The Official Rears Up Front FAQ Thread

[MiniSimp]

Ok, let's help out the newbs.

Why make a front spring pack out of rear springs? They are 4" longer that the stock front springs, the center pin is 2" closer to the front eye which moves your axle forward 2", Provide approximatly 14"+ of travel, and they are cheap!

Post up what pack you made

Springs used:
U-Bolts used:
Front Hanger:
Shackles:
Steering Box:
Pitman Arm:
Type of Steering:
Amount of lift:

Here is what I did:
Springs used: 1st leaf: 85 1st leaf, 2nd leaf: 85 2nd leaf, 3rd leaf: 85 3rd leaf, 4th leaf: 85 1st leaf cut down, 5th leaf: 85 2nd leaf cut down (all leafs have 3" difference in length.)
U-Bolts used: Marlin Crawler U-Bolt Flip Kit
Front Hanger: Stock
Shackles: 2" longer than stock
Steering Box: 1986 IFS Box
Pitman Arm: Marlin Crawler, stock drop
Type of steering: Crossover High Steer
Amount of lift: Approximatly 5"

[crawlerdan]

Springs used:87 leaves top three, bottom three, ford bronco rear with teflon liners
U-Bolts used:marlin flip kit
Front Hanger:home made,2 inch drop,2 inch foreward
Shackles:marlin rears in front under frame rails
Steering Box:stock, 2 inches foreward
Pitman Arm:marlin stock drop
Type of Steering:marlin hysteer
Amount of lift:
was 7 when i built it, closer to 4 now

[IronClad]

Springs used: 94 rears 1st and 2nd leaf,  f150 leaf cut down, 85 rear main leaf cut, 85 2nd leaf cut, 85 3rd leaf cut, 85 main leaf cut ,  85 3rd leaf cut.   and soon to add a small AAL  to prevent bending ( will be a 9 leaf pack!!!)
U-Bolts used: stock toyota  used in a very special way.
Front Hanger:Custom 1 off approx 2 1/2" drop 2" forward
Shackles: custom  7" eye to eye  under the frame
Steering Box: IFS   moved forward to the very end of the frame. as far as it will go
Pitman Arm:  stock  modified
Type of Steering: Custom hysteer  ( i run a 10bolt front)  1 1/2 .250 wall DOM with 3/4 hiemjoints
Amount of lift: between 6 and 8"

[Hyena]

Springs used: Top 3 leaves = top 3 out of stock 84 rear pack, middle leaf is a cut down chevy spring leaf, bottom 3 = bottom 3 of a waggy front spring pack.
U-Bolts used: Marlin flip kit
Front Hanger: 2x6 drop hanger moved 1 inch forward of stock
Shackles: 1 1/2 - 2 inch lift shackles
Steering Box: 86 IFS box
Pitman Arm: Marlin
Type of Steering: Marlin Highsteer
Amount of lift: 6-7 inches

[Matty]

has anyone you know tried running lift springs up front, maybe taking out a few leaves.  i wanted to do rears up front, and i have a set of skyjacker softride rears i was thinking about using.

[kneedownnate]

How bout sharing how you cut down the leaves.  This might help cause they're a bisnatch to cut cause they're so damn hard.

[toynizzy]

i know that this is cheap and they flex out good but i was trying to decide on which way to go with my junk.im thinking trail flex kit with 5 inch springs since all my susp is well worn and junk and i need all new everything it seems.is that the best way to go or should i do the rears up front for a temp set up??

[MiniSimp]

How bout sharing how you cut down the leaves.  This might help cause they're a bisnatch to cut cause they're so damn hard.

I used a Makita LC1230 Metal Cutting Saw. Cut the leaf vertical > | < not flat, it will wear on the blade too much.

[MiniSimp]

i know that this is cheap and they flex out good but i was trying to decide on which way to go with my junk.im thinking trail flex kit with 5 inch springs since all my susp is well worn and junk and i need all new everything it seems.is that the best way to go or should i do the rears up front for a temp set up??

If you can afford new springs...do it.
Rears are more of a budget thing.

[Hyena]

I also cut mine with a metal chop saw.