Trying to plan what I'm going to do with my suspension, need help

[MetalDeerSolid]

Right now my suspension is completely stock, complete with old worn out shocks.

I want to run 31's, so I've ordered some 2" coil spacers for the front. I also bought some used leaf springs for the rear out of a 93 4x4. Will these lift the rear at all? The have 1 more leaf than the ones that are on my truck right now. But I'm not sure about the springs, they could also be from an explorer as they were just sitting in this guy's yard (got em $10 for the pair), I'm not sure.

Here's some pics of the springs, they're kinda saggy but so are the ones in my truck, I figure having an extra leaf is better though.

I've also back-ordered some stock replacement Rancho RS5000's, but I might cancel that and get the 2.5" lift shocks. Will the 2.5" lift shocks be better for the 2" coil spacers? The spacers com with shock extensions for stock size shocks.

I'm thinking if those leafs don't lift the back end any, I'll get some Belltech 6400 shackles to match the 2.5" lift shocks in the rear.

I want to try and level things out as well, so I might get some lift springs as well as the spacers. Would I need to do anything to the I beams with 3.5" lift?

This is my first truck and I've never modified the suspension before, so any help is appreciated.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Well, you should be able to run 31's without a lift, any higher and yes. I'm not sure about those springs, if they are saggy and the same as the ones on your truck right now what's the point in swapping them? Personally I wouldn't trust something sitting in a yard rotting away.

 

[MetalDeerSolid]

I should rephrase that, they were on his 93 4x4 but I'm not sure if they were the stock springs on his truck or if he got them from an explorer (since he had an explorer axle). They weren't sitting for too long, so they should be fine... they're in better condition than mine anyway. I just want to know if they'd lift my truck at all, and they are better since they have an extra leaf. My truck's leaf springs have 2 leafs + 1 helper and these have 3 leafs + 1 helper.

The pre-98 2wd's sit a bit lower, I know a guy with the same truck as me and he put 30's on in and they rub against the front bumper on full lock. 2" leveling coils are needed to clear 31's.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

I should rephrase that, they were on his 93 4x4 but I'm not sure if they were the stock springs on his truck or if he got them from an explorer (since he had an explorer axle). They weren't sitting for too long, so they should be fine... they're in better condition than mine anyway. I just want to know if they'd lift my truck at all, and they are better since they have an extra leaf. My truck's leaf springs have 2 leafs + 1 helper and these have 3 leafs + 1 helper.

The pre-98 2wd's sit a bit lower, I know a guy with the same truck as me and he put 30's on in and they rub against the front bumper on full lock. 2" leveling coils are needed to clear 31's.

Ah, mines an 07 and sits much taller. I'm no expert on leaf springs but isn't how much they are bent depends on how high the lift, or just measure the width of the spring and thats how much higher it will sit? If so just try and compare them to the ones you have on now.

 

[MetalDeerSolid]

Yeah, that's the thing, I can't tell for sure without taking the old ones off. I'll probably just order the 2.5" lift shocks and I'll get the Belltech shackles if the new leafs are the same/not much different. Would be nice to get some other opinions though, regarding the shocks: should I cancel the stock replacement shocks and go with the 2.5" lift shocks?

 

[MetalDeerSolid]

So those leafs are junk. I coated them with EZ Liner, made em look real nice then I realized that they were 2 different kinds of springs! Yeah they had the same amount of leafs and they were roughly the same size, but they had different part numbers and the one that sat lower seemed to be softer. Plus, I accidentally knocked the stiffer one over and the middle leaf cracked. Good thing I didn't put them in my truck, they're garbage now.

I did order the Rancho 2.5" lift shocks, as well as the Belltech 6400 shackles. Those will be in tomorrow, and I'm waiting on the 2" coil spacers from ebay. I'll keep looking for leaf springs, because I do want to replace mine. They're sagged over on the driver's side by half an inch, and the bushings are shot.

 

[MetalDeerSolid]

Still trying to figure out exactly what I'm going to do, but I'm going to pick up a new axle tomorrow. I told the guy to leave the leaf springs on, so I can use those. His truck had a 4" BDS suspension lift, going on their website tells me they use a 2" block and an add-a-leaf to get the 4" lift in the rear. I also think I'll grab his 4" lift coils for the front.

For the rear, I'm thinking I'll take out the blocks and just use the leaf pack with the Belltech shackles, so that would give me about a 3" lift in the rear which matches my 2.5" lift shocks better, and gives me more flex and a nicer ride quality.

For the front, I'll just use the 2" coil spacers for now and get that aligned properly. I'll hang on to the 4" lift coils until I can get some cut and turned I-beams (don't want to use drop brackets)

So for the short term, I'll be looking at a 2" lift in the front, and a 2.5-3.5" lift for the rear. Eventually I'll add in the new coils and I-beams to level it out.