I got a 89 f-150 with the ifs/ttb front end and 9in rear. It's got a rough country 6" lift on it and 36x14.50x15 swampers on front and 35x15.50x15 swampers on rear. My tires do already rub a lil bit. I jus bought a set of 15x14 alloy rims and there 5 lug. I need to know what all i will need for a straight axle conversion. I wanna keep it at 1/2 ton 5 lug runnin gear. But other than gettin the front/rear end what else do i need?

 

Leaf springs, spring hangers, shackles, shocks, spring perches. You can't run only like a 2" lift block in the front end if any lift block at all. It depends on state law. There's gotta be a kit somewhere. Try someplace like blue torch fab, or ballistic fabrication.

 

Step 1. Ignore this guy. lol. Nothing against him, but it doesn't seem like he knows what's he talking about.

Step 2. Decide if you want to run coils or leaf springs. With a 5-lug axle, I'd imagine you'd want coils.

Step 3. go to Fullsizebronco.com and READ a ton in their straight axle swap section, before you even start thinking about collecting parts. It gets expensive quick.

After that, decide if it is still worth it to you. You can keep your rear axle. You're going to need a d44 front axle from a 78/79 bronco, or 70s f150. You'll need some new coils, radius arms, radius arm brackets, track bar, new steering, metal to build an upper track bar bracket, and quite possibly a new crossmember. This swap can be cheap, and it can be expensive, just all depends on how you want to take your build.

 

x2 ^^^

 

Yea listen to this guy sounds like he knows everything! Some people just gotta be assh*les! Nothing against him. (I said "nothing against him" so that means its ok) fu*k you dude! Sorry for giving my opinion on an older post that no one else posted anything on. What was wrong with the info I gave him? Most solid axle swaps I've seen are leaf springs I figured he'd wanna do it the easier and cheaper way.

 

I'll gladly be an "assh*le" to anyone who thinks its okay to run blocks in the front. even if they are just 2" blocks. And Most solid axle swaps on the 80-96 F-series and Broncos are coil sprung. Leaf springs definitely aren't the "easier" or "cheaper" way to SAS one of these trucks. There is a ton more that goes into setting up a leaf spring swap than you can ever imagine, especially if its completely custom. Tuning the leaf springs, setting it up for the right shackle angle, etc.

On the other hand, with a radius arm setup, you can pretty much bolt 78/79 setup and run with it. The only thing that really requires any thought is the upper track bar mount design. But even that isn't all that complicated.

To the OP, feel free to PM me if you have any questions. I can provide you with a ton of information on any SAS you want, whether it be leaf sprung, radius arms, 3 link, 4 link, 1 link, etc.

 

Both ways are fine guys. If I had a leaf sprung on hand or found one cheap enough I would use it, if I were looking for something easier to bolt on I'd go for the coil sprung.

 

Where did I say it was ok to run lift blocks in the front? If you can read I said " You can't run only like a 2" lift block in the front end if any lift block at all. It depends on state law." I read an article in peterson's four wheel about lift laws and some states allowed a 2" lift block but most did not. in one of my vehicles would I run a lift block on the front axle? No I would not they are dangerous. Also in that particular issue in the readers rides section there is a solid axle bronco that appears to be riding on leafs up front. There is also a bronco running around here with leaf springs up front. so people do use leaf springs up front. I probably wouldn't I like a 4 link with coils I'm a jeep guy and my jeeps all had coils. But there is a lot of work that goes into a custom 4 link suspension. I built a set of links for my cherokee and it wasn't easy setting everything up. If you could buy a kit that would solve that problem. I agree coils work better but I also read somewhere that suspension systems should be balanced, like if u use leafs on back leafs should be used on front same with coils, but the factories don't do that so idk if it is true. If u went with leaf springs would it be possible to use the spring hangers from a 250hd or a 350?

 

Yes. People do use leaf springs on their SAS from time to time. Usually its when they have an entire parts F350 and they're swapping in a dana 60. Most dana 44 swaps on these trucks have radius arms and coils.

A parellel 4 link with a track bar wouldn't be very hard to set up, but without quite a bit of lift, or building a new engine crossmember, you couldn't easily run a triangulated 4 link. Its a pain to run a triangulated 4 link up front anyhow, unless you are running full hydraulic steering. Its too hard not to get flex steer.

There is no bolt in link kits for F-series trucks. And the SAS kits available aren't worth the price. You can piece it together with much better parts for a ton less, if you are willing to do a little fab yourself.

This is not true. There are a ton of rigs that have leaf springs up front, and coils or coilovers in the rear. (or the other way around) Leaf springs USUALLY tend to be a lot more stable than a link setup. I've seen more than a handful of buggies running around at offroad parks with leaf springs up front for stability.

Even with the spring hangers and everything, its not going to be a direct swap. There is some work, design, and fab required to swap this stuff in.

 

good to see you still on here gijoe