Ride Quality
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Ride Quality
I know there has been alot of posts on coil springs and ride heights lately, but please bear with me.
I've read several replies that stated that their trucks rode better after installing stiffer springs.
I would like to improve the overall ride quality of my truck and am looking for softer springs.
Realizing, of course, there is only so much you can do with a straight axle , swb, 4x4.
I've been trying to locate factory spring rates so I have something to go by, but no luck yet. I think I would like to try a set for a 6 Cylinder, or may have to go for a custom spring.
Has anyone else had any luck smoothing out the ride?
I've read several replies that stated that their trucks rode better after installing stiffer springs.
I would like to improve the overall ride quality of my truck and am looking for softer springs.
Realizing, of course, there is only so much you can do with a straight axle , swb, 4x4.
I've been trying to locate factory spring rates so I have something to go by, but no luck yet. I think I would like to try a set for a 6 Cylinder, or may have to go for a custom spring.
Has anyone else had any luck smoothing out the ride?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, Iowa
Ride Quality
i have heard that you can get the earliy bronco springs and they are softer with more travel becaue they are a lighter truck. i want to try it, just not sure what size lift to get bacause they sit lower on the heavier truck. they are also progressive rate so that you shouldn't need sway bars to control body roll.
i am with you on this one, i want to improve ride and at the same time improve off-road ability which means softer springs, i don't se any real benifit to stiff springs unless you are jumping the truck alot, but even then they are going to softer longer travel springs, so unless you haul heavy loads there is no need for stiff springs.
i am with you on this one, i want to improve ride and at the same time improve off-road ability which means softer springs, i don't se any real benifit to stiff springs unless you are jumping the truck alot, but even then they are going to softer longer travel springs, so unless you haul heavy loads there is no need for stiff springs.
Last edited by Texan1983; Sep 17, 2003 at 01:12 AM.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Ride Quality
Many times when the ride height is corrected several things happen:
1-the suspension no longer hits the bump stops.
2-the suspension bushings get replaced.
3-there is no longer metal to metal contact at suspension joints.
4-replacing bushings tighten up the steering etc.
5-shocks get replaced.
-Add this all up and you get ride improvement.
You will need to get springs that will support the weight of your vehicle, load, and engine. Don't get the 6 cylinder springs.
1-the suspension no longer hits the bump stops.
2-the suspension bushings get replaced.
3-there is no longer metal to metal contact at suspension joints.
4-replacing bushings tighten up the steering etc.
5-shocks get replaced.
-Add this all up and you get ride improvement.
You will need to get springs that will support the weight of your vehicle, load, and engine. Don't get the 6 cylinder springs.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Ride Quality
I hadn't thought about early Bronco spring, I'll have to look into their weight.
I realize that correcting ride height will keep me from hitting the bump stops, my ride height is perfect and I've never bottomed out.
My entire front end is completely rebuilt-New ball joints,tie rod ends, track bar bushings, radius arm bushings,etc.etc.,etc...
My truck steers and rides better than a new F250, I'm just trying to tweak it a little more.
It came with progressive lift springs-they were really harsh!!
Just to see if I could improve the ride, I then switched to some used (free) stock F150 4x4 springs and the ride improved noticably.
I am now using New Springs which I ordered to fit my truck based on its options. (351W, C6, with A/C).
I have also been swapping in three different brands of shocks.
Like I said I've been tweaking for a while and was wondering if anyone had found a particular spring that worked well for them.
Thanks for the input though guys.
I realize that correcting ride height will keep me from hitting the bump stops, my ride height is perfect and I've never bottomed out.
My entire front end is completely rebuilt-New ball joints,tie rod ends, track bar bushings, radius arm bushings,etc.etc.,etc...
My truck steers and rides better than a new F250, I'm just trying to tweak it a little more.
It came with progressive lift springs-they were really harsh!!
Just to see if I could improve the ride, I then switched to some used (free) stock F150 4x4 springs and the ride improved noticably.
I am now using New Springs which I ordered to fit my truck based on its options. (351W, C6, with A/C).
I have also been swapping in three different brands of shocks.
Like I said I've been tweaking for a while and was wondering if anyone had found a particular spring that worked well for them.
Thanks for the input though guys.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, Iowa
Ride Quality
4wheel mag did that early bronco spring on a later bronco (which is very similer to you truck in wieght) and they liked it alot saying it rode alot better and preformed much better off-road and on the road.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks USA
Ride Quality
I just installed a set of Skyjacker "soft ride" springs on my 74 F250 4x4 frame(leafs all around) and it made a considerable difference. One note of caution though, if your going to haul heavy loads, install an air bag system, or overloads.
