How many miles can you expect out of leaf springs. From what I just read Ford says roughly 100,000 miles depending on it use. Others tell me it's wrong, wrong and wrong and will last alot longer. Mine squats with 185,000 miles on the OD and a gooseneck or bumper dump trailer loaded. It currently has the XS package from Ford and is a 2003 F350 SD. I'm starting to think I'll buy heavier rears and maybe next year new fronts but others tell me I don't need too.

 

Just depends on how often the truck has hauled weight and how many lbs of weight.
More weight + more times = more stress on the springs which means they will fatigue and fail earlier than a truck that never hauled or towed.

 

what he said....

miles has no issue to springs.. its weight and shock...

its just spring steel... the number of flexes.. the more likely to fail...

locate the specs on your truck..
will show what the height of truck was when new.
and measure what your is today with it empty....
this will give you some idea of sag.... and has nothing to do with failure...

 

I agree. I keep telling them mine needs changed and their responses is that's it fine must be something else. Just recently we found my bumper hitch was rusting out, planning to replace it but since it was sagging with their dump trailer like my fully loaded gooseneck they thought it was only the bumper hitch. Not sure what the previous owner did with it.

 

Unloaded without trailer it's level but also the factory 265/75 R16's don't apply, I'm running 285/75 R16's not much different but trying calculate the difference make I brain hurt, lol.

 

Definitely odd for Ford or anyone to say that. There’s a handful of factors related to the life span of a spring but to put a mileage age on them is not correct. Basically what everyone has said already, really about the use and abuse someone puts on the vehicle.

 

Did you buy the truck new or used?? Has the truck been lifted/leveled?? Your truck is 16 years old do yes it could be the springs are starting to show their age.

If your truck has a leveling kit it will sag faster. I had a 350 that was lifted and leveled so any time i put more than 500 pounds on it it would start to sag.

What is the weight you are putting on it? Sounds like time to check it on a scale.

Springs are designed to give and flatten out so the back end comes down and sags even if it is not appreciable with low weights, it still does. Also remember especially with a trailer on a hitch that the distance from the ball to the rear axle works like a lever. so you have this along with the sagging of the springs really makes the front axle unload.

It is super easy to put enough load on a truck that it will sag.

I would suggest a set of air bags if you only run loaded on occasion. Higher capacity springs are stiffer so ride will suffer. Air bags are a type of progressive spring. More air means more weight carrying. When you don't have the the weight then let out air, softer springs. Some guys say that their trucks ride terrible with air bags and empty. this is my third truck with air bags and will not run without them now. I only keep about 5 lbs when I'm empty so I can't tell the difference in the ride but then I expect my truck to ride like a truck.

 

I bought it used in 2015 after I was released from an Traumatic Brain Injury from the Doctors and considered disabled. My plan before that was to stop driving a tractor trailer and start driving as a Hotshot O\O, my CDL is history because of that. The 6.0 is completely stock as I'm aware of now. Not lifted or leveled. I bought a 20+5 gooseneck after it. My trailer is registered at 10,000 lbs but could be changed to 14,000 lbs but not worried about it. The only thing I used it for are neighbors, friends and myself. My friend has a dump trailer rated at 7,000 lbs and theirs has really started showing the problem with my suspension. My gooseneck isn't that bad but does show concerns with four 300 gallon full water tanks we were going try five but not a good idea add until I work on my suspension. Not willing to add just air bags my leaf springs need changed. Probably going to a 6/1 leaf package and reused my overload spring, all new hardware as well. My GVWR is listed at 9700lb and the front is 5200lb and the rear is GAWR is 6830lb on the tag, the most we think is about 5,000 on my trailer which puts me at 18,000 lbs fully loaded and it could be wrong.

 

I had a 2001 that did some towing but nothing super heavy. It broke a leaf at about 120K. Wasn't sagging at all. Was actually still quite stiff.
It sounds like yours just needs a helper spring added. Might as well replace the whole spring.

 

I'm planning to replace all of the leaves at this point, front and back with new hardware.

 

Let me know when you’re ready. If you’re wanting more capacity you won’t necessarily need to go to a HD spring if you don’t want to. Depending on your code you can just go with a heavier option for the front and a XL option in the rear. The XL is normally 500 pounds heavier per side over your stock rating. So nothing to to crazy but more than what factory was able to offer.