I've got to get these coil springs off my truck. I spend most my time on the rocks and my articulation is all but destroyed. This is like rape - they are so stiff. I'm thinking Skyjacker but do not want to waiste my money -again-. Don't want to spend a lot. Can you fellas spit out some opinions. Are the Sky's ok? I just don't see anything else. I thought of like some OME or similar for their heaviest vehicle they make for, but nothing comes close to the weight of a fullsize Bronco. I have a 2" block in the rear, looking for 3 or 4" coil for front.

Thanks,
Mike
http://www.superford.org/registry/index.php?vID=1705

you have no flex because you have TTB

I had more flex than this with the oem springs. Please guys, no spam..... help a guy out.

I had TTB now I have a SA and I can tell you there are lots of things that have to happen before you get good flex regardless of the system that you are using.

First thing, diconnect your sway bar. Second, take a look at a set of Bronco springs for 78-79 as a possibility. These springs should be softer than the TTB setup but there are a lot of variables, such as weight and spring rate. Third, call Valley spring Co and have them make you a set of springs to your vehicle's specific weight and requirements.

Chad

Although I am far from a TTB fan..the simple answer to your question is this
http://www.jvlnet.com/~sjkdrk/ride/flex.jpg

That is off the shelf Superlift 6in springs.... and having run the 4" I would say they move just as well. Not the greatest articulating rig in the world by far but it does twist.

NoRM

Hey thanks Norm - Are you the Norm on the bigbroncos list? Judging from that corny case trick with your name, I'd say so ;)

This is why I was asking. I was swung towards the Skyjacker from the posts I'd read, but had not found anyone that gave an opinion on such with a Bronco, or even fullsize Ford of any kind for that matter. Some say the Superlift coils are stiff. Jeff's Bronco Graveyard said they sell Superlift and they "are similar to Rancho". I dunno what to do...

I'll go SAS eventually, but for now the $$ is short.

Yupp thats me I lurk on that list ocassionaly...good bunch of fellas.
In my opinion the Superlift are not at all stiff.... I can't say about the Rancho but I have run the Superlift on the wifes Bronco with excellant results. I believe the Superlift springs are rated 450lbs/pr inch or so....... I believe close to as soft as off the shelf coils get.

NoRM
who by the way likes my corny case thingy........ I never forget who I am then LOL

Your trying to compare a part based on what other people Think,,,,,,, Different frame of reference, different ideas of what flex or a soft spring is, will all change the answers you get. Spend a few dimes call the manufactures of the springs you are interested in. Ask them all the same questions, compare the answers you get,. When one looks promising, you could ask those that have used the same spring in a like app what they think of them, just as a way to confirm what you have already decided.

Or as has been suggested, weigh the vehicle loaded and call a maker of coil springs and tell um how you’re going to use the vehicle, what it weighs at each corner and how much lift you’re looking for.

That's why I'm on this board ;) Hopefully the people here are a bit above the reps at the lift companies that, just a couple quotes so far "don't have that information" and "can't offer you any comparable experience because most of us drive Z71's". That last one is a classis... I think I'll make it my email tagline for a while.

Folks like Norm I appreciate. He drives a Bronco too and I know from his posts on the email list that he's worth listening to. I did call Nat'l spring with the info stated. They want ~$400 for a set of springs that I don't even know will work right. Better off to get a few opinions, find some used coils for $50 or so and experiment. Now when I go sas then I'll call National and go from there. Right now the $ is short.

Mgp

Well thanks for trusting me and all...... but Erik has a point. My opinion or experiances may differ from others #1 And #2 your idea of soft and flexable may not be the same as mine. Thats why I posted the pics I did, I gave you a lil something to look at and say....ok that moves well or......... well hell mine moves like that already. I personally think the Superlift are a bit TOO soft for some things, and Erik I know has heard me piss and moan about that a time or two. I could interject my opinion that the softer a spring gets in a TTB truck the worse they handle, drive and over all behave.
Points of requirement regardless of the spring for a TTB to articulate:

Sway bar disconnected...
Shocks the correct length (most lift manufactures recomend shocks that are WAY to short)
Extended radius arms....

And I can assure you that "off the shelf" springs Superlift is the lightest of all (sumone already did the research for you) But I believe the Rancho were VERY close to the same........... so I wonder if you have some other issue limiting your travel?

NoRM

Guys - I appreciate the elementary suggestions and I'm sure a newbie would be very thankful, but I posted to pick your brains on coil springs. All the other aspects have been covered, and then some ;) This is not a daily driver. I know you have no way of knowing my level of knowledge and that's cool - just trust me. All I need is info on coils. I know as well as anyone that your'e giving me opinion, not facts and that's just what I'm looking for.

Norm - there's a guy on the list that has a set of old 4" coils he believes to be Superlift. Judging from a video of his truck he sent me I'd say he beat on then pretty darn good and they look to be very soft. I'm thinking since I'm after ideally 3" lift that a set of beat up, broken in 4" coils might be the ticket. My question is, assuming the coils have begun to sag, do they loose droop along with the onset of sag? I'm thinking the abuse they may have taken has softened them up allowing for more compression, but I don't want a coil that has effectively shrunkena nd lost droop along with the onset of sag.

I'm thinking of trying these coils from the guy for $50.

Oh - um, apparently there's no spring made for my truck that could possibly be too soft. Maybe some Ranger pickup springs...lol. I can stiffen the truck up. Kindof like the battle for the a/c control in my house. If you're cold you can do something about it. If you're hot, well about all you can do is get naked and you're still not gauranteed to cool off!

Yes, all the key things for flex (on ANY suspension) have already been stated.
I have found the Skyjacker coils to be the softest by a good margin for Rangers. I don't have experience with their fullsize ones, but I would assume they'd be similar. Superlift Ranger coils are the stiffest. I couldn't get more than 7-8" flex from those things. The Skyjackers gave almost 15.
BTW, Ranger springs are a different diameter and wont fit.

A couple ideas that come to mind:

Try using springs made for a solid axle. These work under a lower load for the same vehicle weight and may be of a lower rating. You'll have to do some trial-n-error to find ones with the correct ride height to allow correct camber alignment. Shims (washers) under the lower coil perch can be used for fine tuning.

Also the custom coil route is a good one. A set of coils around 350-400in-lbs should yield some impressive flex.

Contrary to what some want you to believe, a TTB is capable of very good flex. Problem is a market flooded with stiff springs and weak brackets.

I think given this threads overall direction so far and whats been said I will interject a few thoughts.

mgp : You mentioned buying some used 4" coils. I wouldn't be afraid of this concept...........and if you want an idea of how much those springs your looking at have sagged, get a free standing height of them uninstalled and we can compare * I have a set here myself in garage we can measure that are new*

4x4junkie: SA coils will not fit into a TTB truck without mucho fab work....so I don't see this as a viable option.

Also the Superlift coils for the fullsize TTB' rigs are 450lb rated. I personally have not done the research on who's are softer, but after owning a few sets I will attest they are PLENTY soft enough to travel to the extreams of the TTB's ability with unmodified beams. Mine would bind the pass side axle joint it dropped so far it needed a limmiting strap.

regardless, you plan on wheeling it much, a front locker or rubber over 35" I expect yr SAS will happen sooner than planned, they really don't hold up all that well.

NoRM
who has a HUGE pile of bent TTB beams for sale CHEAP

Thanks guys.

Norm, if you could swing me a measurement from those superlift coils in your garage I'll compare to the free height of the used ones I'm planning on getting. That'll tell me if sag will have affected the droop of the coil. When you speak of the flex of the superlift coils, are you referrring to after many miles and conditioning or from the day they were new?

4x4 I think there's a big diff in the performance of coils between fullsize and Rangers, with most kits. I've seen a Ranger locally with the Rancho coils that flexed very good, also a BII that had commendable flex with Rancho coils, but my truck does no such thing. I'm now afraid the Skyjackers will be the same deal. I think most of these co's are trying to avoid lawsuits by packaging autocross springs (hehehe) with their kits.

I think the oem coils for a '96, no tow package are 420lbs, won't swear by it. Most decent companies like OME, etc offer oem spring rates or very close. I guess it's like the guy at National Spring told me - "not many guys are wanting to rock crawl a '96 Bronco" hehehe...

Originally posted by P|n-BaLL
SA coils will not fit into a TTB truck without mucho fab work....so I don't see this as a viable option.
Well, it was a thought.

I have seen eB, Jeep and '79 F-150 coils used on the Ranger suspension, I would've thought the same thing is possible on FS Broncos.
How different are the SA coils from the TTB ones? All I thought was the lower spring seat would need changing (or modding).

What about using a set of fabtech coils for the front. These seem to work best IMO.

That said I have a set of superlift 6" on the front of mine and they suck. waist of $$ if you are looking for flex.

I looked at their stuff online. Wouldn't know which set to use though being they have no application specifically for my truck. Perhaps a 2wd 6"... wouldn't know for sure.