The Ford Barn

John Burne · 05-04-2013, 08:04 AM

After we finished up the engine swap I noticed I was feeling bumps in the road more than previously. A closer look at the leaf springs revealed they were flattened out and the right side is actually bending over into the negative. Here's my question: Did the 55 pickups w/ the 223 6 cyl come off the line with lesser springs than the 8 cyl. trucks did? I'm just wondering if these sagged out over time or were designed for a lighter motor. Ralph has a fresher set of springs I may buy off him and install. I like the standard height, but I'm open to upgrade suggestions regarding the front end and brake upgrades. Thanks, John

Ole Don · 05-04-2013, 08:11 AM

Springs, both leaf and coil, will loose their ability to support a car after fifty years of springing. If you take leaf springs in for rebuilding, tell the spring man if you want the car to stay, or go up, or down from where they are now. A good spring shop may be hard to find everyplace, you may have to ship and wait.

flathead 53 · 05-11-2013, 12:45 PM

I have the same problem on my 53 f-100, driver side 3/4 inch lower then pass side .changed both sides to brand new springs new shocks ,checked everything ,still 3/4 inch lower on driver side . I took a piece of one old leaf and made a spacer for driver side spring pack ,now I am about 1/2 inch lower , but spring still bends to the negitive,so far no one can figure it out. Someone told me it could be the rear springs causing an effect on the front springs, I you find the problem please let me know also.

joe plumber · 05-11-2013, 09:17 PM

Got rid of the stock front end and installed a Mustang II front end on my 55 f100.Added a Flaming River column and it sits perfect and turns like power steering .It isn't stock, I know ,but it sure drives nice.

flathead 53 · 05-12-2013, 02:23 PM

the springs where the same for six cyl trucks or eight cyl trucks in f-100

John Burne · 05-12-2013, 08:05 PM

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Well I'm into a spring job. Reliable Ralph had a set of springs that look quite new. They were on a front axle he bought for the disk brake kit. I bought em and got the truck jacked up and blocked up last night. I sprayed the nuts and tried later with a mid size breaker bar. Not a chance. I'll try tomorrow with an impact gun and heat I guess. I had hopes of a quick change out without bothering friends, but 50+ years have rusted up those bolts good. I've got a 4' breaker bar if I need it, although I'll add more blocking before thrashing around with that beast of a tool. - John

big red 54 · 02-12-2019, 02:31 PM

rear springs also affect front end. a collapsed rear will raise the opposite side front.

dmsfrr · 02-12-2019, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big red 54

rear springs also affect front end. a collapsed rear will raise the opposite side front.

True, but I'm sure they solved their problem 5+ years ago when the question was originally asked.

flathead 53 · 02-15-2019, 05:41 AM

I had the same problem with my 53 f-100, installed new springs in front, new shocks ,made sure rear springs were not binding , still truck sagged one inch lower on driver side , keep in mind , the driver side has the fuel tank, the steering box and column ,another 70 lbs or more ,and drivers weight . after trying everything I took the truck to A local spring shop,two hours later and $250.00 ,truck is perfect, they added a full length leaf ,and re arched the leaf pack.everything good simple fix.

05-04-2013, 08:04 AM	#1
John Burne Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 78	55 Pickup front springs question After we finished up the engine swap I noticed I was feeling bumps in the road more than previously. A closer look at the leaf springs revealed they were flattened out and the right side is actually bending over into the negative. Here's my question: Did the 55 pickups w/ the 223 6 cyl come off the line with lesser springs than the 8 cyl. trucks did? I'm just wondering if these sagged out over time or were designed for a lighter motor. Ralph has a fresher set of springs I may buy off him and install. I like the standard height, but I'm open to upgrade suggestions regarding the front end and brake upgrades. Thanks, John Last edited by John Burne; 05-12-2013 at 08:07 PM.

05-04-2013, 08:11 AM	#2
Ole Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St. Michael, Minnesota Posts: 1,713	Re: 55 Pickup front springs question Springs, both leaf and coil, will loose their ability to support a car after fifty years of springing. If you take leaf springs in for rebuilding, tell the spring man if you want the car to stay, or go up, or down from where they are now. A good spring shop may be hard to find everyplace, you may have to ship and wait.

05-11-2013, 12:45 PM	#3
flathead 53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: central nj Posts: 717	Re: 55 Pickup front springs question I have the same problem on my 53 f-100, driver side 3/4 inch lower then pass side .changed both sides to brand new springs new shocks ,checked everything ,still 3/4 inch lower on driver side . I took a piece of one old leaf and made a spacer for driver side spring pack ,now I am about 1/2 inch lower , but spring still bends to the negitive,so far no one can figure it out. Someone told me it could be the rear springs causing an effect on the front springs, I you find the problem please let me know also.

05-11-2013, 09:17 PM	#4
joe plumber Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 820	Re: 55 Pickup front springs question Got rid of the stock front end and installed a Mustang II front end on my 55 f100.Added a Flaming River column and it sits perfect and turns like power steering .It isn't stock, I know ,but it sure drives nice.

05-12-2013, 02:23 PM	#5
flathead 53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: central nj Posts: 717	Re: 55 Pickup front springs question the springs where the same for six cyl trucks or eight cyl trucks in f-100

05-12-2013, 08:05 PM	#6
John Burne Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 78	Re: 55 Pickup front springs question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Well I'm into a spring job. Reliable Ralph had a set of springs that look quite new. They were on a front axle he bought for the disk brake kit. I bought em and got the truck jacked up and blocked up last night. I sprayed the nuts and tried later with a mid size breaker bar. Not a chance. I'll try tomorrow with an impact gun and heat I guess. I had hopes of a quick change out without bothering friends, but 50+ years have rusted up those bolts good. I've got a 4' breaker bar if I need it, although I'll add more blocking before thrashing around with that beast of a tool. - John

02-12-2019, 02:31 PM	#7
big red 54 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 4	Re: 55 Pickup front springs question rear springs also affect front end. a collapsed rear will raise the opposite side front.

02-15-2019, 05:41 AM	#9
flathead 53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: central nj Posts: 717	Re: 55 Pickup front springs question I had the same problem with my 53 f-100, installed new springs in front, new shocks ,made sure rear springs were not binding , still truck sagged one inch lower on driver side , keep in mind , the driver side has the fuel tank, the steering box and column ,another 70 lbs or more ,and drivers weight . after trying everything I took the truck to A local spring shop,two hours later and $250.00 ,truck is perfect, they added a full length leaf ,and re arched the leaf pack.everything good simple fix.