Fiberglass leaf springs

[93shortbox]

I am looking into flipping my axel for some drop but I have factory fiber glass springs will a flip kit work with these springs?

 

[chvlfrk]

Ummm...........

I've seen a pic of these fiberglass leafs & their setup, and I don't believe theres a flip kit for them...........

I would suggest flippin your leaf spring mounts and that should give ya around 4"s of drop..........

 

[-Nathan-]

go to any junkyard and pull a set of real leaves from another ranger.

 

[93shortbox]

I dont see how it would be set up differently, the spring perch on the axle is the same whether you have fiberglass or metal springs. If I post a pic would that help? I would prefer to keep the fiberglass springs they ride better that traditional springs.

 

[Captain Ledd]

IIRC, the fiberglass spring set I looked at had a big metal chunk around the leaf and THAT bolted to the axle. Not entirely sure how it would feel if things were reversed. But that was a while ago, and I never got to take it apart.

 

[Insanejughead]

I have a set of these fiberglass composite springs.

I'm going to be swapping my 8.8" underneath them here soon, so once I've got the axle out from under the springs, I'll take a look at how that metal piece in the middle allows for different configurations.

Oh, and I have the brackets that allow for the 4" axle swap, so I'll be able to use those to check.

 

[slammedxonair]

Post up a pic I have never seen these on a ranger before. I have also never seen a listing in the drop parts catalog that says they will not work so I'm custious.

 

[93shortbox]

X2 on the pics. I too am also planning an 8.8 swap (rear end crapping out). Also will that bracket fit around the axle tubes on the 8.8 I believe they are larger than the 7.5.

 

[Insanejughead]

Here's a good shot of what we're dealing with.

The locating pin is only on the bottom, so flipping the axle with these springs is not practical.

The only realistic way to put the axle on top of the leaf spring, would be to cut the rivets that holds that metal piece on. IMHO, I would not even recommend that until we find out if it's the only thing holding the spring together. Could somebody find out if it's a one piece spring, or a two piece?

 

[scottg]

Here's a good shot of what we're dealing with.

The locating pin is only on the bottom, so flipping the axle with these springs is not practical.

The only realistic way to put the axle on top of the leaf spring, would be to cut the rivets that holds that metal piece on. IMHO, I would not even recommend that until we find out if it's the only thing holding the spring together. Could somebody find out if it's a one piece spring, or a two piece?

we did this back in the day on a 94ish longbed, the leaf is one solid piece, had no problems drilling out the rivets and flipping the plates over and justing bolts instead

 

[scottg]

SCOTT G, YOU ARE THE MAN

If you're ever down in Mass, I'll buy you a case of whatever you drink. You saved me like $150 thinking I'd need new leaves. I didn't think those plates would come off/swap like that.

just loose for now, going to get the other side done by this weekend.

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/showthread.php?266489-Rockn-s-longbed-update/page2

also done on a older ranger

 

[Andres629]

I haven't ever seen one o' them crazy deals before. I knew they existed, but never saw them.

 

[Insanejughead]

we did this back in the day on a 94ish longbed, the leaf is one solid piece, had no problems drilling out the rivets and flipping the plates over and justing bolts instead

Man, that's awesome! Do you have any pics of the spring without the pieces on it?


Thanks for posting up that it's do-able to flip that "mid leaf" bracket.