350 SRW rear spring mods?
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 121
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From: Gainesville, TX
350 SRW rear spring mods?
Mine has the 5th wheel and camper options, neither of which I'm using. I'd like to soften the unloaded ride and hopefully eliminate the 45mph hop. What can I do with the rear springs? F250 swap, or aftermarket? I don't really want to lift it.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21,345
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From: North Central Washington
Well if you are not using it to haul anything you could try removing one or more of the short leafs in the spring pack. Then I guess if you do haul once in a while add air bags.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 121
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From: Gainesville, TX
I found a couple options for rear springs, with main purpose to control the ride. Anyone familiar with these?
Firestone R4Tech Airide Suspension System:
Carli 6-Leaf Add-A-Pack:
Firestone R4Tech Airide Suspension System:
Carli 6-Leaf Add-A-Pack:
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,535
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From: West Michigan
Just curious, what PSI do you run your rear tires at? Unloaded, the F350 should be riding the same as a F250. Its not until you load something in the back and the overloads kick in that things get stiffer. If I am not towing, I run 65 PSI all the way around. Pretty decent ride.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 20,148
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From: Wisconsin
I believe porthole (a user here)installed the Firestone R4Tech Airide suspension system on his dually. From the comments that I recall, he was not satisfied with the system, the install was rough and the customer service was not as helpful as one would have expected. I'll let him comment as I'm spewing second hand knowledge and I may not be correct (it's been a while). Here is his thread commenting on them: link. I just did a search for "Firestone R4Tech" in the 6.7 section and it was the second thread.
I have heard good things about the Carli springs. They do a good job. I run standard Ride Right airbags and I just love the adjustability of them. When empty, I run just 5 psf in them and that doesn't seem to affect the ride too much at all. I've been running them too long to say how much they stiffen the ride unloaded. In theory they do, but to what degree I really don't recall. It's not much, I can tell you that. When you get a load in the bed or pulling a trailer they really shine. I'll never own a truck without them again. I can tell you that.
I have heard good things about the Carli springs. They do a good job. I run standard Ride Right airbags and I just love the adjustability of them. When empty, I run just 5 psf in them and that doesn't seem to affect the ride too much at all. I've been running them too long to say how much they stiffen the ride unloaded. In theory they do, but to what degree I really don't recall. It's not much, I can tell you that. When you get a load in the bed or pulling a trailer they really shine. I'll never own a truck without them again. I can tell you that.
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Joined: Apr 2013
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What about these? I have no experience with them but was considering trying them myself.
https://www.sulastic.com/
https://www.sulastic.com/
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Gainesville, TX
I run the tires at about 65psi with new Rancho 9000xl. The ride is decent, the main problem I'm trying to solve is 45mph hop. I'm thinking it's related to the springs.
These spring mods both claim to improve the ride, and I'm hoping it would also control the hop. A better ride is a bonus. The hop absolutely drives me nuts, and keeping 500lbs of cement bricks in back just to soften it.
I saw that thread from porthole about the R4TEch. Scratch that off the list! It feel like Carli springs are the way to go. The different springs will give a new ride that doesn't derate the hauling capacity.
I also saw those Sulastic shackles but trying to get to the root, and they seem like a cover up.
These spring mods both claim to improve the ride, and I'm hoping it would also control the hop. A better ride is a bonus. The hop absolutely drives me nuts, and keeping 500lbs of cement bricks in back just to soften it.
I saw that thread from porthole about the R4TEch. Scratch that off the list! It feel like Carli springs are the way to go. The different springs will give a new ride that doesn't derate the hauling capacity.
I also saw those Sulastic shackles but trying to get to the root, and they seem like a cover up.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
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Actually, if you add air bags and keep the unloaded pressure at 2-5 psi you can soften the ride
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 172
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From: Wisconsin
Ride Rites manual says to run the bags from 5-100 lbs. I have run mine at 5 before and never noticed much of a difference from a stock truck on my 2004 cclb 6.0. I also have a 2012 cclb drw and am still debating whether to put air bags on it. We took our first camping trip this past weekend and it towed beautiful. 12000# 5er. I am very impressed!! But the empty ride sucks to say the least but I don't expect a soft ride from a F-350 drw. This truck was built to haul heavy loads more than to get groceries.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,302
Likes: 1,153
From: Edmonton Alberta
I have the 6 leaf add a pack, it will give you 2.5" of lift unless you use shorter blocks. It does soften up the ride a bit because you get rid of the bottom HUGE 1/2" thick stock leaf and you can ditch the overloads too (whick I did).
Deaver does not list anything without adding lift but you may want to check with them. Maybe you can use the 5" with a tiny block and end up at the same height. Or maybe they have something not listed...
Deaver Suspension
Going from the factory 3 @ 1/2" thick leafs to a 10 or 12 leaft pack would be a GREAT improvement. I am toying with putting the Deaver full pack in mine.
Click on the link below and scroll down to "Full spring pack debut"....
"If there was one truck ever built that needs a progressive rear spring pack, this is it."
Super Duty Suspension News and Engineering for Ford SuperDuty F250/F350 4x4
Thanks
Deaver does not list anything without adding lift but you may want to check with them. Maybe you can use the 5" with a tiny block and end up at the same height. Or maybe they have something not listed...
Deaver Suspension
Going from the factory 3 @ 1/2" thick leafs to a 10 or 12 leaft pack would be a GREAT improvement. I am toying with putting the Deaver full pack in mine.
Click on the link below and scroll down to "Full spring pack debut"....
"If there was one truck ever built that needs a progressive rear spring pack, this is it."
Super Duty Suspension News and Engineering for Ford SuperDuty F250/F350 4x4
Thanks
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,302
Likes: 1,153
From: Edmonton Alberta
Carli 6 leaf add a pack, less the bottom stock 1/2" leaft and less the overloads. With stock 350 block. There is lots of room to put shorther blocks in. It was a big improvement for me BUT I added king shocks at the same time.....
I had cheap temp shocks on there for a couple of weeks while the kings were getting fixed and the back end hop was ridiculous. I could not drive like that. You need good shocks to control the hop with the "softer" spring pack.
I had cheap temp shocks on there for a couple of weeks while the kings were getting fixed and the back end hop was ridiculous. I could not drive like that. You need good shocks to control the hop with the "softer" spring pack.
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