What is the best front leaf spring for pure flex?

[alwayzbroken]

I am running AP 3" front buggy leafs now. I think they are just too soft for my pickup with the winch. What spring will work the best for pure trail only performance? Is it true that 5" inch springs are softer and flex more than the 4" springs? Or has anybody experimented with removing leafs from a 4" or 5" spring pack? Thanks.

[olivedrab85]

I removed a spring from my 5" and they sagged alot, put it back in and they're fine. I've heard the 5" spring has a softer rate than the 4". They flex real good after broke in.

[boggerunner]

get some alcans, and tell them u want some soft ones for alot of flet as long as u are not running a huge front bumper with a winch

[79coyotefrg]

I am running AP 3" front buggy leafs now. I think they are just too soft for my pickup with the winch. What spring will work the best for pure trail only performance? Is it true that 5" inch springs are softer and flex more than the 4" springs? Or has anybody experimented with removing leafs from a 4" or 5" spring pack? Thanks.

Hey Cole    sounds like what you need  to do  is take a leaf from a F150 pack  and ad it into your 3 inch pack

[alwayzbroken]

Thanks Glen that is a good idea. I have never messed around with adding leafs before. Will adding springs make the spring much more firm or increase lift? What effect will it give me. I like how soft the spring is but they just sagged too much. I am still exploring my options. I plan on calling Alcan tomorrow but I don't know if I want to spend that much for springs

Would removing a leaf from a 5" pack make it sag down to around a 3" or 4"?

[boggerunner]

i love workin 1/2 a mile away from alcan, i can always stop by there on my lunch break and shoot the shirt

[Ramrod]

rears up front are the bomb and they dont cost anything plus you build them how you want them

[kneedownnate]

rears up front are the bomb and they dont cost anything plus you build them how you want them

  Ultimate in tunability.  I plan to go this route, maybe try a couple different setups and document my pack makeup, even though I already have new 4" springs. 

[79coyotefrg]

Pat has a good point,  take  a long leaf from your old rears  and add it into your 3 inchers  this  will give you a little lift


or  do the F150  ad a leaf,  as long as the springs  arent  some thick aftermarket  "add a leaf"  the spring rate will go up  but  not reduce flex

youve seen pictures  of my bumper 

[DTB]

youve seen pictures  of my bumper 

[alwayzbroken]

Will Rears up front flex better than a good aftermarket spring? I have many sets of rears and can modify or add springs but I always heard that any "junkyard" spring is just a cheap alternative to a good aftermarket spring. That they are not better but just about as good for next to nothing in price.

[smalltowncowboy]

ive seen quite a few people around my town running the rear IFS springs up front and chevy 63" springs in the rear. they all seam to flex pretty good. im looking at an 81 right now with the chevy springs in the rear already so ill just have to build some new front spring packs for it.

[79coyotefrg]

Cole  i'd  just ad a leaf from one of those rear packs you have to your 3 inch front packs,.  maybe  even 2 leaves

[79coyotefrg]

my front packs  are 6 leaves,  and youve seen my pics  on my buildup thread

well maybe not my last pics,  go have a look