Ive been toying around with the idea of flipping the rear leaf springs in my bronco for awhile (such that the short end of the leaf is pointing rearwards) in the search for a little bit more wheelbase. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this as far as how it handled on and offroad compared to the conventional direction. I can imagine it would increase axle wrap quite a bit, but my rear end is already setup to run a trac bar, so that wont be an issue. I would be running a shackle flip with it if that makes any difference.


Thanks,

SM

I swapped the springs around on a 80 ish bronco chassis so the wheels would fit into the wheelwells of a 49 F1 body. Rides fine on the street, no weird handling quirks or anything. Never wheeled it though so I'm not sure if it would be any different. Can't imagine it would be much different than if they were in the intended position.

I ran Ford 57" rear F150 springs on my K5 for YEARS. More wheelbase, great pinion angle, no blocks, no shims, no axle wrap, and no problems.

Not sure what kind of luck you will have running springs backwards in anything else???

I did on my EB for a while. No problems.

Seems to me it might result in some funky droop geometry. The axle housing swings more or less in an arc centered on the spring eye at the end with the military wrap (front). Moving this to the rear and putting the shackle at the front seems like it would make the pinion dive much more on droop, resulting in funky u-joint angles and possibly bind. But Rockit's actual experience wins out over what I say "seems" like might happen.

Dusty

Sounds like he is probably gonna leave the shackle in the rear and just switch the springs around.

Sounds like he is probably gonna leave the shackle in the rear and just switch the springs around. Right the holes for the centering pin is not in the center. Any body know why?

Right the holes for the centering pin is not in the center. Any body know why?

If the centerpin was in the middle it wouldn't be at the lowest point in the spring anymore. It takes more spring to go from the axle to shackle (higher) than the axle to front hanger.



Hope that made sense.

Seems to me it might result in some funky droop geometry. The axle housing swings more or less in an arc centered on the spring eye at the end with the military wrap (front). Moving this to the rear and putting the shackle at the front seems like it would make the pinion dive much more on droop, resulting in funky u-joint angles and possibly bind. But Rockit's actual experience wins out over what I say "seems" like might happen.

Dusty

He's leaving the shackle where is. Otherwise you're spot on.

I've been running my 6" Deavers reversed on my 78 Bronco truggy for 2 years now with no ill effects.

I would think you would have more axle wrap because of the longer part of the leaf between the front leaf mount and the axle. isn't that the part of the leaf that takes the most force from the pinion trying to rotate the axle?

that was my understanding of it anyway...

I'm not sure if he still logs in over here, but muddinmike was running his leaves flipped around on his 78/79.
IIRC, it pushed his axle back about 7 inches.

I actually had LESS axle wrap problems running my 57's backwards. I think it pushed the rearend back 6.5"

http://krazyk5.com/albums/Pics-Of-Poohbairs-Sh%21t/S2010069.jpg

hmmm . . . may do this to get a cheap wheel base extension outta my 79 truck but i wonder if it'll work with my rockwells . . . gotta do some researchin now for spring hieght needed for clearing rockwells instead of 4 linkin it . . . . thankya's