2" Spacer lifts: Feedback on alignment?

[Sac79]

No, it's 4wd I'm afraid. Can't remember who I bought the springs from, Bronco Graveyard I think, 1.5" lift leveling coils.


Here's another picture of the truck's current stance.


I think the way to go if you wanted to lift the front and not risk issues would be a full kit with brackets etc, but I don't know of any for only 1.5" of lift. Like Rusty says, everything I've read about says you should have no issues with aligning leveling coils, but then there's mine...

[SCFlareside]

I wonder how much it will settle with all the front end parts installed.   That looks like a LOT of camber.

Thanks for all the feedback guys, still soaking on this.  May go with the Eaton but will report back on whatever I do.

Here are the rear coils, fyi... prior owner said they are 3/4 ton, looking at the number of leafs I believed him but maybe someone here can identify?

[SCFlareside]

[Jacob84]

Those look like heavy duty f150 springs or standard 3/4 ton springs. They're the same spring in a 4+1 configuration (5 leaves). Someone with more experience can correct me if need be. They'll raise the truck 2"-3" over stock. And ride like a dump truck.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, those could easily be light duty F250 springs.  My HD F250 springs have 7 leaves and are WAY too stiff.  But your are still too stiff.  You have more spring capacity than axle capacity.  So it surely rides roughly.

My plan is to remove some leaves and add air bags.  That will give me a better ride and I can get the carrying capacity back via air pressure if I need it.

[Ray Cecil]

My opinion is to use factory springs. Stuff 32 or 33" tires in there. Thats what I am doing. I bought eccentric bushings to install once I finally go through the front end.

If I need more lift, id do a 1" or 2" body lift.

[Rusty_S85]

Yep it's why I'm trying to match my leaf springs I want my truck to have the oe 1/2 ton capacity that the truck should have.  I think my leads are the 3+1 whichbeaton has in 2 or 3 different weight ratings.  I'm partially wanting to lean towards the lighter 1,100 lb capacity I believe it is but think Eaton suggested the 1,500 lb capacity would be more OE for a 150.

[grumpin]

I wonder if you rolled your truck forward some of that toe would go away.

[Ray Cecil]

grumpin wrote

I wonder if you rolled your truck forward some of that toe would go away.

Toe is controlled by tie rods. Caster and chamber by eccentric bushing at top ball joint. Not sure how rolling the truck would change the toe.

[grumpin]

Can’t remember exactly, but I thought certain trucks would do something like toe in when reversed.

[ArdWrknTrk]

TTB trucks definitely change toe and camber when backed into a space.
Especially if the pivot bushings are worn out.
Even with leaf springs locating the axle it happens.
Coils.... fugeddaboutit.

You don't see this with radius arm trucks because that arm offers a lot of leverage and control.

[Ray Cecil]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

TTB trucks definitely change toe and camber when backed into a space.
Especially if the pivot bushings are worn out.
Even with leaf springs locating the axle it happens.
Coils.... fugeddaboutit.

You don't see this with radius arm trucks because that arm offers a lot of leverage and control.

That makes sense jim. I was looking at it from an adjustment standpoint. But yeah, if you have sloppy bushings, all kinds of geometery changes anytime the truck moves or steers.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Even if everything's brand new..... on my leaf spring truck!
Drop a couple of grand -because it needs it all- and I go out to the lot.
My truck just doesn't look straight.

I trust Ricky, and he's handed me the printout.
Still I go back in and question it.
But my truck felt nimble and sure footed.

[SCFlareside]

Great replies and thoughts guys.  The ride isn't terrible now, you can feel that the back is stiffer than the front for certain and it's a bit underdamped back there.    

The point that I've got more spring than axle capacity really drove it home though.  It's really kind of a waste.  Probably best to go back to factory leafs.   What would be really, really cool is figuring out how to get Deavers in the back.  Would be great for hustling down dirt roads...

On the Eatons did they have a +1 option to match their +1 factory front coils?  Will look.  Would be cool to get at least an extra inch all around

[SCFlareside]

Interesting.  Eaton does have 1855 lb rear leaf springs in +1, +2 or +3" height.  For the 1985, they only go +1 in the front coils though (not +1.5).  Thanks again for their link

[Rusty_S85]

Not the toe, but rolling the truck will allow the camber to come out of the tires.  when you jack up these I beam trucks and sit them down they will camber out like crazy till you roll the tire and the suspension has a chance to settle down.

[Rusty_S85]

Unless '85 is different than '82 but when I looked up my '82 on their site they have a +1 and +1.5 for front coils.

[confetti]

Hope I’m keeping this on topic for the most part with this bump.

Sounds like a lot are looking for the lift and level of a 4x4 250.

Is this not as simple as pulling the parts from a 250?

[Gary Lewis]

I'm not sure I understand the question.  Do you mean front or rear suspension parts?

If front, the answer is no.  F250's are an odd breed.  The 2wd ones have coil springs up front but the 4wd F250's use leaf springs, and save for the TTB's there's nothing that is similar to the 4wd F150's.

[confetti]

You nailed it that is where I was getting lost in the posts.