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how long should this take?

1374 Views 24 Replies 15 Participants Last post by  bigjoe7757
ok have plans for tommorow (sunday) to change both rear springs (using 96 f150 springs) hope they fit, would like to change all 5 u-joints (money will tell) and pull the drums and see whats rattling have to have it drivable for work sunday. gonna be fun getting all 6 eye bolts free and out and getting the u-bolts off,. so for you that are close to the pa/ohio line turn up your radio cause i am sure i`ll be doing a lot of cussing and yelling trying to get it all done :wacko
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Why are you using f-150 springs?
they r cheaper then the 91 fsb, the fsb cost $210 where as the 96 f150 cost $130 and those prices r for each spring not both as a set. plus i`ll be adding in a add a leaf or helper spring for when i tow my travel trailor
Changing the springs will take you about 1.5 to 2 hours IF everything comes apart easilly. It probably won't though. Plan on having to cut some of the bolts apart and maybe the U-bolts too. If thats the case, you might be there 4 to 6 hours just doing springs.
I would have all new bolts, (spring and U), and nuts, on hand. I would cut all the old bolts ( I prefer an air grinder and cut off wheels). Or have a torch and heat up each nut as you remove it. You still may have trouble with the bolts being seized in the spring bushings. This will save a lot of time vs the cost of the hardware. A lot of work for one day, but it can be done, unless Murphy visits you.
got new u-bolts and eye bolts just havent had time to fill torches but do have grinders both air and electrical, and have a couple bottles of propane to try to heat up bolts and nuts, maybe i should buy a kegger and some steaks and invite all fsb owners around my area lol
Good thing you got torches. You might need them to cut the spring eyes open
if you have air tools, it shouldnt take more than 2 hours. Go spray lube on them tonight and let them soak. When I put my AAL in it was no problem. How I did it was, jack the rear end up, (off the frame) until the tires come off the ground ( I used a cherry picker for this), place a jack under neath the axle, just in case. Remove the tires and you have perfect accsess to the bolts. What ever you do though, dont stick you head under nesath the truck while the tire is on, or else you might loose it if the jack fails.

MikE2 said:
Good thing you got torches. You might need them to cut the spring eyes open
Yes that is sooooo true. It's pretty easy with a tourch though.

-QC
blackbroncoxlt65 said:
they r cheaper then the 91 fsb, the fsb cost $210 where as the 96 f150 cost $130 and those prices r for each spring not both as a set. plus i`ll be adding in a add a leaf or helper spring for when i tow my travel trailor
And may make/allow the Bronco to squat. I don't think the F-150 springs are as heavy/stiff as the Bronco springs. At least the stock ones off the '89 F-150 compared to the ones off the '96 Bronco aren’t.
Thats a possibilty. They are also meant to be used with the F-150 factory block.
qcbronc said:
. What ever you do though, dont stick you head under nesath the truck while the tire is on, or else you might loose it if the jack fails.





-QC
jackstands? ;)
I wouldnt use the f-150 springs...there is a reason the bronco springs are more expensive.
BigBroncoXLT said:
I wouldnt use the f-150 springs...there is a reason the bronco springs are more expensive.
I agree with that.
Don't expect it go easily, in any way. I expect you will spend 5-8 hours, depending on how much you want to re-use old components and availability of unexpected purchases. I wouldn't attempt something like this on a sunday. It is better to start on a saturday, that way if things go for shit, you have another day to finish. Also, don't forget to re-torque your new u-bolts after a few hundred miles.
What exactally is the difference between the Bronco and F150 springs?
MikE2 said:
What exactally is the difference between the Bronco and F150 springs?

I would have to think it would be a weight thing. a bronco has alot more wieght over the rear axle compared to a F150 requiring a differnt spring rate. also the shackles are differnt between the two so your lift height is goingto be differnt
somebody posted on here a week or two that the F springs were thinner per leaf and had more leaves.In theory used offroad they could be fine tuned with individual leaf changes. Bronco springs are suppose to be a higher load capacity. End to end and center pin location?:shrug
the f150 springs are about 1 inch thinner, they are less heavy duty and probably have a different spring rate, if i were you i would stick with the bronco, even if they are more expensive
The measurement from the front of the spring to the center is different (longer) between the F150 and a FSB.



Jeff
MikE2 said:
What exactally is the difference between the Bronco and F150 springs?
BRONCFOOT said:
somebody posted on here a week or two that the F springs were thinner per leaf and had more leaves.In theory used offroad they could be fine tuned with individual leaf changes. Bronco springs are suppose to be a higher load capacity. End to end and center pin location?:shrug
Well I don't know all the differances but my '89 F-150 had fewer leafs then the '96 Bronco. I believe they give a softer ride with less weight.

EdsonBronco said:
The measurement from the front of the spring to the center is different (longer) between the F150 and a FSB.
Jeff
Not sure about that but I think they are the same length. Some lift kit manufactures (Superlift, which I un-affectionately call Stupid Lift) sell the same spring for both F-150 and Bronco. And they only lift a Bronco about half of what they are spec'd.
took 8 hours, 6 sawsall blades, 4 cutoff wheels and jacked the suspension up about 2 inches. arch of f150 is more than arc of bronco. leafs seem to be thicker too.
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