Suspension Tech General discussion of suspension for the Ford Ranger.

stiffer, better leaf-pack?

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Old 12-14-2006
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stiffer, better leaf-pack?

I have the weakest (K) stock leaf packs on my Edge. I'm noticing extra sag (after my slight crank of the t-bars) when i put my camper shell onto my truck.

Is there a replacement leaf pack out there that will give me better payload/stiffness?

Are they hard to install?
 
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Old 12-14-2006
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PRobably not without having to do some modifications...I would just do a AAL

Rocky
 
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Old 12-14-2006
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Originally Posted by r0ng5
I have the weakest (K) stock leaf packs on my Edge. I'm noticing extra sag (after my slight crank of the t-bars) when i put my camper shell onto my truck.

Is there a replacement leaf pack out there that will give me better payload/stiffness?

Are they hard to install?
C code leaf springs were standard on Level II's and some other 4x4s and trucks with Payload Package 2. They should give you what you need.
Originally Posted by rwenzing

Leaf springs
(code / combined rating / pack thickness at axle / number of leaves)
C / 2750 lb / 1.82" / 4
F? / 2600 lb / 1.64" / 4
K? / 2550 lb / 1.60" / 4
Not too hard to install, IMO. I've done it alone but it would be easier with a helper. You will need jack stands, a floor jack with a decent amount of lift and a torque wrench. During the swap, care must be taken not to overextend the brake flex line or breather hose.
 
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Old 12-14-2006
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what about just getting stiffer replacement springs from Ford? that is the route I will be going, there is a thread concerning that and t-bars, something like "what t-bar do i have?"
 
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Old 12-14-2006
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the C rated springs can be bought for 88 each i believe on some of those ford discount sites.

another option would be chevy 1/2 ton leaf spring swap.
 
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Old 12-14-2006
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what ford discount sites are there? i would not want to order from a dealership, but I was thinking i might be able to get them through my boss (mechanic) for a decent price, but $88 doesn't sound too bad
 
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Old 12-14-2006
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lol dont feel bad, my leaf pack only has two springs in it.
 
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Old 12-14-2006
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Originally Posted by gearhead299
what ford discount sites are there? i would not want to order from a dealership, but I was thinking i might be able to get them through my boss (mechanic) for a decent price, but $88 doesn't sound too bad
There are several online parts places. Here is one:

http://www.1stfordparts.com/

Watch out for shipping, though. It will be high because the spring packs are much heavier than they look. I would bet that you can do just about as well by buying them over the counter at a Ford dealer. If you can get a discount through your boss, it might be cheaper than the online price including shipping.
 
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Originally Posted by 5speedin2.3
lol dont feel bad, my leaf pack only has two springs in it.

you should buy mine.... i have a used set sitting here that could go...
 
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Old 12-14-2006
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I took a leaves from a pack Doc discarded when he lifted his Ranger, and put them in my pack. You can squeeze one more leaf in there. Made a huge difference and it's not too harsh.

You will need a longer centerbolt. I used the longest leaf that doesn't have eyes on it (the one just below the top one) and added that one to each side. So I have a 5 leaf pack rather than a 4 leaf pack.

I have no idea what spring rate that is, lol. I only know that it took the sag out for all the weight I carry in my rear -- and the rear of the truck as well...
 
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Originally Posted by n3elz
I took a leaves from a pack Doc discarded when he lifted his Ranger, and put them in my pack. You can squeeze one more leaf in there. Made a huge difference and it's not too harsh.

You will need a longer centerbolt. I used the longest leaf that doesn't have eyes on it (the one just below the top one) and added that one to each side. So I have a 5 leaf pack rather than a 4 leaf pack.

I have no idea what spring rate that is, lol. I only know that it took the sag out for all the weight I carry in my rear -- and the rear of the truck as well...

for some reason i thought you had chevy leaf springs?
 
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I just sold my H/D leafs with AAL to a kid who saw my craigslst ad. You might wanna try there.
 
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Originally Posted by zabeard
for some reason i thought you had chevy leaf springs?
No, but Chris (offroadranger) has a set he's letting me have. I will probably eventually have them, though they might not go on until I do the SAS this spring. Or they might go on sooner, lol...
 
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Originally Posted by n3elz
I took a leaves from a pack Doc discarded when he lifted his Ranger, and put them in my pack. You can squeeze one more leaf in there. Made a huge difference and it's not too harsh.

You will need a longer centerbolt. I used the longest leaf that doesn't have eyes on it (the one just below the top one) and added that one to each side. So I have a 5 leaf pack rather than a 4 leaf pack.

I have no idea what spring rate that is, lol. I only know that it took the sag out for all the weight I carry in my rear -- and the rear of the truck as well...
that's something to consider one dumb question: where do you get the longer center bolt?
 
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Old 12-14-2006
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A hardware store. Here at work our millwrights are my hardware store, lol -- "hey do you guys a have bolt like this, grade 8, but longer?"...

I think they are 5/16" bolts or 3/8" -- don't remember sorry. I'm remembering 5/16".

You may need to grind the head to make it fit in the recess where the head goes in the axle -- but I didn't. I just depends on the size of the head I guess.
 
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Originally Posted by r0ng5
that's something to consider one dumb question: where do you get the longer center bolt?
You would need to get one for a slightly taller spring pack since that's what you would be creating. It is a special hardened bolt with a round head to engage the hole in the spring perch to locate the axle.

The factory Ranger center bolt has an unusual 11x1.50 thread. I can't remember finding that thread anywhere else on the truck (much more common would be 10mm or 12mm diameter). 11mm diameter corresponds almost exactly to 7/16" so that may open up a few more possibilities.
 
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I won't know until I get home, but I might have a longer center bolt for ya. And mainly because of this.....





I finally got around to calling RCD and getting the remaining parts I needed for the lift. I didn't get the AALs that come with the kit, due to the deavers you see in the above pics. However, I think one of the hardware packs I ordered from RCD will still contain the new center pin needed when adding the RCD AALs.
 
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Originally Posted by n3elz
A hardware store. Here at work our millwrights are my hardware store, lol -- "hey do you guys a have bolt like this, grade 8, but longer?"...

I think they are 5/16" bolts or 3/8" -- don't remember sorry. I'm remembering 5/16".

You may need to grind the head to make it fit in the recess where the head goes in the axle -- but I didn't. I just depends on the size of the head I guess.

its 3/8" for sure, we went through this last weekend, we thought it was 5/16" at first, we were wrong and i had to make another trip to town...
 
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Originally Posted by rwenzing
You would need to get one for a slightly taller spring pack since that's what you would be creating. It is a special hardened bolt with a round head to engage the hole in the spring perch to locate the axle.

The factory Ranger center bolt has an unusual 11x1.50 thread. I can't remember finding that thread anywhere else on the truck (much more common would be 10mm or 12mm diameter). 11mm diameter corresponds almost exactly to 7/16" so that may open up a few more possibilities.

if he gets an AAL or another leaf we have found the hole to be smaller sometimes.
 
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Originally Posted by zabeard
if he gets an AAL or another leaf we have found the hole to be smaller sometimes.
On my 2003 spring pack, it is 11x1.50 for sure. I just measured it. He's talking about adding a Ranger leaf with the correct size hole.
 
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Originally Posted by rwenzing
On my 2003 spring pack, it is 11x1.50 for sure. I just measured it. He's talking about adding a Ranger leaf with the correct size hole.

Yea I was thinking more if he added and AAL because the hole in the AAL is smaller.

So disregard what i said. The stock bolt is 11x1.50, measured it this weekend as well.
 
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Old 12-14-2006
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Originally Posted by zabeard
you should buy mine.... i have a used set sitting here that could go...
i was going to buy the ones erv has but im broke
 
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Originally Posted by 5speedin2.3
i was going to buy the ones erv has but im broke

mine would require some work...
 
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