Sprucing up my leaf springs

[LONO100]

After 5 years of running warrior shackles on my leaf springs and pulling a boat around, my leafs are finally starting to show a little sag. i wanted to put a little life back into them by installing a set of add-a-leafs to them.

my question is to anyone who has run shackles and then gone to leaf springs: if i go with add-a-leafs should i switch back to the stock shackles or continue to run the warrior shackles? i don't mind if running the warrior shackles AND the add-a-leafs puts a little rake to the rear end of the truck since i am pulling a boat around, but my main concern is whether it is recommended to run or the other, or if it is safe to run both.

any help, espcially from anyone who has made the decision to go from shackles to add-a-leafs would be realyl appreciated.

 

[N2FORD]

I had the short add a leaf and shackle on my older 01 white ST with 33's. Had a rake but not to much. Just have warrior only on my red ST, sits pretty level.

 

[LONO100]

Thanks for the info, I'm planning to finally order a set of add a leafs. I have been so busy with my baby, its been hard to get any wrench time in. I figure that since camping/roading trips are gonna be put on hold for the summer I might as well get some much needed work done on mt ride.

Any suggestions on the best place to find a deal on add a leafs for our tracs?

 

[MidnightRebel07]

A couple people have run both aal and shackles. I would honestly look around for some f-150 leaf packs (2.5" wide) or contact a spring shop about possibly re-arching your stock springs.

I still plan on building my own leaf packs using two sets and cutting down leafs and adding them in to the leaf pack.

 

[LONO100]

Thanks for the input rebel, wasn't there an old thread about switching to F-150 leaf springs? I'd like to look into that as an option. Last time I was at the pick n pull, I saw for the first time ever, a sport trac, and the bed was already lifted off it and there were two pristine leaf springs. I was in a small car without the right tools when I saw it and by the time I made it back to the yard, they were gone!

Btw, your trac is looking great with the SAS! Awesome job, you are definitely an institution of sport trac knowledge.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Here's a couple threads that will help. You just use the three bottom springs from the F-150 packs and your ST main leaf. Make sure you carefully check the F-150 springs because they are notorious for the main and or the secondary spring cracking and breaking.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums...f-150-leaf-springs.101035/page-7#post-2539025

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums...r-lift-using-f-150-leaf-springs.101035/page-9

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums...-bigger-u-bolts-and-u-bolt-skidplates.378523/

Also here is my thread I started about adding springs and building custom leaf packs that BKennedy ended up doing...

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums...et-of-original-leafpacks.372601/#post-3093948

 

[LONO100]

thanks Jerry, any particular year F-150 i should be on the look out for that will provide me the ideal width springs if i choose to go that route?

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Just make sure to measure them, some are 2.5" wide and some are 3" wide. I'll look in the morning on my laptop for the year specs but I believe 73-96 are the year range. Load ratings vary from year to year but I'll post the links I have saved.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

1980-1996 is the year range you want to look at.

 

[LONO100]

thanks Jerry, much appreciated. i am hoping to get to my local pick n pull and start digging around. I have heard from others that it is neccessery to replace all of your U bolts whenever you take apart your leaf packs. any truth to this?

 

[MidnightRebel07]

You should but don't need to if you're keeping the factory leaf packs. Since you plan on building your own leaf packs you'll want to get a longer set. I'd suggest getting a set from RuffStuff Specialties. I have them and they're beefy as hell.