Rear leaf springs

[brisray]

Hi. it's been quite a while since I've been here. I've been having a few problems. Amongst them I've managed to wreck both rear leaf springs of my 1992 2-Door Mazda Navajo LX whilst off-roading.

The door plate says I need V type rear leaf springs, but all I can find are the W type. I'm beginning to think my LX was the only one made with the V springs!

A couple of questions...

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the V and W types?

Will the W type fit the "Great White"?

Where can I order the V type springs from in Indiana (Terre Haute / Indianapolis area)

You can see the current state of the springs at http://ihor4x4.com/fho45.htm (sorry if it doesn't work - another problem was my original web host didn't pay his server bill so the site is being hosted on one of my own computers)

 

[rickybobby]

link doesnt work, post the pic to photobucket, and then you can post the link as a pic

 

[brisray]

This should work - showing what they look like now and just after the spring-over - http://brisray.com/test/greatwhite.htm

 

[rickybobby]

i think w's just had more leafs in them. from the looks of those pics, your springs had way too much sag. i would look for 4 door explorer springs. from what ive read on here they will bolt right up

 

[brisray]

"way too much sag" is a bit of an understatement. I had a quick look under there last night before I posted and the chassis is now sat on the rear axle.

Rickybobby - if you're right you'e a star. I've been looking for what seems forever for these springs. Not even the dealers round here could help and I was nervous of buying W instead of V. I had one company quote me $300 per spring for the V type.

The "Ho's" had quite a bit of mods done to it over the years I've had it and messing around with different size springs would have been yet another pain to deal with. It doesn't help that when off-road I go a bit mental in it - which is how the springs got bent in the first place.

http://ihor4x4.com/ is now working so you can see the whole sordid history of "The Ho" and "The Bronconator". Soon the "proper" domain of http://icehouseoffroad.com/ should also be pointing to it -

W springs here we come, and I'll let you know how we get on. My wife is sick to death of this thing sat in the back yard looking dejected.

Anyone else know anything about these springs?

Ray

 

[gmanpaint]

F-150 leafs will also work for your SOA. You will gain a little lift as well. There is a few threads on this subject. 63" Cheby leafs are also another option.

Stock 4 door leafs in stock height will net you 5.5" of lift on the SOA, BUT....If you don't buy new, and you off road, they won't last long.

Lift springs are made diff. They will retain their shape longer. Deaver leaf packs are among the best out there with up to 12 separate thinner leafs in a pack. Old Man Emu is another company that makes good leafs. These are all fairly expensive products.

Cheaper ways are to build your own packs with a combo from a junk yard, or a spring shop Re-arch and add a leaf. Neither will last long off road tho. Think of a thin pc of metal in your hands. Bend it back and forth a bunch of times. It weakens and will eventually break. The more it is flexed, the weaker it gets.

 

[jd4242]

Im pretty sure any first or second gen rear springs will work,2 or 4 door.i would go 4door and newest possible,i run 99 limited with a add a leaf

 

[brisray]

I did quite a bit of looking around for information on these springs before I went out and bought any - I didn't want this to turn out to be like my home plumbing projects!

Here's the rear springs used on Ford Explorers...

Type F, 1995 to 2000, Replacement part # 43-1159

Type H, 1995 to 2000, Replacement part # 43-1161 - can be replaced in pairs with 43-967 or 43-1159

Type L, 1995 to 2000, Replacement part # 44-1183 - No aftermarket equivalent is available for this Full Taper spring. Conversion in pairs to multileaf springs is possible. some companies offer 43-1183-XL full taper extra leaf to add to the OEM spring for capacity upgrade.

Type U, 1991 to 1994 and 2000, Replacement part # 43-967

Type V, 1991 to 1994, Replacement part # 43-969 - can be replaced in pairs with 43-967 or 43-1159

Type W, 1991 to 1994, Replacement part # 43-971 - can be replaced in pairs with 43-967 or 43-1159

In the following table...

A = length of spring from top centre pin to centre of front eye (measured along the spring (PL1-SE)
B = length of spring from top centre pin to centre of rear eye (measured along the spring (PL1-LE)
C = Arch (height of spring measured from the top of the centre pin to a line joining the front and rear eye centres
D - Thickness of spring pack measured at the centre pin

Replacement Part # 43-967, width = 2.5", A = 25 11/16", B = 30 15/16", C = 4 13/16", D = 1 7/8", # of leaves = 3/1, capacity = 1,250 lbs. OEM part #'s = F1TZ5560A and F17A5560DC. Used in 1991 - 1994 Explorer, Navajo. 1991-2002 Ford Explorer Sport (2 dr)

Replacement Part # 43-1159, as 43-967 except C = 6 1/2", D = 1 3/4", capacity = 1,100 lbs, OEM part #'s = F57Z5560A and F57A5560FD. Used in 1995 - 2001 Explorer, Mountaineer, Navajo. 1991-2002 Ford Explorer Sport (2 dr)

There's more for other years at http://icehouseoffroad.com/fho46.htm

Basically the only difference between the F, H, U, V and W is the arch height and capacity weights. H is rated at 877 lbs, the U type is rated at 1,250 lbs.

 

[brisray]

Just got back from the scrap yards. I picked up a couple of replacement U type springs - the original type from my '92 2-dr Mazda Navajo from a '92 4-dr Explorer XLT.

 

[redneck2012]

how did you do the rear leaf spring over conversion?

 

[BKennedy]

You could also try adding leaf springs from other packs by cutting them down as shown here:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=372601
It worked very well on my 94 4 door. I have a large, heavy bumper with spare tire on the back so the extra springs really helped.
Got rid of a lot of sway at higher speeds as well, without any loss of articulation.
Best of all, it was cheap.