So, I'm considering replacing the leaf springs on my van, as i think it's a little more bouncy going down the road than it should be, but i'm not sure. this is the first van i've really driven at length (have had it about 4 months).

my question is: can leaf springs need replacing without sagging?

i've been driving it unloaded, but in a few months it will consistently be under a 600-1000 pound load.

 

Bouncing is caused by bad shocks, not springs.

 

untrue. >>> https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/how-t...g-leaf-springs

 

What year is it? The 3/4 ton and 1 ton vans are a bit bouncy unloaded. Once loaded they tend to settle better. I think EagleFreek is on the right path with some new rear shocks to curb the bounce but it will be stiff with no load.

 

The only bouncing mentioned in that link, is if the springs are too stiff and the occupants do the bouncing. What are you calling bouncing? If you mean a rough ride, yes it's a van and the ride can be rough unloaded. My E350 rides fantastic when I've got 1,000 lbs in it. I replaced my shocks several months ago and went the cheap route because I was a little low on cash. I wish I went with Bilsteins. The last company I worked for put them on some pickups and on an E350 dually 4x4 and they made a big difference in ride quality.

 

it's a 2001. the springs in the back aren't sagging, but it seems to hit bumps rough.
i did replace the rear shocks 2 months back. was thinking about doing the front, but like i said, this is unloaded. good to know yours rides better when loaded; think i'm going to hold off on considering replacing the leaf springs//coil springs until after i check er out loaded up.

Eaglefreek >> what kind of difference do you notice in gas mileage w a 1000 pound load?

 

None at all. I get about 12.5 no matter what. A week ago my van was fully loaded and I pulled an 18' trailer full of crap down to Mississippi and got 12.58 mpg. I've owned many vans, all except one were Fords. Fords ride a bit rough. I had an 03 GMC Savanah 3500 as a work vehicle years back and it rode like an SUV. Nice smooth ride.

 

If your complaint is a rough ride. Replacing springs with new ones that are the same isn't going to change the ride much, if any. If you want to change the ride you need to change the spring to a different rate spring. But that will change how the van acts/ handles the loads.

A good quality shock, like Bilsteins can help. A standard replacement shock won't help much unless the old ones are worn out.

On a 3/4 or 1 ton van it's going to ride rougher unloaded then one with a load. A heavier spring needs a load to compress it some to smooth it out. Unloaded it just doesn't work as well for a smooth ride. That's the reason a lot of people with the 1 ton & medium duty trucks ( F450, F550's etc. ) yank the leaf springs and install some kind of air ride system.

You could go to a lighter spring for a smoother unloaded ride and then add some kind of overload/helper spring set up to handle the loads.