Dodge is doing away with leaf springs......I'll keep my ford with good ol dependable leafs

http://www.allpar.com/model/ram/2009-ram.html


oh....and no manual...its only going to be a 5spd auto...

guess i'll keep the ford 6 speed too....

 

Well imagine that another copy cat.(center shifter,put shocks on outside of frame,and many others)

 

what would be the benefit of removing the leaf springs, or isnt there any?

 

Improved ride, less weight.

Bill

 

last I checked ford wont have a manual either for 09. Dodge is offering a manual (6 speed) but only on their 3.7. So no more for their 4.7. Just wanted to make the facts straight

 

also, you cant bother us here with a dodge

 

We will see how it works. Ford has had the independent rear in the new expeditions for a couple years and I have not heard any problems. I think they are rated to tow right under 10k. I'm still just a leaf spring man though.

 

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.

 

Yeah they are cheap, reliable,easy to work on, and don't cost hardly nothing to lift (compared to an independent suspension). Hopefully Ford won't do it to there trucks but you never know.

 

Coils in the rear is not a new idea , Chevy had rear coils on 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickups thru 1972 , then went to leafs in 1973 and up.

 

Wow, factory dual exhaust and a heated steering wheel. Sign me up for one

 

hands cold? GET TO WORK!!

 

Its been stated here from the start that Ford wasn't offering a manual. Neither is GM or Dodge.

 

My 04 Expedition weighs in at 5800lb without gas (CAT scale). It has all around springs. Excellent ride, and tows 9g lbs without a care. I don't think moving to independent is so horrid. Might mean better control for a vehicle that naturally is horrid on control.

 

Dodge isn't going Independent Rear. They are just using coils and links instead of the leaf. Leaf springs perform too many functions. (locating axle vertically, and horizontally & suspending truck)

Coils allow the springs to do what springs do and the 4 links and panhard rod to locate & secure the axle. Nothing new.

BTW, it's just as easy to add coil spring spacers as it is to add blocks under the leaf springs..