Radius Arm front suspension

tonto13 · Feb 7, 2014

Has anyone done a Radius Arm front suspension on these trucks? Any links or advice. Basically looking at converting the front suspension to the same as a Bronco front suspension.

Lang · Feb 7, 2014

tonto13 said:
Has anyone done a Radius Arm front suspension on these trucks? Any links or advice. Basically looking at converting the front suspension to the same as a Bronco front suspension.

Google it. OBS coil conversion etc... Hell search on here, there is 1

m j · Feb 7, 2014

mostly guys use the 05+ front axle and suspension for that

tonto13 · Feb 8, 2014

I have read and know about the new axle conversion. I have to much money in the axle and wheels to start over. And just searching options. I have searched a lot. Not a lot of info about it.

thirty two · Feb 8, 2014

When you searched leave out the word power stroke and try searching ford Dana 60 coil sprung setup. There's tons of info and so many different options you could choose.

If u want 78-79 fullsize bronco style... they sell those radius arms with the weld on <> parts that weld to the Dana 60 axle after u cut off perches. Just look on fullsizebronco and a few SAS coil threads

backwoodsboy · Feb 8, 2014

If you're going to do all the necessary fabrication for radius arms, you might as well four-link it. IMO

kanuck15 · Feb 8, 2014

Thirty Two is pretty much spot on. The real only way to do this without a ton of your own fab work for mounts is cut off the spring perches. Weld wedges on the axle then use a nice set of long arms for a late 70s truck or bronco

Ive been thinking about it a lot recently as Ive got a spare 60 to play with

tonto13 · Feb 8, 2014

Thanks for the info. Been reading on full size bronco some. I can fab the parts. Just don't want to if I don't have to. Big plus if most of the stuff is already there and ready to go. Kanuck15 what have you found so far in your search?

kanuck15 · Feb 8, 2014

Basically if you dont want to fab anything you are going to be using 78-79 bronco coil buckets. Use their lift coils also (beware that you usually end up with 3 inches more lift than the advertised lift of the coil. IE 6 inch equals 9 inch).

This page here has pretty much every part you would need to do your swap

http://www.dufftuff.com/category_s/89.htm?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=89&show=10&page=1

I am rather fond of Duff as I had their stuff on a ranger of mine and it was top notch. Worth every penny

tonto13 · Feb 8, 2014

I already have the rsk on mine right now. Only wanting another 1-1.5" of lift in the front. Looking at having springs custom made for the rear. Mine sits about 1.5" lower in rear than the front.

kanuck15 · Feb 8, 2014

Most guys say this coil swap/SAS setup is a 6 inch lift. If you want to kind of adjust how you want to sit I would use these

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Adjustable-Coil-Buckets_p_1183.html

tonto13 · Feb 8, 2014

Saw those. And thanks for the help and link.

kanuck15 · Feb 8, 2014

No problem. Ive been doing a lot of reading on this for an F150. Same idea minus the axle work

thirty two · Feb 9, 2014

Before I did a one ton swap on my 150 I used skyjackers coil springs and they rode really nice I would suggest them. My setup was a danna 44 with the wedges and stock radius arms with just a drop bracket for the radius arms and than I had to fab a track bar mount that bolted to frame using the power steering bolts and holes than I welded it in place also and than got longer bolts for steering box. I had 9inches of complete lift and didn't have high steer and my truck ran down the highway no problem. If I had pics I would post but I don't. I had dual stabilizers too.

Obsledpuller · Feb 9, 2014

thirty two said:
Before I did a one ton swap on my 150 I used skyjackers coil springs and they rode really nice I would suggest them. My setup was a danna 44 with the wedges and stock radius arms with just a drop bracket for the radius arms and than I had to fab a track bar mount that bolted to frame using the power steering bolts and holes than I welded it in place also and than got longer bolts for steering box. I had 9inches of complete lift and didn't have high steer and my truck ran down the highway no problem. If I had pics I would post but I don't. I had dual stabilizers too.

From what I saw it looked good too! Got that thing put back together yet?

thirty two · Feb 9, 2014

Ya man its dropped to about 5 inches of lift and on 33s now but fits 35's. Since I sold u the 7.3 engine I picked up a 4bt Cummins I'm having built up now. Easier swap for me.

m j · Feb 11, 2014

depending on what axle you have, there is not much room to mount a wedge on the DS tube. you will have to chop the casting back to the rossette weld
easier to do a 3 link.
http://www.artecindustries.com/Dana-60-Lower-Link-Axle-Brackets-pair_p_260.html
those make the DS easier.

JCart · Feb 13, 2014

Thanks for posting up links guys good info

OBSWIZ · Feb 13, 2014

Better to do a complete '05 up axle swap and 4 link it...been doing these for 6 years. Drives so much better and stops better than any SD.

JCart · Feb 14, 2014

Cary the SD axles are wider then the OBS ones yes? By how much? And are they like the OBS set up, front is wider then rear too? I've only seen one OBS here with 05 coils with stock trailing arms and I didn't like the rim configuration due to axle length mind you only had a glimpse on highway moving look only.

jrc