Leaf Spring Add-on
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More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 553
Likes: 6
From: North Western New Jersey
Leaf Spring Add-on
I need to add an extra leaf to the front leaf on my truck. I'm not too familiar with leaf suspension...
Can i just grab two front leaf's or any leaf's for the matter from the junkyard and 'add them' to my existing setup? It seems like it should be a simple fix but I really have no clue. I'm very mechanically inclined, I just have no experience with leaf suspension.
thx!
Can i just grab two front leaf's or any leaf's for the matter from the junkyard and 'add them' to my existing setup? It seems like it should be a simple fix but I really have no clue. I'm very mechanically inclined, I just have no experience with leaf suspension.
thx!
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
From: West Texas
Why do you need to add it? My truck has a 400 pound bumper on it with a 300 pound hydraulic winch. It is stock and sitting high. Usually when people think they need an add a leaf then the front shackles are gone. YOu have to pull the entire shackle down out of the frame to look at the bushing. If one or both are gone then you can get a new shackle at any parts store for under 40 bucks with bushings installed already.
If it's still too low then you can have the springs rearched. That is way cheaper and easier than add a leafs too.
If it's still too low then you can have the springs rearched. That is way cheaper and easier than add a leafs too.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,207
Likes: 0
From: Kearney, Nebr
I wouldn't mess with doing the re-arch. I'd get a set of add-a-leafs and call it good. It made my front in rise an inch or two and the ride quality is a heck of a lot better.
It's been a couple years since I bought my add-a-leafs, but I think they are still fairly cheap.
It's been a couple years since I bought my add-a-leafs, but I think they are still fairly cheap.
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 553
Likes: 6
From: North Western New Jersey
I also just found a set of leaf's for the truck. $275 per set. OUCH! I hope add-a-leaf's are cheaper. I also need bushings but that isn't the culprit alone... I may do leaf's just because aren't Add-a-leaf's like a band-aid? I want this thing to be like brand new up front so I don't have to worry about it for another 150,000 miles.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,158
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From: West Texas
Most trucks I've worked on were only bushings causing them to sit low. I got ours rearched too because we have a heavy bumper on it and it needed a little more. The F250 springs are actually more than strong enough believe it or not. I have 250 front springs on my 350 4x4 now and it raised it almost 6 inches with the new bushings and all. The 250's are stronger than 350 springs because they have to be able to take a twisting force also due to the independent front suspension. You'd be amazed at what just bushings will do. I've never seen one with extra leafs in the front that was aligned right though and it usually jacks them just enough where you can barely get it aligned right. I kinda take my alignment jobs seriously and been doing it a while. If you have to use adjustable bushings then something isn't right. something to think about.
YOu should be able to find a spring shop that can do a rearch and replace the bushings around wherever all the truck stops are in your town. Those guys are their biggest customers.
YOu should be able to find a spring shop that can do a rearch and replace the bushings around wherever all the truck stops are in your town. Those guys are their biggest customers.
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 124
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Most trucks I've worked on were only bushings causing them to sit low. I got ours rearched too because we have a heavy bumper on it and it needed a little more. The F250 springs are actually more than strong enough believe it or not. I have 250 front springs on my 350 4x4 now and it raised it almost 6 inches with the new bushings and all. The 250's are stronger than 350 springs because they have to be able to take a twisting force also due to the independent front suspension. You'd be amazed at what just bushings will do. I've never seen one with extra leafs in the front that was aligned right though and it usually jacks them just enough where you can barely get it aligned right. I kinda take my alignment jobs seriously and been doing it a while. If you have to use adjustable bushings then something isn't right. something to think about.
YOu should be able to find a spring shop that can do a rearch and replace the bushings around wherever all the truck stops are in your town. Those guys are their biggest customers.
YOu should be able to find a spring shop that can do a rearch and replace the bushings around wherever all the truck stops are in your town. Those guys are their biggest customers.
Not to hijack, but what year 250 springs did you get. I am thinking of doing this with my 350 as well. its a 97 and not sure if I should get 97 F250 springs or something different.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,158
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From: West Texas
I used 97 f250 4x4 springs on my 94 f350 4x4. You can get yours arched to the 350 height though and they will ride nicer. 250 springs on a 350 suck for ride quality.
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