what leaves

orange150

orange150

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Fairfax City, VA
my current leaf pack (F-150 leaves with 2 add-a-leafs) is looking pretty ratty. so im thinking about replacing it with a new pack. but before i do that, is it worth getting more 150 leaves or should i just peice together a pack using some 63's and my old 150 springs? my argument between the two is that the 150 leaves are offset so i can either move my axle easily or put the short side of the leaf facing the rear so i can bob my frame a lot, but the 63s are longer so more flex...right?
im open to any other ideas.

i was going to turn me current leaves into 1/4 ellip. but there were too many calculations that i just dont have to make the links.
 
63s are 2-1/2" wide.
 
saf-t scissors said:
63s are 2-1/2" wide.
Click to expand...

So are some F-150 leaves.. :D

Anyway, I've never seen those Chevy springs really flex well... F-150 packs, OTOH, flex like mad.

Stick with the 150's..
 
Rich said:
So are some F-150 leaves.. :D
Click to expand...

Only 2wd F150s and DRW pickups. His is neither. :flipoff2:
 
saf-t scissors said:
Only 2wd F150s and DRW pickups. His is neither. :flipoff2:
Click to expand...

:flipoff2: Wasn't sure if his rear leaf pack was OEM.. You just said F-150's are 3".. nothing about 4wd was mentioned...

I only mentioned it because if he's gonna whack the frame, move this and that, what's making a couple of new mounts?
 
Rich said:
So are some F-150 leaves.. :D

Anyway, I've never seen those Chevy springs really flex well... F-150 packs, OTOH, flex like mad.

Stick with the 150's..
Click to expand...

the 63's flex really well if you remove the load leaves and carry a whole lot of weight. so it is a weight thing with the chevies.

so I second the f 150 choice or a mix. unless you plan on your rig being heavy.

I run dual gas tanks, a shell and carry a lot of weight so they work ok for me
I notice a huge flex difference just from removing the shell. so again the weight plays a big part with the chevies.
 
As far as F150s go, you might have the best luck with Bronco leaves. They're 5 thin leaves, where the F150 stuff is 3 or 4 long leaves and a fat overload.

I'm running a mix of a couple of F150 and Bronco packs.
 
I had the stock Bronco leaf packs under my truck with the 3rd leaf removed since I had lost so much weight off the rear end of the truck (tailgate gone, top gone, backseat gone, spare tire relocated forward). I am trying the 63" Chevy's on my new cab truck. From what I have read, there are at least two different versions of 63" Chevy springs. 3 leaf and 4 leaf. I 'think' the 3 leafs are found under 2 wheel drive trucks and the 4 leafs are found under 4 wheel drive trucks, but there is probably more to it than that. I picked up a set of the 3 leaf versions and turned the overloads upside down so they will come into play a little later in the wheel travel. I don't know how this will work, but I am going to give them a shot. I am in the build stage right now, and don't even have the rear axle under the truck so I can't help with flex discussions.

DK
 
A question for you. Are you running a 14 bolt rear axle? If so, are you going to be doing the popular Chevy disc swap? Also, I think one of your earlier posts mentioned moving your rear springs under the frame. Are you still planning on going that route?

DK
 
drkelly said:
I had the stock Bronco leaf packs under my truck with the 3rd leaf removed since I had lost so much weight off the rear end of the truck
Click to expand...

That's actually a good point, too.

When I rebuilt these springs, I added in a couple of leaves for (I think) 7 total. I used the original saggy Bronco main leaf with the eyes cut off for a pseudo-milwrap thing. It works fawking sweet when the truck is loaded "normally" with the top, TG, rear seat, tire, toolbox, etc. But lately riding around with nothing but the soft top back there, it's been beating the crap out of me.
 
im not sure what my rear weight is going to be, but for a little guestamate i will have two propane tanks, batteries, a spare 42, all that misc junk you need to have, and tube body. and yes, im going to flip the springs so the short side faces rear so i will have more frame to hack off... or thats my plan anyway.
 
it's called spring rate :D

taking a #150 top off and a #30 tailgate off will have a real effect on your spring ability to flex
 
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