Suspension Question
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Suspension Question
I haul allot of wood and the 1/2 ton suspension on my 96 ext cab longbed 4x4 5.8L, just isn't cutting it. I was wondering if 1 ton leafs and 1 ton coils off of similar year f2 or f3 would work, also if those will work, can you buy f2 or 3 shocks to go with them.
Thanks
Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Maryland
Since you have 4WD, your rear springs are the same width as 250-350's, so you can swap them, you can also put in the heavier front springs, will lift the front & probably throw your camber off some, may increase tire wear somewhat.
But you will still have the 8.8 rear in there, with all that weight riding on that tiny axle bearing, could swap in a full-floater the same ratio as your front,(bigger brakes too) & buy tires the same diameter as front, but then you'll have 16" 8 lug wheels in the back & 5 lug 15" up front.
You could swap the steering knuckles brakes & rotors off a F250 onto your D44 up front & use 8 lug wheels there too & get bigger brakes to stop all that weight too.
But you still have the thinner frame, & the above is a lot of work, so you could just buy an old F250-350 for a wood truck & leave yours alone. That's what I'd do. You can't own too many of these F trucks!
But you will still have the 8.8 rear in there, with all that weight riding on that tiny axle bearing, could swap in a full-floater the same ratio as your front,(bigger brakes too) & buy tires the same diameter as front, but then you'll have 16" 8 lug wheels in the back & 5 lug 15" up front.
You could swap the steering knuckles brakes & rotors off a F250 onto your D44 up front & use 8 lug wheels there too & get bigger brakes to stop all that weight too.
But you still have the thinner frame, & the above is a lot of work, so you could just buy an old F250-350 for a wood truck & leave yours alone. That's what I'd do. You can't own too many of these F trucks!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 165
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From: covington, ky
What about using helper springs? Hellwig has a couple different ones.
Hellwig - Load and Sway Control Products
Hellwig - Load and Sway Control Products
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Overload springs are a good option for these trucks, I installed a set of Hellwig EZ990's on my truck this year and like them a lot so far, it handles bigger loads much better and doesn't raise the truck when unloaded. Installing these required new U-bolts which added to the cost but even then it wasn't terribly expensive.. about $120 total.
I was originally looking at this series as they install without disturbing the original suspension at all, but they cost a fair bit more and were overkill for my purposes.
I was originally looking at this series as they install without disturbing the original suspension at all, but they cost a fair bit more and were overkill for my purposes.
