I replaced the front leafs today with a new 3500lb set from General Springs and didn't really gain the clearance I was expecting.

The old leafs had about 3/4" inch of travel to the bump stops and I was hitting them constantly. The new ones only have about 1 3/4". I was expecting something closer to 3 inches.

I've only put on 30 miles so far and haven't hit the bump stops yet but I was just wondering if the 1 3/4" is all there should be or should I be considering a different set?

Thanks,
Bob

 

I would say you are probably good. 3" of spring sag is a ungodly ammount.

 

Well how's your camber? Straight up and down? Do you have camber adjustment bushings?

I took some really good advice from this site 4+ years ago and just put a set of add-a-leafs up front. Took my terrible camber to virtually perfect! And only cost $100.

Also a big thing with front suspension, is that all of the spring bushings contribute to camber and ride height. I had done those first on some other good advice, again from this site, and that gave me 1/2" or so of clearance I didn't have before. Like you I was constantly hitting my bump-stops before that.
Clearance or not, it tightens up the front end A LOT, makes steering, towing, driving, everything better. I still havent done the pivot bushings, as they werent terrible, but should be done to finish the job. I hear they are a PITA. LOL like the rest of the front end wasn't without an impact wrench!

-Joshua

 

Having just read up on your springs, I realize you already have new bushings in them, so that's good.
Make sure you get a new shackle bushing too.

What made you go for the "3485 lbs capacity" springs? Aren't most of our front ends about 4K? I don't know how these things are rated...

 

I didn't do the shackle bushings they are pretty solid. I chose this spring rating by reading around here and elsewhere. I came across the same 2 links a few times each. The one above for General and this one for Bronco Graveyard. I don't haul to often but when I do it's usually running in the 18-22K range with an equalizer hitch so the front takes a good bit of the load.

The ride with the new springs is definitely firmer than I expected. In fact it is hardly any smoother than hitting the bump stops. But I'm satisfied with the compromise between ride and capacity. In hindsight I might have gone for 2" lift springs if they exist. My measuring tells me the truck is still racked about 3.5 inches even with the new springs.

The camber was pretty much dead on before. Now I have slight positive camber but I think I'll wait a few thousand miles to let things settle in before I spend on an alignment.

Bob