Right or not, after a reread I figure I should apologize a bit about my snarky comment on non-owners making definitive statements.


It's a bit of a sore spot left over from a conversation years ago when some guy kept telling me my truck in no way shape or form came from the factory with both a 4 pin and 7 pin connector. Told me over and over I was wrong and full of ****e and someone had to modify it or in some fashion change the factory set up. All this even though I told him I was the only owner, ordered my truck from the factory and didn't take it from dealer stock, and had never changed it in any way. I was still full of BS. All from a guy that had never set foot in a Ford SD, but was an expert regardless. No such word as irregardless btw.

 

no offense taken here.....

 

Since the stops are bolted on could you swap brackets side to side?
That would reverse the leading edge of the pad.
Thinner edge to the front with more rubber to the rear contact area.
Would it change the angle of the stop?

 

I'm on my third set of rear bump stops in 10,000 miles and the this set has only lasted about 500 miles towing. When hooked up, the rear overload is touching the bump stop, the front of the overload has almost 2 inches of clearance. Not sure if it makes a difference, but this truck has the factory installed 25k fifth wheel hitch, pin weight is just under 4k.

I'm convinced that part of the problem is that when under load and the spring is moving fore and aft, the rubber is not sliding on the steel spring. With the pressure applied, that pull through piece of rubber on the top of the bump stop grinds against the bracket and the steel bracket wins that contest.

I've been looking at something like I'm on my third set of rear bump stops in 10,000 miles and the this set has only lasted about 500 miles towing. When hooked up, the rear overload is touching the bump stop, the front of the overload has almost 2 inches of clearance. Not sure if it makes a difference, but this truck has the factory installed 25k fifth wheel hitch, pin weight is just under 4k.

I'm convinced that part of the problem is that when under load and the spring is moving fore and aft, the rubber is not sliding on the steel spring. With the pressure applied, that pull through piece of rubber on the top of the bump stop grinds against the bracket and the steel bracket wins that contest.

I've been looking at something like Torklift Stable Load Contact Overload Rubber Bumper Spring Pads For Dodge and Ford Pickup Trucks - TowShop with a bolt that comes up through the bracket. Problem is that these are to restore side to side stability with airbags and I shouldn't have to install airbags on this beast!

For Shorebird: I think swapping the brackets side to side would aggrevate the problem - too much angle the opposite direction so you would almost have metal to metal contact with very little rubber in between.

 

To patrhynes,
SuperSprings International Inc. 5055 6th Street, Carpinteria, CA 93013
Tech Support 866-898-0720
Sales/Customer Service 800-898-0705
Fax: 805-745-5501
www.supersprings.com
They make a Super Sway-Stops that goes in place of the stock Ford springs stops and they have a 2 year product warranty.
I hope this helps, I am planning on putting a set of these on my 2006 Ford F-350. It also has an overload spring setup.
Ben

 

Ben, I saw a set of those on an 06 F-350 the other day. They are designed for use with airbags, but the setup I saw didn't have airbags. The set I saw were long enough that they were in contact with the overload springs even though the truck was completely unloaded except for the fifth wheel hitch in the bed. Just so's ya know!

Meanwhile, I've ordered a set of Firestone bags, p/n 2535, an automatic air command, p/n 2186 and the Firestone Air Fill Station, p/n 2239. Merry Christmas to ME!

I've also got NAPA's Universal Chassis Bump Stops , (to replace the torn up rear bump stops currently on the truck. These are small round units, 2" in diameter, 11/16" high. The description is "Low Profile Button Head, Prevents Damaging & Costly Suspension Contact, Made of Polyurethane Which Is More Durable Than OEM Rubber"

 

To glsurratt and MoreSteam,
First thanks for your service to our country. Myself I spent 16 yrs active duty USAF. I hope that the NAPA system works for you. To MoreSteam, thanks for tip on the painting. I remember when we washed the F-16 Falcon we had to immediately lubricate the whole aircraft. I guess things never change no matter what it is.
Ben

 

Just an update, have solved the problem. I found a very good shop supervisor at a very good spring shop. The problem is the camper is too light for the truck. With the camper fully loaded, the truck is at 58% of payload, so the overload springs are just starting to be used. With a heavier camper, the overloads are much more in play and do not allow any sway and the springs miss the brackets. So the supervisor, suggested putting spacers under the overload springs and a bit of recurving of the springs. There is no almost no sway and the springs do not come close to contacting the brackets any more. About 1 hours work and it is drastically better. If I get a bigger camper, just have to remove the spacers.

 

I never got the NAPA bump stops installed. The Firestone bags solved most of the problem, but I still wasn't happy with the ride.

Read about my final solution in https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ight=KELDERMAN

 

Has anyone just removed the rear stops to improve the ride? I don't need the overloads and do not like the kick back I get when the spring contacts the stop.


I did the chalk test on the pads, and the springs are touching just driving around town. When I hit a dip in the road or the transition off of a bridge I get a pretty good shot from the springs. I'm thinking of removing the auxiliary springs and go with air bags.


Thanks.