front springs are toast. looking for suggestions

[depogrig]

Seems common when I search, my front springs are flat/beyond flat. Trying to decide which option to go with. Truck has a plow in the winter so there is that additional weight some of the year. Truck is a 90 w250. I know im wanting to go with Chevy 63" setup in the back so it seems to match I'm looking for something with 4" of lift to match in the front. Option appear to be skyjacker but I'm not sure how long they'll hold up with the extra weight. Have alcan build springs with the plow weight accounted for, but then its going to be harsher when the plow is put away. Fab up air bags with enough leafs to keep the axle in place but rely on bags to hold height, have alcan build springs without the the plow and use bags to compensate for the weight in the winter. Any suggestions? Other ideas?

[RumbleFish]

Everybody claims their skyjackers sag within a year. I would avoid them myself. I put in some 4" gasser springs by tough country and it gave me 2.5" of lift at the front bumper and a dramatically better ride. They only have 3 leafs so I doubt they'd like your plow for too long.

[1992gen1_fan]

I'm sure Alcan can make a set to your specs. I ordered heavy duty front main leafs from them, they're about 1/16" thicker than stock I think. They fit well and they had them made fairly quick. Shipping is kind of high though.

[JimmieD]

Just a friendly warning on new springs...

I bought brand new front spring packs complete from Eaton Detroit Spring when I did my Cummins swap into Town Wagon. I ordered springs to be 250 lbs higher capacity per side, so 500 lbs total increase in spring rate.

Installed them and they were good for about a month, but sagged out flat with spring shackles up against the frame in 3 months! Complained to Eaton Detroit Spring and their best offer was, "Send them back and we'll take a look at them. If we determine the springs are at fault we will re-arch them." I asked what kind of re-arch, hot or cold, and did they mean they would upgrade the load capacity or something? No, not at all: they would only cold press them, as in adding a few kinks from the press, not replace or re-temper or anything useful. That is, IF they determined they were bad. So I might end up having them determine there was no problem, a crapshoot at best.

Also I would pay shipping back to them, plus shipping to me again, which was as much as I paid for the whole setup in the first place. Long story short - TOTAL SCREWJOB AND NOTHING BUT JUNK!

I ended up pulling the springs off a neighbor's parts truck, a 1950's Chevy pickup, and used them. They were far better than the new Eaton garbage!

[flyin6]

Go to a radius arm coil spring conversion!

[BILTIT]

I have had a few chats with evan at Backwoods Bumpers about building a coil spring front suspension setup. It is pricey though so i don't know if anyone will pull the trigger.

[depogrig]

What he thinking the price will be? Just looked and it a appears I have 6" blocks in the rear. So with the 6" springs and no block that would be the same height, correct? Shackle flip would make it a 4 inch lift?

[BILTIT]

I think it was 3G ish and I would have to weld brackets etc on. He has not built one yet so cost was just a ballpark guess.

[BILTIT]

What he thinking the price will be? Just looked and it a appears I have 6" blocks in the rear. So with the 6" springs and no block that would be the same height, correct? Shackle flip would make it a 4 inch lift?

Yes pretty much.

[depogrig]

Trying to wrap my head around the math. I want to stay as close as I can to the height I am now so that would be stock 63" springs. Minus the 6 inch block is a 3 inch drop if I'm correct. Then the shackle flip with 6" shackles would be back to even? 3k is too much commitment for front suspension since this will end up my dd/hunting rig. I'm thinking just match the front lift to the back and airbag the front to soften some and help with the plow in winter

[depogrig]

I was thinking too much. I found another thread that says the lift height in the article is with using the brackets in the PDF and 8 inch shackles. So it should be easy. 6 inch lift spring minus the 6 inch block, his change and 8" shackles will be same height.

[m880cummins]

Shackle flip, no blocks, and stock 63" springs will give you 4" of lift. At least, that's using Jungle's shackle flip kit. I bought Alcan 6" fronts and am now selling them to buy 4" fronts. I like my alcans, well worth the money.

Charlie