I had a 1966 Chevy with leaf springs. Nothing to them. In fact they were downright wimpy. I think the most I put in that bed was about 800#, and the springs were almost fully compressed. My nieghbor had a 1962 Chevy longbed. Same thing! And once you think you've got them cranked up with helpers to carry the load. Well they ride just like a leaf spring suspension. So why have this mechanical mess in the rear. Who are they kidding? Just product differentiation in my book. They have to make their truck more different somehow.
Just a quick question for the coils are weaker guys.
Don't the super tough, Ford super duty trucks have coil spring solid axles up front?
Better tracking same weight carring, what's the big complaint? Tough really doesn't fly as an arguement againts Dodge and coil spring rears, unless your saying Ford's Super Duty front is too weak... Which I don't think any "brander" (meaning a brand xxx only type person) would say.
It's all good evolution for us all. Make them better, cheaper and stronger.... that's all I ask
Well, I've never hooked my trailer to the front of my truck or loaded 6000lbs of extra weight under the hood so coil springs on the front vs coils on the rear is a pointless comparison in my book.
If the coils are better I am for it. But I have yet to see that they have made a significant change in how a coil spring is made. They take a piece of spring steel, heated till it's maliable, and wrap it around a solid shaft. Then nip the ends off and flange them to form it on both ends so that it sits in a saddle. There are no provisions for increased resistance (for the increased loading of the spring as it is compressed). A leaf spring is actually a series of springs. the first one is rather flexible and designed to carry the minimum wieght of the trucks back half and little or no load. Each one thereafter comes into use and to bear more of the load as the spring set is compressed. And the final spring, commonly known as an overload spring, is not even tied to the front or back of the chassis, but rather only to the load bearing axle. It is also designed to prevent the upper springs from sagging below the axle, and be in essence the platform for the other leafs. Coil springs, just aren't designed that way, don't work that way. Never have, never will do what the leaf spring does. Coil springs are for all the women that make the purchasing decisions in the household. And it may not be a bad decison by Chrysler to make their trucks that way. In most households nowadays the automotive decison maker is the wife, not the husband. And women traditionally want something that rides smooth. Coils springs do just that!
If the coils are better I am for it. But I have yet to see that they have made a significant change in how a coil spring is made. They take a piece of spring steel, heated till it's maliable, and wrap it around a solid shaft. Then nip the ends off and flange them to form it on both ends so that it sits in a saddle. There are no provisions for increased resistance (for the increased loading of the spring as it is compressed). A leaf spring is actually a series of springs. the first one is rather flexible and designed to carry the minimum wieght of the trucks back half and little or no load. Each one thereafter comes into use and to bear more of the load as the spring set is compressed. And the final spring, commonly known as an overload spring, is not even tied to the front or back of the chassis, but rather only to the load bearing axle. It is also designed to prevent the upper springs from sagging below the axle, and be in essence the platform for the other leafs. Coil springs, just aren't designed that way, don't work that way. Never have, never will do what the leaf spring does. Coil springs are for all the women that make the purchasing decisions in the household. And it may not be a bad decison by Chrysler to make their trucks that way. In most households nowadays the automotive decison maker is the wife, not the husband. And women traditionally want something that rides smooth. Coils springs do just that!
We don't need a GD physics lesson on leaf springs for Pete's sake. Who are you trying to impress?? Ever heard of progressive rate coil springs? Guess not...
They themselves will tell you that they were NOT making the Ram to be the best hauler or tow-er. They are making thier truck for the other "half" who don't need such extreme capabilities. Basically: a truck for people who don't necessarily need a truck most of the time. Nuttin' wrong with that. They have a HUGE market of those people.
Coils will be fine for its intended mission. Do you really think the engineers they hire have not asked and been asked the same questions? Do you really think they, who teetering on the brink of unemployment, would not put forth their best effort?
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LXman...when was the last time you put 6K in the back of an F150??
A snowplow puts more strain & weight on the front than the tongue weight of the largest allowable bumper-pull trailer that a SD can pull. Now dontchya think the engineers at Ford took that into account?
I'm with you. Good ol' leaf springs. Can't go wrong there, and it's just so much cheaper. That's just getting to complicated, and makes it harder to lift/work on.
Just what the autocompanies love. Something that the general consumer won't even try to work on themselves. More money for the stealerships.
My truck has leaf springs with helper springs over them. Man, I can put a full load of wood in my truck, and it just brings the back down even with my front. In other words, you can't even tell there is a load. And it rides like a cadillac with a load of wood in the back.
They just don't make them like they used to. No more metal. They are daily commuters instead of offroad towing/hauling warriors.
__________________ 1986 Ford F-150 4x4 5.0 EFI
XLT Lariat
NP435/NP208/9" 3.50 axle
Road Warrior bumper, Leaf Spring Overloads, Custom Exhaust Work
They just don't make them like they used to. No more metal..
Thank goodness. I got tired of having to bend axles to align the front end and still getting funny tire wear on the front. I didn't like fooling with the King pins.
I also got tired of patching rust holes on the thicker metal and seeing the twist in the frame (shown when you look between the bed and cab when one corner is on a high spot).
__________________
2004 XLT Regular Cab, Short Bed, 4X4 with 5.4 and 3.73.
its sad that trucks are being built more and more like cars. that interior looks like sedan. might as well buy a camry. i'll stick to my '96. when you ride in my truck, you Know you're in a truck. it zero coils, has a bench seat, you get thrown out of your seat on a speedbump, and I pretty much cant do U turns. but i wouldnt have it any other way. it was made for the worker not the mall shopper.
The market has changed drastically in the last 10 years, people actually care how the interior looks and feels, ride quailty standards are much higher. The truth about the majority of 1/2 ton owners are: most do not use their trucks to haul heavy loads, like trailers, wood in the bed or even pull out tree stumps. Today majority of the 1/2 ton owners use them for personal use (commuters) and their weekend trips to home depot. Personally I think a 1/2 ton should stay simple and sweet. Ride smooth and be able to tow around the 9,000 lb mark max. If you really want a truck to tow and ride rough and tough, buy a 3/4 ton, they are built for towing(real loads, over 10,000 lbs.). Frames/ brakes are beefed up and can safely handle those loads. When will manufactures say enough is enough. Im all about compeition/bragging rights, but the 1/2 market seems to be creeping up into the HD market every year. sorry for the long post, just my ideas. Everyone has theirs
Edgeoffroad04
LXman...when was the last time you put 6K in the back of an F150??
A snowplow puts more strain & weight on the front than the tongue weight of the largest allowable bumper-pull trailer that a SD can pull. Now dontchya think the engineers at Ford took that into account?
He was refering to the front end on a SD. It has a 6000lb payload capacity.
I have no problem with coil springs on the front.
The only drawback to coils in the rear is the fact that the weight isn't spread out along the frame like it is with leaf springs. If you actually haul alot of weight, this may be an issue.
I, personally, use my 20ft trailer to haul heavy stuff. The main reason is because it sit's lower to the ground so I don't have to lift as high to load and unload
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Ever heard of progressive rate coil springs? Guess not... 
Do you really think they, who teetering on the brink of unemployment, would not put forth their best effort? 
