Newb has a question

[Beanmachine7000]

Hey everyone, I just brought home a 1989 Bronco II 4x4 2.9L 5speed with only 78k miles I have a question about the rear suspension. As I was checking everything under the truck I noticed that my leaf springs were almost completely flat. So I got out the trusty tape measure and measured only 3" of travel from the axle to bump stop. Now, I'm sure this can't be normal right? I'd like a couple inches of lift maybe, but I don't want to spend three weeks and tons of money working on my daily driver. So, I'm wondering what the cheapest and easiest way to get a couple inches of clearance would be?

 

[philzilla]

longer shackles should raise it, there usually around $40 dollars depending on what ones you get

 

[Capt Jay]

Is it going to be your daily driver or offroad?

Daily driver=leveling springs in front and blocks in back

Off road=leveling springs in front and new springs in back or drop brackets (longer shackels).

 

[Beanmachine7000]

It'll be a daily driver/weekend wheeler, I don't plan on crawling up a mountain, just want something to get me to my camp site and some good fishing spots...

 

[Capt Jay]

Where are you located? I've got springs and blocks in my garage that I don't need any more.

I made my own rear drop shackles on my truck. It took about .5 hours and some scrap iron. Very simple, very easy. I used some 1.5 inch channel iron for the drop shackle and some 1.5 flat stock for the cross bracing. 2 side pieces and some cross bracing, drill 4 holes and a little welding. Oh yea, I also used a can of new (black rattle can).

 

[Thighman]

You want to swap in some explorer leaf springs. They will tighten up the ride and get the sag out.

I am in Cali and have some for sale if interested 50 bucks plus shipping.

Before I had explorer leafs

And after

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Thighman, I've sent you a PM about those springs, here is a picture of my saggy butt lol...





As you can tell my leafs almost bend up, lol...

 

[4x4junkie]

Thighman, I've sent you a PM about those springs, here is a picture of my saggy butt lol...





As you can tell my leafs almost bend up, lol...

That looks about normal for a BII to me (plus age and mileage will slowly sag it a bit too).

The Explorer leafs will fix you right up (then you'll need some spacers to go under your front coils to lift that end up too lol)

Welcome to the forum

.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

What would you recommend for coil spacers? I'm kinda new at this, lol...

 

[Sunk]

Depending where you're sitting at now, and where the Ex springs put you, you could 2wd F-150 spacers. They're 1" and will give you about 1.5" of lift. You'll find more info about them in the Tech Library at the top of the page. Or if that is too much you could try welding a couple large washers together and using those instead.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Sweet, that sounds like a great deal. I'll pick some up at the junkyard today, if it's too much I'll do the washer thing. Thanks for all your help guys