I have a 51 ford F2 truck i have put in a jag clip up front, to lower the rear to a nice level I have pulled half the leaves out it started withh 12!, so I now have 6 it sits & rides just nice but as expected with at least twice the power it left the factory with I am getting some spring wrap issues I dont really want to fit traction bars as its a street truck, so was wondering about fitting a nice thick dummy leaf on top out of plain strip steel to brace the main pack anyone else done this ?, Many thanks for any advice you can give, Jon.
got a pic of the spring. are the remaining leaves short? you want to use as many leaves close to full length as possible to avoid spring wrap, you may be able to restack the springs with the leaves you pulled and reduce the spring wrap problems. this will kinda act like a traction bar. My friends and I were drag racing leaf spring cars and would use leaves out of different sets to get several longer leaves towards the front of the spring eye, also use the leaves to "tune" the launch from side side. same idea. Also keeps the car more of a sleeper without traction bars. traction bar works as a lever at the spring eye and reduces the spring wrap, you can do much of the same with just changing leaves around. you also dont mention if the rear is stock to the truck, measure your pinion angle and report back.
Nothing wrong with traction bars on a street truck, however, with half the leaves out, I suspect you won't be hauling any loads. Slapper bars are a good compromise for a street use vehicle. Lift bars, which attaches to the bottom of the spring perch, then to somewhere on the frame would be good too.
Simple backyard old world solution. Get some 1/4 x 2 or 1/4 x 1 flat bar. Cut into strips a wide enough to lay it across the spring and drop 1/4 bolts through it. One piece below the spring one piece above it. Now jack it up a little and start placing your flat bar clamps at intervals between the front spring eye and the axle. I would probably start with 3 clamps for each side. Tighten the clamps up then let it down and take it for a drive. You will probably notice a marked differenc ewith just 3 clamps. You may end up with as many as 5 or 6. But unless you are throwing a lot of meat at it 3 clamps will probably do you. Another trick is mount air shocks in front of the axle, put just enough air in them to control your axle. It may raise it a little, but it makes it adjustable you can add air for racing and release air for cruising.
Wow thanks for the speedy replys !, I have mainly left the longer leaves in I have 4 clamps on each spring, I am just finishing up fitting air shocks at the front of the axle mainly in case I want to carry a bike but I can see how this will help, the axle is under the springs with the u bolt nuts on top so slapper bars may be a little tricky. I am going to get a longer sliding joint put in the prop tomorrow as the diff is trying to push it through the back of the tranny I will then try some air in the shocks, Many thanks again, Jon.
Exactly, you want to soften the back half of the leaf for the softer ride while stiffening the front half of the spring pack to control wrapup. I've seen folks shift a leaf forward in the pack or even trim the back half of a leaf. Another side affect of this is that the stiffer the front half becomes, the more the axle and spring starts to function as a sway bar.
Hi Dzus, Been thinking about this one it sounds horrable at first but then makes real sense ! I think this is the best idea yet ,!! This message board rocks !!!, so much knowlage from around the world focused in one place, That's power !!!!, Kind regaurds, Jon.
The Jalopy Journal
