Rear springs

Phillippi · Post by **Phillippi** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 8:01 pm

Does anyone know how long the rear B2 springs are from eye to eye approximately? Also do the EBs use 2.5" wide leaves as well? I am toying with some local guy here......

Post by **Nobody** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 9:29 pm

You need to measure from eye to center pin, then center pin to eye. I believe Bronco II springs are 57.5. I forget get what the break for the center pin is.

I'm not sure of the EB springs, I would have to check tomorrow afternoon. If I had to guess, I would say the EB springs are shorter. I know the F-150 spring swap used to be semi popular. I wouldn't consider using EB springs for another application. They are old and tend to break.

Phillippi · Post by **Phillippi** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 9:53 pm

What I am looking at is a newer 3" lift for EB springs (6 leaves). I just dont want to swap over to FS 3" wide and make my own hangers if I can just use the old ones.

Post by **Nobody** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:21 pm

The EB springs are short, approximately 48". They are 2.5" wide though. I wouldn't recommend it anyway. I try to stay clear of the aftermarket.

If you don't want to deal with making your own hangers, then you might as well stick with BII springs. Use what you have a maybe add a longer shackle or a block.

If I were you, I'd at least start with dropping the rear hangers, which means building your own....but if you go that far, you might as well do the fronts so you can move them up next to the frame.

marinebroncoii · Post by **marinebroncoii** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 8:04 am

I used front leaf mounts from a chevy half ton in the rear of mine with extended shackles. They held the shackels like 2 inches under the frame instead of at the top of it. I also used chevy springs with alot more arch, but I got like 9 inches of lift out of it without blocks.

Post by **Nobody** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 8:07 am

How wide are the chevy springs? Do those mounts move the springs up against the frame?

Phillippi · Post by **Phillippi** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 12:12 pm

Too bad, I was looking for bolt on no -mod leaf springs, but if I have to mod something, I will use the FS bronco springs and make new hangers... Thanks guys.

Hey Matt do you have close up shots of your hangers front and rear of your FS springs?

marinebroncoii · Post by **marinebroncoii** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:49 pm

The chevy springs are 2.5" just like ours, I don't remember what year exactly but they were early to mid 80s chevy half ton. The brackets hold it a little bit closer to the frame, but my shackles are made to compensate as you can see in this pic:

Here's one from the side to see what the hangar does for me holding the shackle about 2 inches below the frame instead of at the top of it:

Post by **Nobody** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 8:50 pm

This is all I have at the moment.

On the front hanger, I drilled out the lower rear hanger hole and ran the spring bolt right through the frame. On the rear, I made the top shackle bolt just below the bottom of the frame. I used existing holes in the frame where possible. This setup moved the axle back 2 inches. You could always change the hanger positions for different axle placement.

Quite surprisingly, moving the axle back 2" saved me from having to shorten my driveline. Since the dana 60 was bigger, it was a perfect fit.

Post by **Nobody** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:29 pm

marinebroncoii wrote:The chevy springs are 2.5" just like ours, I don't remember what year exactly but they were early to mid 80s chevy half ton. The brackets hold it a little bit closer to the frame, but my shackles are made to compensate as you can see in this pic:

Here's one from the side to see what the hangar does for me holding the shackle about 2 inches below the frame instead of at the top of it:

Are those the 63" springs? Don't seem that long. You're going to leave that excess shackle hanging down like that?

Post by **Nobody** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:47 pm

I mounted my shock mounts even with the bottom of the axle tube.

NMB2 · Post by **NMB2** » Sun May 01, 2005 4:53 pm

here is my setup...also note in the picture of my articulation im still about 3"-4" from maxing the leafs. my main leaf is a B2 leaf and i believe they are 55.5" because they were hardly shorter than the F150 main leaf.

Post by **Nobody** » Mon May 02, 2005 1:24 pm

84bronco2 wrote:here is my setup...also note in the picture of my articulation im still about 3"-4" from maxing the leafs. my main leaf is a B2 leaf and i believe they are 55.5" because they were hardly shorter than the F150 main leaf.

So you made a hybrid pack from Bronco II and F-150 springs?

BTW- Do yourself a favor and loose the cinder blocks before you hurt yourself.

NMB2 · Post by **NMB2** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:36 pm

yeah...i know what you mean. that was when i first started the project and only had 2 jack stands...first time i went to town for parts i got another set and ditched the cinder blocks. and yes..i made a hybrid pack with B2 leaf and F150 leafs. after entering all their specs in a spring rate calculator....ive only got a 187 lbs-in. spring rate yet a higher spring load which is why it flexes way more but also lifted me and supports way better.....not sure exactly how all that works but whatever works lol

DBrown · Post by **DBrown** » Tue May 03, 2005 6:54 pm

cinderblocks arn't that bad you just have to stack them right......you did not have them stacked right. the compression strength of block is very good, but its tensile strength is the bad part of concrete. that is why steel is add to give concrete larger spans. if you stack them like they are stacked when a foundation is laid you will have no problems.