I know that this has been discussed before, but i never found an answer to a question I have. Marv was very good in answering most of my questions.
I have a set of Ford 57" leaf springs with the 4 leaf pack with the poly sliders between the leaves, a flat helper spring and a angled block. The springs are 3"wide not the 2.5" that everyone has used. The springs are very flexy.
Questions
Has anyone used these springs before?
Does it matter weather or not they are 2.5" or 3" wide as long as it works with your application?
And last has anyone tried using the Rancho 2.5" lift springs RS44154? (they are very close in spring rate to the Chevy Rancho replacements)
Any help, advice or experience will be greatly appreciated,
Mike

Supposedly 3in. springs are suppost to control axle wrap better than the 2.5's.
They sound like f150 springs out of an 87'- 96"

My 78 uses 3" wide springs. IIRC, 3" are on 4x4s, and 2.5" are on 2WDs

What did you find the 57" springs on? Wheer are you measuring them from? I could NEVER find the 57" springs. I could only come up with some 54" springs from a 86 bronco. Are we measuring them the same. I get 54" from center eye to center eye. If you use the B&T brackets you must use a 3" spring. Have top fab your own to use the 2.5".

clc900 what did you mount these to? 86-92 f-150, 250 should have the 57" springs. and the measurement is from eye to eye.

davidsbronco how do youu like the 3" springs? r u running the springs as they came off the truck with the overload or did you mix n match? do you have much spring rap?

I plan on running a traction bar similar to the one that Sam's offroad produces. i'm running a real torguey motor and plan on running a doubler setup.

thanks for all the input

Both spring sets, on both of my broncos, are stock, not lifted or swapped in, and yes with the factory overloads. Both had 3" lift blocks. Oddly enough, MY Bronco didn't experience any axlewrap, whereas my wife's did, pretty bad. But I chalk that up to the prior owner abusing it. i've got some plans to change things around tho. I'm working on a trade for a 9" lift for my wife's Bronco. After replacing the rear springs, I'm planning on taking her old stock springs, along with the springs from my Bronco, and making a 1/4 elliptical set of out them, adding one, or two, leaves from her old spring pack. but that will be determined after I figure out how much weight I plan on carrying in back

What are your springs for?

Yes there are 57" springs those are Ford Ranger/ Explorer/ Bronco II springs I LOVE MINE ( maybe that is because I love ranger's) They all flex good. The Explorer have more arch and control wrap more than the others they are 2.5" wide too. Now as for my rear end I got A set of explorer springs intertwind with my Stock ranger with a pair of add a leafs in both sets. With an Overload on the bottom. Total of 8 leaves.. IT still flexes pretty good. Axle wrap is still there but GREATLY reduced with explorer springs in my packs. I still have a 3" block so that is part of my problem. But as for me I like them.

For pics of the truck go to

www.fordtruckworld.com/jdranger/

I have yet to find a spring that is 57" long and 3" wide. I have checked on F150's and bronco's. Could only find 54" length and 3" wide. This is measured from spring eye center to spring eye center. I ended up putting these on my EB.

David,
I'm building a 59 Willys wagon. I like the F-150 off set springs for the rear, because my stock springs are almost the same distance as the F-150 springs. in the front. This allows longer springs without any change in mounting. The rear frame rail is straight so i can mount the rear shackle anywhere. it will wind up 2 " from the end of the frame. i'm making custom spring perches out of 3" square tubing. i will also run a track bar. i'm running a Chevy 388 stroker and 37" tires. up front i plan on using waggy springs and reverse shackle.
thanks for all the input,
Mike

Originally posted by John Deere Ranger
Yes there are 57" springs those are Ford Ranger/ Explorer/ Bronco II springs. They all flex good.

Definately sounds like Explorer/Ranger/BII springs. The stock springs work alright but they can't really handle the abuse. After a couple of years my stock Explorer springs had a well defined S-curve. Of course on a lighter rig they may last longer.