front leafs vs front coils

[fordthewin]

I am planning on doing a ghetto lift using junkyard parts on my 90 ranger
to go with swapping in a solid axle.

right now i am stuck between front coils or leafs
i know that with a little bit of work i can get decent lift ( 4 to 6 inches) with the coils or leafs out of a bigger truck, like say a f 150

i understand that doing leafs would be considerably easier, but wat pros and cons do each have to offer?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Coils usually flex a little better (or so many say, but you can get flex out of leafs if done right). Plus if a certain coil didn't work out the way you wanted, you just find a different coil instead of tearing apart a leaf pack to rebuild it and try something different. But you have to use radius arms or a link suspension and a trac bar along with changing the steering components.

Leafs remove the need for a trac bar and links/radius arms and can make steering geometry a little simpler. But you may have to try different leaf set ups to find the one that works the best.

I have an idea I stole off a Dodge loving friend of mine for doing a SAS trailrig, but I'm not sure I want to share the idea until I get some spare springs stocked away, lol.

 

[fordthewin]

well i figure with leafs i only have to worry about attaching the shackles to the frame, leafs to the axle. and steering

as opposed to worrying bout the control arms and such. the only problem is figuring out the shock mount points and the steering setup. but i figure i can steal that from a junkyard rig cause its just gonna be a trail bitch.

 

[351Mazda]

Please use coils. It's easier, cheaper, and quicker. Trust me. Find a late 70's F-150 with radius arms. Make the radius arm mounts. Shorten the stock trac bar off that axle. The mount on the frame of that truck will mount on the frame of your truck, just make sure it is welded and gusseted good. Hook up the steering. Done. You'll have to set your caster right, you want about 6 to 8 degrees positive caster. For springs don't use Ranger Springs, they're too stiff. The best ones I've found are early Bronco, Jeep Cherokee, or Jeep TJ. I'm running the 5.5 inch lift EB coils, and it rides like a caddilac. They gave me about 6.5 to 7 inches of lift.