Rough ride
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Joined: Nov 2009
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Rough ride
Hey guys,
Trucks a 97 F-250 "heavy duty" and it rides so rough. Ive done front shocks it just doesnt change. My old truck 1997 F350 Crew cab rode better i swear! My F-250 i actually will risk getting into a head on collision to avoid a pot hole. Its that bad. Ive driven my buddys (rideracelivemx7)'s truck with is the same truck. Rides totally different. What is going on? My cab mounts are great..truck has 130k. Ive herd the "Heavy dutys" have stiffer springs? But it rode nice until i replaced the TC a few months back. Feels like leaf springs fell out. LOL
Trucks a 97 F-250 "heavy duty" and it rides so rough. Ive done front shocks it just doesnt change. My old truck 1997 F350 Crew cab rode better i swear! My F-250 i actually will risk getting into a head on collision to avoid a pot hole. Its that bad. Ive driven my buddys (rideracelivemx7)'s truck with is the same truck. Rides totally different. What is going on? My cab mounts are great..truck has 130k. Ive herd the "Heavy dutys" have stiffer springs? But it rode nice until i replaced the TC a few months back. Feels like leaf springs fell out. LOL
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 1
From: Maysville, Kentucky
Is it too soft or too stiff. My stroke rides alot stiffer then the IDI. The stroke has more springs in the rear and the front springs sit better. The IDI has less springs in the rear and the front sags more.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 103
From: Ashland City, TN
Heavy duty, referring to the suspension.
Remember. You sacrifice ride for hauling capabilities.
Ever notice how LITTLE you can haul in some older luxury cars till they have fancy air bags and such?
Put 500 lbs in the back and watch how smooth your truck will ride. =)
Remember. You sacrifice ride for hauling capabilities.
Ever notice how LITTLE you can haul in some older luxury cars till they have fancy air bags and such?
Put 500 lbs in the back and watch how smooth your truck will ride. =)
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It rides way to stiff. LOL when i tow my boat it rides sooooooooo awesome. Im thinking im just gonna tow it around with me. But all kidding aside it drives me nuts. You know how you hit a bump every once and a while and you cringe. Yea thats every bump for me. Im surprised the dash hasnt fallen off. Can i down size my springs? The trucks supposed to be a daily driver, i dont really haul with it.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
It depends on what suspension package your truck has. It's a 3/4 ton diesel truck dude... if you want a smooth ride trade it in on a Chevy 
The "Heavy Duty" on your badges is only because its a 97 and in 97 there was the F250HD (the REAL F250 IMO) and the F250LD with the space ship body style and 7 lug wheels.
The "Heavy Duty" on your badges is only because its a 97 and in 97 there was the F250HD (the REAL F250 IMO) and the F250LD with the space ship body style and 7 lug wheels.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,166
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From: Phill Mo
Hey guys,
Trucks a 97 F-250 "heavy duty" and it rides so rough. Ive done front shocks it just doesnt change. My old truck 1997 F350 Crew cab rode better i swear! My F-250 i actually will risk getting into a head on collision to avoid a pot hole. Its that bad. Ive driven my buddys (rideracelivemx7)'s truck with is the same truck. Rides totally different. What is going on? My cab mounts are great..truck has 130k. Ive herd the "Heavy dutys" have stiffer springs? But it rode nice until i replaced the TC a few months back. Feels like leaf springs fell out. LOL
Trucks a 97 F-250 "heavy duty" and it rides so rough. Ive done front shocks it just doesnt change. My old truck 1997 F350 Crew cab rode better i swear! My F-250 i actually will risk getting into a head on collision to avoid a pot hole. Its that bad. Ive driven my buddys (rideracelivemx7)'s truck with is the same truck. Rides totally different. What is going on? My cab mounts are great..truck has 130k. Ive herd the "Heavy dutys" have stiffer springs? But it rode nice until i replaced the TC a few months back. Feels like leaf springs fell out. LOL
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2009
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It depends on what suspension package your truck has. It's a 3/4 ton diesel truck dude... if you want a smooth ride trade it in on a Chevy
The "Heavy Duty" on your badges is only because its a 97 and in 97 there was the F250HD (the REAL F250 IMO) and the F250LD with the space ship body style and 7 lug wheels.
The "Heavy Duty" on your badges is only because its a 97 and in 97 there was the F250HD (the REAL F250 IMO) and the F250LD with the space ship body style and 7 lug wheels.
But seriously it did suck lol
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Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,410
Likes: 77
From: Plankinton, SD
Mine rides like a tank for the most part too. I don't care though, I'll sacrifice ride any day for being able to haul like I do on a stock suspension.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2009
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you got it, they will bolt right it, no ride height issues either, its basically the tinsle strength of the springs are alot higher in the HD springs. if you really want to spend the money, brand new ones on jegs are 350 for the whole front, cant imagine its that much more for the rear. IMO id invest in some if you want to keep the truck, it does ride hard but its a truck. i wonder if you can pick up f350 blocks for the extra inch and take out a leaf so make it that much smoother in the rear. for the front i know you have them add a leafs, we can take them out in an hour. peice of cake, will help i think. we can shim the leafs if theres issue after. ask me how i know, i became a pro after my red truck LOL
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you got it, they will bolt right it, no ride height issues either, its basically the tinsle strength of the springs are alot higher in the HD springs. if you really want to spend the money, brand new ones on jegs are 350 for the whole front, cant imagine its that much more for the rear. IMO id invest in some if you want to keep the truck, it does ride hard but its a truck. i wonder if you can pick up f350 blocks for the extra inch and take out a leaf so make it that much smoother in the rear. for the front i know you have them add a leafs, we can take them out in an hour. peice of cake, will help i think. we can shim the leafs if theres issue after. ask me how i know, i became a pro after my red truck LOL
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
Let me be clear....The "Heavy Duty" badge means nothing when comparing any other 250 of the same body style! The HD badge is to show the different in the 97 F-250 light duty (Newer f-150 body style) and the OBS f-250. Your spring are no different than a 96 and older f-250.
Now for variables in the ride, Tires, spring bushings and spring fatigue. any of those three can make a big difference.
And to back you up on your F-350 riding better. My 97 F-350 CC rides better than my old 95 f-250 extended cab. Its the truth. The F-350 springs are actually thinner than the f-250 springs since the 350 spring don't have to twist at all like the 250 springs.
Now for variables in the ride, Tires, spring bushings and spring fatigue. any of those three can make a big difference.
And to back you up on your F-350 riding better. My 97 F-350 CC rides better than my old 95 f-250 extended cab. Its the truth. The F-350 springs are actually thinner than the f-250 springs since the 350 spring don't have to twist at all like the 250 springs.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2009
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Let me be clear....The "Heavy Duty" badge means nothing when comparing any other 250 of the same body style! The HD badge is to show the different in the 97 F-250 light duty (Newer f-150 body style) and the OBS f-250. Your spring are no different than a 96 and older f-250.
Now for variables in the ride, Tires, spring bushings and spring fatigue. any of those three can make a big difference.
And to back you up on your F-350 riding better. My 97 F-350 CC rides better than my old 95 f-250 extended cab. Its the truth. The F-350 springs are actually thinner than the f-250 springs since the 350 spring don't have to twist at all like the 250 springs.
Now for variables in the ride, Tires, spring bushings and spring fatigue. any of those three can make a big difference.
And to back you up on your F-350 riding better. My 97 F-350 CC rides better than my old 95 f-250 extended cab. Its the truth. The F-350 springs are actually thinner than the f-250 springs since the 350 spring don't have to twist at all like the 250 springs.