Posted By: Texas383
1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/01/12 03:35 AM
I've been looking on several websites but can't seem to find any new front leaf springs for my Power Wagon... mine are no longer flat but de arched and bowed upward.
1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs
Posted By: 76dodgeboy
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/01/12 03:53 AM
Rockauto.com
Posted By: zrxkawboy
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/01/12 04:11 AM
ESPO
Posted By: scratchnfotraction
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/01/12 01:30 PM
most 4x4 front 3 leaf spring packs are negative arch stock.(the way yours look now on the truck)
adding in a 2" add a leaf will make them flat with 0 arch.(flat like you want them to look)
4" lift spring have a positive arch for lift.(arched upward for lift)
IMHO,if you do not want a 4" lift kit the 2" add a leafs are the way to go,flatens the spring pack out up front,gives a 2" lift which works with stock chassis specs,still retain the stockish ride on/off road.
anything higher will need mods to the drive shafts and front steering specs.
the add a leaf will also fit the front with out changeing the 2 studs in the diff housing along with the 1 u-bolt on that side.
adding in a 2" add a leaf will make them flat with 0 arch.(flat like you want them to look)
4" lift spring have a positive arch for lift.(arched upward for lift)
IMHO,if you do not want a 4" lift kit the 2" add a leafs are the way to go,flatens the spring pack out up front,gives a 2" lift which works with stock chassis specs,still retain the stockish ride on/off road.
anything higher will need mods to the drive shafts and front steering specs.
the add a leaf will also fit the front with out changeing the 2 studs in the diff housing along with the 1 u-bolt on that side.
Posted By: hp383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/01/12 10:30 PM
True, a stock 3 leaf front spring will have some negative arch, but they can be too far.
Are there signs of wear on the springs where the bump stops are? How far from the bump stops does your truck sit while on level ground?
Are there signs of wear on the springs where the bump stops are? How far from the bump stops does your truck sit while on level ground?
Posted By: Texas383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/08/12 03:05 PM
The truck has a 3" suspension lift to go along with 3" body. The bump stops are a good ways from the leaf springs so there are no signs of them hitting. The truck rides good and doesn't "bottom out" on the front suspension. I assumed the front springs were straight when new and didn't know if the negative arch was from age and wear or if that is normal and not an issue...?
Posted By: 76dodgeboy
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/08/12 03:34 PM
Quote:
The truck has a 3" suspension lift to go along with 3" body. The bump stops are a good ways from the leaf springs so there are no signs of them hitting. The truck rides good and doesn't "bottom out" on the front suspension. I assumed the front springs were straight when new and didn't know if the negative arch was from age and wear or if that is normal and not an issue...?
Are you saying it has a lift because of the block in the rear? If so its Stock. 4wds sit higher than 2wds and the block in the rear is stock. A negative arch in front wouldn't be a lift as they are arched to much and I've never heard of them sagging that bad
Posted By: Texas383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/08/12 07:42 PM
There is a 3" block in the back(is that stock sized?).... someone before I got it hung 3" shackles from the original spring perch in the front of the front springs.
Posted By: scratchnfotraction
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/08/12 08:03 PM
a set of shackles on the front spring eye and a set of shackles on the rear spring eye is not going to work.
is the rear shackle on the front spring pushed back and bottomed on the frame rail and the front added shackle lifting the front?
post up some pics if you can.
is the rear shackle on the front spring pushed back and bottomed on the frame rail and the front added shackle lifting the front?
post up some pics if you can.
Posted By: Texas383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/09/12 02:26 PM
The rear eye of the front spring is in the original perch just like stock... the front of the spring has the shackles added to the original perch.
I will see if I can get pics posted...
I will see if I can get pics posted...
Posted By: scratchnfotraction
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/09/12 02:46 PM
Quote:
The rear eye of the front spring is in the original perch just like stock... the front of the spring has the shackles added to the original perch. I will see if I can get pics posted...
this does not sound right. it should have a shackle on the rear eye of the front spring.
it should have the front eye on the front spring in a frame perch thats square looking and a solid mount to the frame.
unless it has been reworked in some way.
you only gain 1/2 of the length of a shackle for lift.. 12" shackles 6" lift.
only reason I can think of to swap ends with the shackle would to be rotate the pinion upwards with a lift. that is not needed with a 2" or 3" lift.( I dont recall any 3" lifts only 2" & 4" & 6 skyjacker kits) and then its still ?able.
like said,you cant go by the 3-3.5 inch rear blocks,as all 4x4 have them to get the ride hieght level.
I am very interested in seeing pics.
Posted By: Texas383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/09/12 04:30 PM
I'm not sure why it was done that way. This is my first 4x4. The shackles and lower shock mounts are home made. The upper shock mounts to the frame look to be aftermarket. It's a dual shock per side set up on the front. I'd prefer to get my lift with the springs on front and do away with the shackles.
Let me take some pics and figure out how to get some pics loaded on here. Stay tuned...
Let me take some pics and figure out how to get some pics loaded on here. Stay tuned...
Posted By: 76dodgeboy
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/09/12 06:49 PM
Changing the opinion angle in front is a bad idea because of the steering etc.
I've never hears of anyone changing the front opinion angle even with 8" of lift. Its addressed with a double cardon joint Drive shaft
I've never hears of anyone changing the front opinion angle even with 8" of lift. Its addressed with a double cardon joint Drive shaft
Posted By: scratchnfotraction
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/09/12 07:32 PM
Quote:
Changing the opinion angle in front is a bad idea because of the steering etc.
I've never hears of anyone changing the front opinion angle even with 8" of lift. Its addressed with a double cardon joint Drive shaft
while i do
with this,I have had the knuckle yokes cut loose and rotate the pinion up some keeping the alinment specs stock.the 2 studs and 1 u-bolt are the trouble spot but a wedge shim got it bolted up and worked out fine.
I have had to use a double cardan joint on both ends of a rear shaft in the RC and done that a few time with other 4x4 rigs.
no telling what was moded on the front with a double shock hoop and shackle swap.
Posted By: hp383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/09/12 10:16 PM
This does sound odd. It is not physically possible to have shackles at both ends of the spring. One of the ends would fold over, and rest on the frame, or worse yet, against a frame rivet, putting extra force on the shackle, enough so to snap bolts.
You can lower the front mounting , and use the longer shackles both to get more lift. But the front normally remains a solid mounting point.
This picture shows someones modification to make a lowered and adjustable front mounting channel. You can see the pivoting shackle to the rear.
NOTE: your rear shackle should have the top bolt running through the frame, not as shown in this picture. This is something that was cobbled together.
You can lower the front mounting , and use the longer shackles both to get more lift. But the front normally remains a solid mounting point.
This picture shows someones modification to make a lowered and adjustable front mounting channel. You can see the pivoting shackle to the rear.
NOTE: your rear shackle should have the top bolt running through the frame, not as shown in this picture. This is something that was cobbled together.
Posted By: redraptor
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 08/11/12 01:02 PM
Posted By: Texas383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 09/04/12 07:29 PM
Sorry it took me a while to get back to this...
After I looked closer they are NOT shackles on the front... they are 1/2" plate welded to the original spring mounts that extend where the springs bolt up a couple inches. Rear of spring is mounted to the original factory location.
After I looked closer they are NOT shackles on the front... they are 1/2" plate welded to the original spring mounts that extend where the springs bolt up a couple inches. Rear of spring is mounted to the original factory location.
Posted By: Moparnut426
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 09/04/12 08:57 PM
Check to see if your center spring is broken, If it it, then I have a set with a decent center spring, I think I even have a few extra leaves to gi it a touch of lift up front.
PM me if ya want
PM me if ya want
Posted By: 76dodgeboy
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 09/04/12 10:21 PM
Pics?
Posted By: Texas383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 09/11/12 08:24 PM
Here is the bracket... you can also see the de-arching of the front springs
Posted By: Texas383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 09/11/12 08:26 PM
Here is my truck that we've been discussing...
Posted By: scratchnfotraction
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 09/11/12 08:43 PM
nice truck 
thats is an ok set up for the front mount.
can you post a shot of your shackle on the rear of front leafs?
post a shot of the rear springs front and rear shackle and blocks u-bolts.
you could just add a 2" add a leaf into those front springs and they would be flat and not negative arch like now.
a main leaf from a 4x4 front with the spring eyes cut off and then stuck under your main leaf will do about the same thing for the arch.
what are you after? a slight lift or just flat front springs and stay as high as is now?
I would think it has a good ride and is not harsh as most 4x4s are close to bump stops stock.
if you have body lift make sure they stay torqued up, they tend to work loose when off roading a lot with frame flex.
again. nice looking truck.
thats is an ok set up for the front mount.
can you post a shot of your shackle on the rear of front leafs?
post a shot of the rear springs front and rear shackle and blocks u-bolts.
you could just add a 2" add a leaf into those front springs and they would be flat and not negative arch like now.
a main leaf from a 4x4 front with the spring eyes cut off and then stuck under your main leaf will do about the same thing for the arch.
what are you after? a slight lift or just flat front springs and stay as high as is now?
I would think it has a good ride and is not harsh as most 4x4s are close to bump stops stock.
if you have body lift make sure they stay torqued up, they tend to work loose when off roading a lot with frame flex.
again. nice looking truck.
Posted By: dodgestrike
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 09/12/12 06:06 AM
cool truck , tho I don't like the mount setup I would reverse it to the original way and put longer shackles in the rear of the front spring. also if you need new springs look at rancho or other brands that carry spring lift packs , unless you are against lift.
Posted By: 76dodgeboy
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 09/12/12 07:18 AM
Quote:
cool truck , tho I don't like the mount setup I would reverse it to the original way and put longer shackles in the rear of the front spring. also if you need new springs look at rancho or other brands that carry spring lift packs , unless you are against lift.
Look closer. It appears to be welded so it doesn't pivot so its setup as stock but could have been fabed better and if kept that way a bead all the way around would be better
Posted By: Texas383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 10/09/12 02:57 PM
I want to eventually mount lifted springs on the front frame perch and do away with the "engineering"...
Posted By: 340SHORTY
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 10/10/12 07:24 AM
Posted By: 67PLY
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 10/13/12 01:40 AM
Got a front 3 ply (1750# cap)spring for my '84 W100 from www.sdtrucksprings.com paid $ 76.50
Posted By: 76dodgeboy
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 10/13/12 02:27 AM
I'll sell you some 4" lift springs
Posted By: Texas383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 05/28/13 11:36 PM
Thanx to all who responded to this post a while back. I FINALLY got some new leaf springs for the front of my truck(OEM replacement). I'm mounting the axle to the springs... but the U bolts need compressed to go back in the holes.... There's not enough room for a C clamp and I don't have big enough channel locks or anything else... anyone know a good way to squeeze the bolts together enough to get them back in the holes? Very limited space to get something on the U bolts when trying to re mount them.
Posted By: poorboy
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 05/29/13 01:39 AM
Set the u-bolt on a side with a spacer under it so it is not sitting on the threads. Take a hammer and strike the other side, close to the rounded part, (be careful not to damage the threads) to narrow the opening. It really does not take much of a blow, I suggest you do a little at a time.
If the opening has closed up and needs to be opened a little, grasp the u-bolt from one of the sides and strike the closed end against something solid. Again, it really doesn't take much of a blow. Strike lightly.
My shop used to be close to a spring shop that custom bent u-bolts, these words of wisdom comes directly from him, many years ago. Gene
If the opening has closed up and needs to be opened a little, grasp the u-bolt from one of the sides and strike the closed end against something solid. Again, it really doesn't take much of a blow. Strike lightly.
My shop used to be close to a spring shop that custom bent u-bolts, these words of wisdom comes directly from him, many years ago. Gene
Posted By: Texas383
Re: 1980 W150 Front Leaf Springs - 05/29/13 10:48 PM
Wooo Hoooooo!!! I got the U bolts in and tightened down.
I beat on them. I put them in my HUGE vice and almost had the bolt ends touching. Neither made the ends stay closer together after hitting them or taking out of vice. The old bolts are tempered I guess... or something. I managed to get a C clamp on them. It wasn't easy and the clamp kept coming off but at least I was EVENTUALLY successful.
I beat on them. I put them in my HUGE vice and almost had the bolt ends touching. Neither made the ends stay closer together after hitting them or taking out of vice. The old bolts are tempered I guess... or something. I managed to get a C clamp on them. It wasn't easy and the clamp kept coming off but at least I was EVENTUALLY successful.