Need help identifying spring type

[540milotalon]

Working on my 5.0 Ranger swap, using an Explorer rear and suspension and the parts people want to know if my "Explorer" is a "F" or "U" spring code vehicle.
it was a '99 5.0 Explorer with two "U"s in the VIN but the counter person says that doesn't mean anything to him?

Anyone know where I can find the code?

 

[franklin2]

This is what I have found so far.


U, V, W = 1991/94 Explorers.

There were no V8 Explorers offered for these years.

1995/96, there are four codes: F, H, L, W. The W is the same spring used 1991/94 (F1TZ5560C).

1997/99: F, H, L.

2000: F, H, L, U.

At one time, Ford listed the load rates next to the spring part numbers, but that's not the case now.

 

[bobbywalter]

its in the door tag. which i assume is long gone. what are your goals?


just tell them you need a spring that goes boing.

 

[franklin2]

I looked up a 1999 Explorer on rockauto, and pretended I needed a rear leaf spring for one with a 5.0.

Dorman sells a U code spring, DORMAN 929206

Dorman sells a F code spring, DORMAN 929219

I did a google search on these Dorman springs and they have some specs on them but can't tell what's going on with them. You might want to follow this same path and see if you can find out anything. There are a bunch more numbers and springs on the rockauto site.

 

[540milotalon]

I still have the donor Explorer sitting in the lower field, I reckon I took the advice of "don't get rid of the donor until you're done" seriously?

The door tag for paint code and rear dif numbers are there, guess I will take a pic? But the guy at the parts counter didn't have a clue what I'm supposed to look for.

The rear springs are toast (truck is obviously lower in the rear now) and the truck has an almost violent pitch feeling on bumpy sections and curves of the road.

Both the "anti-roll up" bars, similar to traction bars broke because they appeared to be trying to hold up the frame? When I set their location, the frame was set off the rear by the springs and the bars were under no load, in their broken state they are now too long

I have driven 63K since the build out.
I reckon metal fatigue?

 

[JoshT]

Working on my 5.0 Ranger swap, using an Explorer rear and suspension and the parts people want to know if my "Explorer" is a "F" or "U" spring code vehicle.
it was a '99 5.0 Explorer with two "U"s in the VIN but the counter person says that doesn't mean anything to him?

Anyone know where I can find the code?

Code U is an 1250 lb spring.

Code F is an 1100 lb spring.

More info here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/ford-ranger-explorer-bronco-rear-leaf-spring-specs/

For fitment it doesn't matter which you use. Personally I think that I'd go for the stiffer 1250 lb spring, but that is a matter of.opinion.

 

[JoshT]

The door tag for paint code and rear dif numbers are there, guess I will take a pic? But the guy at the parts counter didn't have a clue what I'm supposed to look for.

There will be a block on there that says something like SPR. Under that there will be a few numbers and/or letters. The second digit (or last two if there are 4) will be your rear spring code.