Early 99 Front Springs

[JHALL]

I have an early 99 F-250 4x4. It has a huge rake from front to back (the rear of the truck sits much higher than the front). I haven't taken any measurements yet, but was wondering if I can switch to F-350 front springs to give the front of the truck some lift?

I don't really like the look of an exact leveled truck and I would still like to retain some of the rake, but it looks like a 70's hot rod right now.

[dieselcrawler]

My early '99 was the same way.... (red truck) I had a set of new-take-offs from my cousin's truck, a 2000, that were removed shortly after he got it new, so they weren't sagged. I took them apart, cut the bushings off the main leaf, and added it between the 2 stock leafs on the red truck. All it took was a set of new center bolts, (7/16" diam, from the local parts store) and extending the track bar, as it was about 3/4" too short after the spring was added. Since it was a new track bar, less than a month old, I simply cut it in the middle, and sleaved it with a pc of pipe that had the right inside diam, and was about 1/8" wall, and about 8" long. I cut some notches in each end, to make the ends kinda spikey, for more weld surface area, and with the truck sitting on all 4 tires and level, tacked the sleave in place with a welder, fully welding it while removed from the truck. Has worked fine for about a year and a half, and about 20K rough West Virginia back road miles.

[JHALL]

Originally Posted by dieselcrawler

My early '99 was the same way.... (red truck) I had a set of new-take-offs from my cousin's truck, a 2000, that were removed shortly after he got it new, so they weren't sagged. I took them apart, cut the bushings off the main leaf, and added it between the 2 stock leafs on the red truck. All it took was a set of new center bolts, (7/16" diam, from the local parts store) and extending the track bar, as it was about 3/4" too short after the spring was added. Since it was a new track bar, less than a month old, I simply cut it in the middle, and sleaved it with a pc of pipe that had the right inside diam, and was about 1/8" wall, and about 8" long. I cut some notches in each end, to make the ends kinda spikey, for more weld surface area, and with the truck sitting on all 4 tires and level, tacked the sleave in place with a welder, fully welding it while removed from the truck. Has worked fine for about a year and a half, and about 20K rough West Virginia back road miles.

Not looking to modify anything really. I was mainly wondering if I were to purchase a set of new F-350 front springs (for an early '99 truck of course since I think something is different with the u-bolts, correct me if I'm wrong) if they would lift the front of the truck up a little bit?

[dieselcrawler]

The springs from any early '99 to 2004 truck will interchange with your front springs, the diffrence is in the u-bolts and the pad that goes on top of the springs, not the springs them selves, as least not in any way that would inhibit interchange...

So, to answer your question, yes you could replace the spring pack with a brand new one that is not sagged after 14 years of a heavy diesel motor sitting on them, and it might bring up the front of your truck a little. However, the add-a-leaf option could be cheaper, and not any harder to install... and provide the same results.

You still might run into track bar issues... just so ya know.

[don't ram it, stroke it]

Originally Posted by dieselcrawler

The springs from any early '99 to 2004 truck will interchange with your front springs, the diffrence is in the u-bolts and the pad that goes on top of the springs, not the springs them selves, as least not in any way that would inhibit interchange...

So, to answer your question, yes you could replace the spring pack with a brand new one that is not sagged after 14 years of a heavy diesel motor sitting on them, and it might bring up the front of your truck a little. However, the add-a-leaf option could be cheaper, and not any harder to install... and provide the same results.

You still might run into track bar issues... just so ya know.

x2 put the add a leafs on my front end to level it out, worked great..(little stiffer ride, but not much!!)