I am looking for the front coil spring tag numbers from a stock 2006 F250 4x4 6.0 showing 8,800 GVW. Please only include tag numbers if you do not have a plow package or any other type of option which would increase the weight rating of the springs.

My truck has the high gross weight suspension and a plow package. Sits level, looks great! But the ride while towing our camper can get interesting at times.

Thanks in advance!!!!!

 

Mine is 2007 f250 4x4 supercab PSD, no mods or extras. Front springs are 5200# springs. The tag number is (5C34 5310-AEB)

The snow plow package for my truck shows 6000# srings. (Which are in my future).

 

Just think what will happen with a weaker front spring while towing. Not sure I'd go there.

What is so "interesting" about the ride now?

 

If you are feeling an unstable ride when towing your camper I would suspect that the camper's tongue weight is too low. Softer front springs would not help you in this instance.

Recommend trying to set up a tongue weight of about 15% of the camper's weight. If you are happy with how this works, the problem is solved. If you want even more stability, get a weight distribution hitch so that the trailer's weight is better transferred to the truck. With a weight distributing hitch your F250 will comfortably tow some very serious campers.

Lou Braun

 

Good point Lou

 

Sorry for not returning to the thread, I had to go out of town. The front of the truck rides very stiff due to the springs when empty, hook a trailer up and under the right conditions “HANG ON”. Looking up my springs at the parts department shows I have the biggest front springs offered by Ford. I do have a weight distribution Reese Hitch with Dual Cam Sway Control. The trailer is supplying at least 15% of the weight to the tong, sway is not the problem, it’s the ride.

On a black top road there is no problem, but a concrete road where the road has started to settle a seat belt is a must to keep you in the seat. Talking is not an option as you are being bounced around to the point conversation is difficult at best. I have tried every tension on the hitch possible. The least tension on the chains produces the best ride but the least sway control. It seems that the front springs cause this condition.

To make matters worse, the wife is starting to make noises about buying another truck with a better ride. The truck was purchased to pull this trailer and I love the truck with exception of the harsh ride. Before you say it’s a truck and will ride like one. I have owned nothing but ford trucks for 37 years. I drive a 03 F350 4x4 DRW everyday for work which I am happy with the ride. My 06 F250 4x4 with the trailer hooked up is another animal.

I can purchase factory springs at dealer cost and thought they would be a cheep attempt in fixing the problem and will not take long to install. People I have talked to with the 8,800lb suspension do not have this problem, so I thought I would go somewhere in the middle between my springs and the 8,800lb springs. Ford list the springs by tag number and not by engine or options. With 07250’s info I now have an idea of where to start. If anyone else has any ideas, please let me know.

 

It sounds like your front axle is bouncing when you go over road expansion joints. The fix could be as simple as installing new shocks.

My shocks were basically shot at 30K miles. New shocks made a world of difference even though my F-350 has 6000# front springs. Before changing springs, I would look at new shocks. I installed the stiffest Monroe shock absorbers that they make. Bilsteins have the best reputation though.

As for replacement springs, I believe that the following part numbers apply to your truck:

5C3Z-5310-FA (4800 lb SPRING)
5C3Z-5310-EA (5200 lb SPRING)
5C3Z-5310-DA (5600 lb SPRING)
5C3Z-5310-CA (6000 lb SPRING)
5C3Z-5310-BA (6500 lb SPRING)
5C3Z-5310-AA (7000 lb SPRING)

Lou Braun

 

Lou,

Thanks for the info. I will pull the shocks and check them out although I don't think its the shocks. I bought the truck new and it now has only about 23K on it. The ride is about the same as when new, stiff which is ok. Hooking the trailer is what makes it a little hard to deal with.

 

That's what I was thinking.

The stock shocks, EVEN NEW, are known to not be enough on a GOOD day.

Pair the stiffest springs available with the stock shocks and you're going to have issues.

What I would do is, buy Bilsteins. You'll want them no matter what.

Then, if you still think the front-end is too stiff, change out the springs.

 

Any of our sponsors sell Bilsteins?

 

Wanted to give everyone an update on what I have learned and what I did to fix the ride while towing. First what I have learned.

From 07250psd.
Mine is 2007 f250 4x4 supercab PSD, no mods or extras. Front springs are 5200# springs. The tag number is (5C34 5310-AEB)

From Lou Braun.

FRONT SPRINGS
5C3Z-5310-FA (4800 lb SPRING)
5C3Z-5310-EA (5200 lb SPRING)
5C3Z-5310-DA (5600 lb SPRING)
5C3Z-5310-CA (6000 lb SPRING)
5C3Z-5310-BA (6500 lb SPRING)
5C3Z-5310-AA (7000 lb SPRING)

250/350 max spring weight is 6000lb.

REAR SPRING information seems to be very rare, probably because there are few springs available. Information I have is:

Spring code A = 6,084 pounds @ground = F-250
Spring code B = 6,840 pounds @ground = F-350 SRW and some F -250s
Spring code C = 8,250 pounds @ground = F-350 DRW

Part numbers are confusing because these springs are available with and without the overload spring pack that mounts on top of the leaf spring.

Bottom line is that there are two spring ratings for F-250/350 trucks. The 6084# spring and the 6840# spring.


FROM MY FORD PARTS DEPARTMENT
My truck serial number shows my truck as having a wide frame. I didn’t know there are 2 frames for a 250/350. They said the wide frame is typically used for conversions or dump trucks. Result I am still a little unsure of what springs mine has on the rear. Spring code is “CCCC”, CC on the front = 6000lb. CC on the rear = 8250lb or 6840lb? I loaded 119 cases of shotgun shells on a pallet into the bed. Using a forklift they were placed at the rear of the bed, 25lb per box = 2,975lb. Helper springs just touched the rear perch and did not touch the front perch. Stout springs to say the least.

WHAT I DID!

Removed the rear helper spring perch and towed my 8,000lb travel trailer a few hundred miles. Truck road much better but still hit hard in the front.

I replaced the front springs with 5C3Z-5310-DA (5600 lb SPRING) and removed the helper springs from the rear. To remove the helper springs from the rear you will need new U Bolts and new spring center bolts. The original center bolt is 11mm, I used a 7/16”, works fine and a little bigger. All but the center bolts were bought from Ford for just over $200.00. Total job took about 2.5 hours.

OMG what a difference!!!! The truck rides about the same empty. Towing it a different truck, the ride is sooo much better. Still a little stiff when towing but I prefer that to mushy, but now the seat belt is optional. My wife likes the ride and has even fallen asleep a few times in the past couple of weeks. We have towed the trailer about 3,500 miles. The truck still sits the same just rides MUCH BETTER. My wife now says we can keep the truck so all is well in the world once again.

I would recommend this to anyone having ride issues while towing. Dropping the front springs to the 5200lb would probably been better. With my hitch set up I was only able to leave 2 loose links on my load bars with the original truck springs. Any tighter and it transferred more weight to the front making the ride even worse. With this set up I still had a terrible ride and some trailer sway passing large trucks. After removing the helper springs and replacing the front springs, I am able to leave 3 loose chain links on my load bar which puts more pressure on the sway portion of the hitch. I now have a much better ride and no sway when passing large trucks. The improvement in sway control was unexpected but very welcome.

THANK YOU, 07250psd and Lou Braun for your information. Sorry for the long post but I thought others might have an interest. If anyone wants any further info PM me.