suspension for plow
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New User
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suspension for plow
Just bought 1989 f 150 reg cab long box. a plow was added just before buying but it sits low in front. It has D-7 coil springs in front. I assume I will need a more hd spring and possibly shocks or air bags. which and what type? Am not a mechanic but pretty handy, can I do this myself?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 923
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From: North Central MA
Just bought 1989 f 150 reg cab long box. a plow was added just before buying but it sits low in front. It has D-7 coil springs in front. I assume I will need a more hd spring and possibly shocks or air bags. which and what type? Am not a mechanic but pretty handy, can I do this myself?
For light duty plowing I'd give it a set of air helpers that you can dump when done and keep the half ton ride for off season. I dont know if a SES system is made for the coil sprung trucks but know they work sweet in commercial plowing applications. My last 3 Ford city trucks all used them with excellent success and zero failures.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,069
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From: Toledo, Ohio
I agree with Bankrupter. The 1/2 ton was not really made for plowing on a commercial scale. And I am not even sure a 3/4 ton holds up perfect. Itll need more than springs to help it. With a 1/2 ton you will definitely need to do something about the suspension like ball joints. Plowing is hard on that stuff.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,000
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From: Nowthen, MN
What you need is a set of air bags that go inside your front coil springs. My stepdad and stepbrother both plowed parking lots for several years with F-150s with no major problems and the only upgrade either of them made was these air bags. Of course, when it came time for new trucks they both upgraded to F-250s and I also got an F-250 when I got my drivers license and joined the business.
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Towing/Co...2&t_pn=FIR4102
An F-150 is definitely not the ideal truck for plowing, but if it's what you have it will get the job done. Suspension and driveline components take a beating no matter what kind of truck you have, but obviously you can expect to be replacing them more often on a 1/2 ton truck.
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Towing/Co...2&t_pn=FIR4102
An F-150 is definitely not the ideal truck for plowing, but if it's what you have it will get the job done. Suspension and driveline components take a beating no matter what kind of truck you have, but obviously you can expect to be replacing them more often on a 1/2 ton truck.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 154
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From: Sesser Il
One thing you have to think about on these TTB front ends is that if you just go with heavier coils to carry the load, when you don't have the weight on the front end, it is going to lift the front end, throwing the camber off. Airbags would probably be the way to go, air them up when you have the plow on then defate them for normal everyday driving.
If you decide to go the spring route though, send me a PM and I will make you a deal on a set of lightly used heavy duty coils. Lets just say they are left over from an experiment that cost me a set of coils, considerable wear on a pair of front tires, and two trips to the alignment shop.
TC
If you decide to go the spring route though, send me a PM and I will make you a deal on a set of lightly used heavy duty coils. Lets just say they are left over from an experiment that cost me a set of coils, considerable wear on a pair of front tires, and two trips to the alignment shop.
TC
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 873
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From: Ohio
Glad I came upon this post, because I am looking for a plow for my F150. I got rid of my garden tractor that I used to plow with and I thought would be able to use my truck to plow out my drive and a rental property. Sounds like everyone thinks it will hold up for light duty use (with front airbags of course).
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Elder User
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i have a plow on my 89 and have a similar issue with sagging. i took the set of coils off my 88 parts truck that never saw a plow a day in its life and it brought the truck up a good inche and a half. i like the air bag idea ive never seen it on coils. I have been considering just putting a solid axle d44 on the truck for the hell of it though! and yes an f150 definately is not a plow truck but you work with what ya got lol
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,744
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From: Earth
Yep the F150s (light duties) arn't designed with plowing in mind, but if you really have to use it and this is what you got, use it, I would suggest putting bags in the front to compensate for the additional load, now there is a light weight plow thats about $1K-ish that might be a better solution as its made of heavy duty aluminum and rubbers and seems to work very well that may be another option if your plow is too heavy that may be more for lighter duty trucks.
Truck Snow Plow | Snowsport HD Utility Plow | Buy Snow Sport Plows
I don't have one but it may be worth looking into if your other plow is too much for the truck to handle...
Truck Snow Plow | Snowsport HD Utility Plow | Buy Snow Sport Plows
I don't have one but it may be worth looking into if your other plow is too much for the truck to handle...
New User
Joined: Jul 2004
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Timbren makes heavy duty rubber products for front & rear suspensions.
I have a 1993 4x4 with Timbren front & rear. It works excellent. The Timbren pieces bolt on - no mods. Easy install. No maintenance either. Bolt them on & forget about them forever.
They act like heavy duty bump stops ... they sit on top of the axle housing at each corner of the truck. They stop the leaf springs from compressing too much.
They might have something for the front end of your truck.
They are not too expensive & the company's people deliver excellent customer service.
I have a 1993 4x4 with Timbren front & rear. It works excellent. The Timbren pieces bolt on - no mods. Easy install. No maintenance either. Bolt them on & forget about them forever.
They act like heavy duty bump stops ... they sit on top of the axle housing at each corner of the truck. They stop the leaf springs from compressing too much.
They might have something for the front end of your truck.
They are not too expensive & the company's people deliver excellent customer service.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 4
From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
+1 on Timbren's, They are very popular in the snow plowing industry. Air bags would be better as long as they dont leak since you could set the pressure up when the plow is mounted... on board compressor would be a cool setup, but Timbrens are a lot cheaper and there is nothing to go wrong with them.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 923
Likes: 1
From: North Central MA
This is the SES stuff I mention in my first post also. Just realized I said SES only and not, Timbren SES. Sorry caz SES would get you no where in a search. My bad...
I'd add to this to say that " look" like a heavy bump stop but they act and are more of a rubber spring helper "like" an air bag w/o air. They don't effect the suspension till needed. Yet in the front of fords they look like that are always working.
Timbren makes heavy duty rubber products for front & rear suspensions.
I have a 1993 4x4 with Timbren front & rear. It works excellent. The Timbren pieces bolt on - no mods. Easy install. No maintenance either. Bolt them on & forget about them forever.
They act like heavy duty bump stops ... they sit on top of the axle housing at each corner of the truck. They stop the leaf springs from compressing too much.
They might have something for the front end of your truck.
They are not too expensive & the company's people deliver excellent customer service.
I have a 1993 4x4 with Timbren front & rear. It works excellent. The Timbren pieces bolt on - no mods. Easy install. No maintenance either. Bolt them on & forget about them forever.
They act like heavy duty bump stops ... they sit on top of the axle housing at each corner of the truck. They stop the leaf springs from compressing too much.
They might have something for the front end of your truck.
They are not too expensive & the company's people deliver excellent customer service.
+1 on Timbren's, They are very popular in the snow plowing industry. Air bags would be better as long as they dont leak since you could set the pressure up when the plow is mounted... on board compressor would be a cool setup, but Timbrens are a lot cheaper and there is nothing to go wrong with them.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 873
Likes: 37
From: Ohio
What you need is a set of air bags that go inside your front coil.
Firestone Ride-Rite Part 4102 - Coil-Rite Front Air Helper Spring Kit
An F-150 is definitely not the ideal truck for plowing, but if it's what you have it will get the job done. Suspension and driveline components take a beating no matter what kind of truck you have, but obviously you can expect to be replacing them more often on a 1/2 ton truck.
Firestone Ride-Rite Part 4102 - Coil-Rite Front Air Helper Spring Kit
An F-150 is definitely not the ideal truck for plowing, but if it's what you have it will get the job done. Suspension and driveline components take a beating no matter what kind of truck you have, but obviously you can expect to be replacing them more often on a 1/2 ton truck.
