Will '73-'79 coil springs fit my '72 F250? (8,100lb GVW).

[robroy]

i saw a show on tv the other day that showed them bending springs cold. with some sort of machine or hand tool or something. its been more than few days i guess. but when they didi thought of your springs.

Hey good to know my buddies are always looking out for me.

i would call the place you got them from and tell them abou the messed up one and have them just send you a new one. that one is messed up for sure.

I got 'em from RockAuto.com, and it was a good while back, so I don't think they'd be interested in my story. But you really think one is simply messed up?

In a way it seems likely that this would be the case, because isn't it true that the passenger side spring cup is going to match the driver's side, no matter what Ford vehicle?

Maybe if I offer to pay return shipping, restocking, etc., I can find some place to order me another Moog 8646 so I can compare with my existing springs without having to spend another $120 for fancy paperweights!

Thanks for all your advice Fordman,
-Robroy

[fordman]

when you call them dont let them know how long ago it was before you bought them. tell them about the problem first and then talk return or trade. when they ask just say it wasnt long ago. and then let them answer the questions. and then when it comes time to say can i swap it they will ask for a certain date then.

[robroy]

Hey Fordman, that could be a good idea. On one hand I'm inclined to abide by the rules I agreed to when buying from them, and they have a 30 day policy. On the other hand, I could politely give them an opportunity to go the extra mile for a customer, graciously accepting their refusal to do so if it comes to that.

If it turns out that the springs were supposed to be that way, there's no way they could sell my springs to anybody else. The box they came in was turned in to pulp by the rain long ago.

Thanks!
-Robroy

[robroy]

Fordman, you were right! One of the springs in my first Moog 8646 spring set was wrong/defective! The new set arrived and the bottoms of those springs are identical to one another. That means it's should be an easy, bolt in operation! I'm sure glad I didn't mess around hiring shops to try to "adapt" the spring I had to my mount!

Thanks Fordman,
-Robroy

[fordman]

did you have to buy it or did they swap you? whats the whole story. i like a good soap opera i guess.

[robroy]

did you have to buy it or did they swap you? whats the whole story. i like a good soap opera i guess.

Hey Fordman!

I bought the new springs, but my new strategy is to return them right away--but before returning them, I'll swap out the funky spring for the good spring that just arrived. I'll tell them they're defective and everything. This way I'll still be in the warranty/return period and I don't have to debate with anybody on the phone.

Here are the bottoms of my originals:



And the bottoms of the new (good) springs:



And a comparison showing the difference between the good driver's side spring and the bad one!



Thanks Fordman!!!
-Robroy

[FLATBEDFORD]

Hope your plan works.
I'm glad you got them working for you. I would have felt pretty bad if they didn't work for you after telling you they would work.

[robroy]

Hey Steve! Thanks again for your advice on the springs. If it weren't for you, my only good option would have been to reduce the capacity of the front end with the lighter springs, which I wanted to avoid. I like the gravel truck ride, not to mention the confident way it drives and handles with 3,000 pounds in the back. I used to haul gravel and blacktop in there and it was perfect for that.

-Robroy

[robroy]

The Rockauto return system is very easy; they said I could return this part with no questions asked (for a credit, even). I'll make sure to communicate clearly that one of the springs is defective. I don't want these springs winding up in the hands of another confused individual!

[robroy]

Good evening!

Today I tried to torque down the bottom spring mounts and got pretty discouraged with the way the bottom spring coil fits the mount (these are on my new Moog 8646 springs). The final coils seem a little too large, which makes the bottom of the spring keep slipping out. This is especially pronounced on the driver's side spring--I can't get that one to work.

In a highly related forum thread, "http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... f=5&t=9277," it sounds like Moog cc828 springs might fit better.

I believe these other springs should also fit, and I may try one or more of them. I'm hoping to find one that has a bottom coil that fits "like a glove."

1. SPICER/RAYBESTOS Part # 5851124
2. ACDELCO Part # 45H0124
3. HUSKY SPRING Part # RC8646

Thanks!
-Robroy

[willowbilly3]

Roroy, I don't know if it matters but the bumpside F250s had a heavy and a light front end. I am a little foggy on it since it's been a few years since we discussed it but there were different kingpin and spindles. Yours would be the heavy one for sure but it might explain some of the anomalies in the parts listings. GVWs did bounce around a lot from year to year it seems and any rhyme or reason for it isn't always obvious.

[robroy]

Hi WillowBilly3,

Yeah mine is the heavy version. It took me many years (before Fordification) to discover that there were heavy and light F250s, and the parts are quite different. I've found that in many parts listings, the heavy F250s take parts sold for the F350.

Thanks WillowBilly3!
-Robroy

[robroy]

I just ordered a SPICER/RAYBESTOS Part # 5851124 from Rockauto.com. I'll post the results when I evaluate them!

I'm doing this instead of going with the Moog cc828's right away because:

1. The Moog 8646 springs didn't fit well at the bottoms, and I'm concerned that the cc828s will have the same issue.

2. I'm more interested in a linear spring than a variable rate spring--the cc828s are variable rate springs.

Thanks very much for all the great advice!
-Robroy

[robroy]

I just ordered a SPICER/RAYBESTOS Part # 5851124 from Rockauto.com. I'll post the results when I evaluate them!

The Spicer springs arrived already, and the bottom coils have a much more similar appearance to my factory coils than the Moog 8646 coils had! Great news. Now I just need to do an actual test fit this weekend, since "the proof is in the pudding." But the looks are encouraging!

-Robroy

[robroy]

While they don't fit as well as the factory springs, the Spicer springs are an improvement over the Moog 8646.

The bottom "pig tail" is more centered, which makes them line up a little better. Here are two photos that illustrate this:




I've given up on getting a perfect fit while the truck's still so disassembled. In order for things to line up, I think I need a lot more weight on the front end; otherwise the springs have way too much force on the axles and it doesn't line up naturally. So I'll try torquing the bolts once the engine and brakes are on. I think everything will sit more naturally then. If not, I may try the Moog cc828!

Thanks!
-Robroy