make my ride smoother
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: iowa
make my ride smoother
my 70 f-250 camper special is a good truck but rides like a tank. I dont use it for hauling anymore and i dont have a camper or topper on it either anymore. I use it on street only and as a daily driver to and from work. Is there anyway i can tone this down and get a smoother ride ? I figured i would remove a part of the leaf springs, looks as though someone put one of those helper lift pieces in there. but i dont know what else or where to look to buy whatever i need to make this ride smooth. I dont expect to be riding on air but i would like my coffee to stay in the cup. any ideas ??
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 315
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From: Clayton CA
make my ride smoother
I doubt that removing the overload leaf will help anything; it doesn't come into play until it contacts the rest of the springs. Incidently, that's probably a stock spring (my CS has them too). Changing the whole leaf set for a 1/2 ton might help as would installing the front end from an F-100. I guess turn it into an F-100. You might find some folks on this board willing to change with you. 
Bottom line, it's a truck and is going to ride like one. Even new trucks don't exactly ride like Lincolns....
Bottom line, it's a truck and is going to ride like one. Even new trucks don't exactly ride like Lincolns....
New User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4
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make my ride smoother
I recently got a 68 f250 with the full compliment of springs and helper springs. The Front end is fine. It's the rear end that feels like it's got wood blocks attaching the rear axle to the frame. It rides like a Cadillac when I have about 12 sheets of 3/4" plywood in the back though. Hmmmmm.
New User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 18
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From: Maryland
make my ride smoother
I would like to change out my F250 CS leaf set with a ½ ton. Don’t know if the ½ ton springs will fit my Dana 60. My truck sits up very high in the back now that the camper is removed. This spring switch may help the ride and looks of my ford.
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Calgary
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New User
Joined: Jul 2003
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make my ride smoother
are there alternative springs from another model / year that might soften the ride a little?
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 207
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From: Las Vegas
make my ride smoother
I am attempting to do the change from 3/4 too 1/2 ton.
I found a donor and found that the springs are longer on the camper special. So, you would need the hangers too. I removed all of this on my donor and will be changing out before long.
It's a LOT of work banging this old stuff apart, I hope it's worth it.
Anyway, the springs are same length eye to eye.
I got mine off a '67 1/2 to go on my '68 3/4.
Hope this helps with your getting ideas.
Hawkeye
I found a donor and found that the springs are longer on the camper special. So, you would need the hangers too. I removed all of this on my donor and will be changing out before long.
It's a LOT of work banging this old stuff apart, I hope it's worth it.
Anyway, the springs are same length eye to eye.
I got mine off a '67 1/2 to go on my '68 3/4.
Hope this helps with your getting ideas.
Hawkeye
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
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From: Black Hills of SD
make my ride smoother
My 68 and 72 F-250s both have the 6200 GVW, which I think is the lightest duty. That is about the same rating as the later F-150 models. Both of these trucks ride real nice for 3/4 ton pickups. The 72 has the 4 piston discs up front and with those big brakes and a full floater diff ,I have set up that you can't buy today. It stops and rides much better than my powerstroke and if it weren't for the lack of a/c I would drive either of them before a newer truck. I will say though that either of these pickups ride even better with 500 lbs. in the back. Actually they both ride smoother than my 96 150 s/c now that I think of it. If you go junkyarding just look on the door tag for the GVW. I think my front springs are lighter too but swapping out the rears will make an enormous difference. One word of caution, stick with a 67-72 donor to be safe, ford moved the spring center on some later pickups.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: iowa
i ended up removing that helper leaf, took a little bit to get the first one off, but by the time i got to the 2nd one i got it done in half a hour. Wasnt too bad doing it. And believe it or not, my truck came down about 3 inchs in the back and rides alot better. i wouldnt suggest doing it if you ever haul heavy stuff, but for a daily driver it came out pretty well. you can see in my gallery that the how the truck sits now.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Houston TX
>My 68 and 72 F-250s both have the 6200 GVW, which I think is >the lightest duty.
It's lighter than mine. Mines 7500. I wonder if the rear gear might effect the rating though? Seems I saw that somewhere. MK
It's lighter than mine. Mines 7500. I wonder if the rear gear might effect the rating though? Seems I saw that somewhere. MK
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
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From: Black Hills of SD
Well it might, but I think the GVW was just an option. I don't know the variations from year to year but it seems there were several GVWs from 6200 to 8400 and later in the 70s up to 8800 i think. The camper specials all seem to have a heavier GVW. Some of the options like rear overloads just automatically raised the rating too. One of the guys had the factory info posted on the GVWs a few weeks ago.
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