leaf spring FJ40 and into the Bronco.

Here's my toys...

I just installed new Old Man EMU leaf springs, shocks and shackles all way round the FJ40 last weekend. Made some difference in the ride, but no where close to how nice the Bronco rides.

 

[Yeller]

remember Thom, Suzy will deliver to OCBR cutting out the shipping man charge

or if your not ready by then a few of us make the trek in early November and can carry them back, give us an excuse to meet for dinner. Which we should do anyway.....

 

[smoktf250]

Aren't duffs rear leafs manufactured by deaver?

 

[EB70]

I was at Tom's the other day and I was going to buy the 2.5" springs for the rear. So they said they'd take me for a ride in an employees truck with the new 9 leaf springs. It rode a lot better than mine. Currently I have 1 or two ad a leafs and blocks. Sits uneven and rides like a tank.

I'll know here in a week or two about the springs.

The TBP have the little teflon pads, military wrap, and the nice clamps etc. Look like a nice product.

Can't wait to get them in there.

 

[lilthom]

I will taking delivery on TBP 2.5 springs on Wednesday. I'll keep my old adjustable shocks for now to see how they feel with new leafs. Steve, I couldn't wait for OCBR cuz I'm driving this down. Thanks for all the input and I love that old FJ. If I wasn't addicted to Broncos that would be my ride of choice.

 

[ntsqd]

If they're still not soft enough for you, remove the shortest leaf and try them again. You'll lose a tiny bit of ride height, but not usually enough to matter.

FJ's don't just have 4 leaf springs, they have short leaf springs. I realized after a short while that if my 60 was going to ride nice I was going to have to convert it to coils, at least up front. So I bought a Bronco.

 

[chrlsful]

changing frm 70/30 off rd/st to more street time

BCB's may be the stiffest of the multi-leaf packs.
Deaver's are supposedly the softest. (JBG's more expensive leaf packs), but super soft isn't always good. ( EDIT: These are?).
WH, TBP, and Duff's are probably similar and seem to be the "happy medium" for ride quality.
I like Duff's and WH's.

So is that the consensus (frm my bro frm the sunshine state)?
Esp as in the last line "Street like but not too rubber band-like"?
(loosie goosie?)

Any comments adjustable shock vs non with any of these spring options.
I use the F250 shock bucket & 1 shock per corner.
I drive almost 50/50 st/off rd now.

 

[bronconut73]

So is that the consensus frm my bro to the slight N.?
Esp as in the last line "Street like but not too rubber band-like"?
(loosie goosie?)

Any comments adjustable shock vs non with any of these spring options.
I use the F250 shock bucket & 1 shock per corner.
I drive almost 50/50 st/off rd now.

I really like my adjustable RS 9000's but I have heard a lot of great things about the Bilsteins.

 

[chrlsful]

actually asking a lill more (flex rate on 3 springs & those as used specifically w/the RS9000XL).

Now you've responded - perhaps I can ask: how often do U adjust? is there much difference in the 9 positions? what kind of use does the bronk see (so I can compare)?

Thnx ~

 

[SteveL]

I like my bc springs but they're the 11packs.

 

[ntsqd]

Next rear springs that I buy will be WH's. For one reason, they are the only springs that I've seen with air-gap spacers in the stack. This reduces their internal friction making their ride more supple. I don't (yet) know how effective the spacers are in the WH springs, but if the fabled GM 63's are anything to go by it can only be a move in the right direction.

 

[bronconut73]

actually asking a lill more (flex rate on 3 springs & those as used specifically w/the RS9000XL).

Now you've responded - perhaps I can ask: how often do U adjust? is there much difference in the 9 positions? what kind of use does the bronk see (so I can compare)?

Thnx ~

Once you get an adjustment you like you prolly won't change it much.
It may take awhile to dial into what you like.

I have settled on pretty soft settings just so it will ride nice around town.
Off road here in central Florida is often a lot of "DEEPLY RUTTED" trails. I want to be able to articulate through them with quality suspension travel.
My RS 9000's have 15" of travel. I have about 5" of up travel and about 10" of potential droop.


I like mine.
I want the Rancho air pump but haven't gotten it yet.

 

[Teal68]

Whatever you do be sure to get the 11 pack springs. 5 packs are basically like riding on solid steel pucks!

Shock choice makes a big difference too. It just so happens my driver Bronco came with the adjustable Rancho's. First time I've ever had them and really like them a lot. I find I run at about 3 on the street, 5 when it's on the trailer being hauled somewhere to wheel, and on 1 while wheeling. It's wonderful they can be adjusted so easily.

 

[TheGanzman]

FWIW, I bought WH stock ride height springs, front & rear, as well as the Bilstein 5100 shocks; I also added F&R sway bars. Since I have no hardtop and no rear seat, I took out the shortest two leaves. With ~5 degrees of caster and 15" tires at ~28 pounds, I can drive my '69 Bronco with two fingers on the wheel at "Freeway Speeds" - 75-80mph. For a short wheelbase, (relatively) tall vehicle, I could NOT be happier with the way it rides and drives! The four wheel power disc brakes and the power steering conversion don't hurt neither, LOL...