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Hey all I'm the new guy here lol......been scrolling thru a lot of threads looking for info on leaf spring swaps for my tired '02 Ex springs. I see a lot about X code and B code springs and other ones but nothing gets into how I find what truck they come off when I hit up a salvage yard for low mileage ones. Any help will be great, mean while I will keep reading threads.
Love the site too I will be posting pics of my lil toy as I start working on her soon.
Thanks, yea I'm finding a lot of information on here that is very helpful, plus I like finding out tips and tricks from others....this is my 2nd Excursion and 1st I am lifting and doing some serious work to.
The Ford spring lettering can be a little confusing compounded by the fact the aftermarket sometimes uses those same letters but with differing spring rates and travel amounts. I copied the info in this chart over time here from a few members posts discussing the front truck leaf springs and how they affect the ride height of the gas and diesel EXs. I don't have the same info on the rear springs unfortunately.
Clipped from a past post:
This is my Spring cheat sheet complied from various posts here on FTE mostly from old posts by bruce1954 and Monsta.
The following only applies to 4X4 EXs, the 2X4 rigs have coil springs up front. All EXs came from Ford with G code rear springs, the V-8 EXs all came with B (front B code is much different than rear B code, confused yet?) 4100lb, all V-10 EXs came with C code fronts at 4300lb and all PSD EXs had D codes at 4700lbs.
All the other codes discussed come from SuperDuty trucks (they came with springs that don't suck from Ford.)
Spring........Capacity.....Rate lbs/".....Max travel.....V-10 change.....PSD change
B (V-8)......4100lbs.......330 lb/".........5.02"...........-0.25".............-0.66"
C (V-10)....4300lbs.......350 lb/".........5.01".............0.00"............-0.37"
D (PSD).....4700lbs.......380 lb/".........5.14"...........+0.33".............0 .00"
S codes.....4000lbs.......370 lb/".........4.34"...........+1.22"............+0 .88"
T codes.....4400lbs.......390 lb/".........4.63"...........+1.42"............+1 .11"
U codes.....4800lbs.......410 lb/".........4.89"...........+1.60"............+1 .32"
V codes.....5200lbs.......430 lb/".........5.13"...........+1.77'............+1 .50"
W codes....5600lbs.......450 lb/".........5.34"...........+2.77'............+2 .52"
X codes.....6000lbs.......470 lb/".........5.54"...........+2.90"...........+2. 68"
W codes are from F-450s and X codes are from F-550s and other SD trucks with snow plow prep.
The above spring info has been gathered from posts here on FTE by "monsta" and "bruce1954".
Hopefully this will help to answer some of your questions about the "lettered" springs. The ONLY way to verify what springs are on a pickup is if the original door info sticker is still on the truck, under the SPRING header will be the truck's OEM spring codes front then rear such as "V V B B" where it has V code fronts and B code rears. Look at your EX door sticker and it should read C C G G if its a gasser or D D G G if its a PSD.
Another very good option is the ProComp 4" lift springs, Member Pirate is a very sharp suspention guy and he has laid out the list of all the parts needed to redo the EX suspension with those aftermarket spring. If I was starting over from scratch I would most likely go with the ProComp springs and air bags for my tow rig EX.
The Ford spring lettering can be a little confusing compounded by the fact the aftermarket sometimes uses those same letters but with differing spring rates and travel amounts. I copied the info in this chart over time here from a few members posts discussing the front truck leaf springs and how they affect the ride height of the gas and diesel EXs. I don't have the same info on the rear springs unfortunately.
Clipped from a past post:
This is my Spring cheat sheet complied from various posts here on FTE mostly from old posts by bruce1954 and Monsta.
The following only applies to 4X4 EXs, the 2X4 rigs have coil springs up front. All EXs came from Ford with G code rear springs, the V-8 EXs all came with B (front B code is much different than rear B code, confused yet?) 4100lb, all V-10 EXs came with C code fronts at 4300lb and all PSD EXs had D codes at 4700lbs.
All the other codes discussed come from SuperDuty trucks (they came with springs that don't suck from Ford.)
Spring........Capacity.....Rate lbs/".....Max travel.....V-10 change.....PSD change
B (V-8)......4100lbs.......330 lb/".........5.02"...........-0.25".............-0.66"
C (V-10)....4300lbs.......350 lb/".........5.01".............0.00"............-0.37"
D (PSD).....4700lbs.......380 lb/".........5.14"...........+0.33".............0 .00"
S codes.....4000lbs.......370 lb/".........4.34"...........+1.22"............+0 .88"
T codes.....4400lbs.......390 lb/".........4.63"...........+1.42"............+1 .11"
U codes.....4800lbs.......410 lb/".........4.89"...........+1.60"............+1 .32"
V codes.....5200lbs.......430 lb/".........5.13"...........+1.77'............+1 .50"
W codes....5600lbs.......450 lb/".........5.34"...........+2.77'............+2 .52"
X codes.....6000lbs.......470 lb/".........5.54"...........+2.90"...........+2. 68"
W codes are from F-450s and X codes are from F-550s and other SD trucks with snow plow prep.
The above spring info has been gathered from posts here on FTE by "monsta" and "bruce1954".
Hopefully this will help to answer some of your questions about the "lettered" springs. The ONLY way to verify what springs are on a pickup is if the original door info sticker is still on the truck, under the SPRING header will be the truck's OEM spring codes front then rear such as "V V B B" where it has V code fronts and B code rears. Look at your EX door sticker and it should read C C G G if its a gasser or D D G G if its a PSD.
Another very good option is the ProComp 4" lift springs, Member Pirate is a very sharp suspention guy and he has laid out the list of all the parts needed to redo the EX suspension with those aftermarket spring. If I was starting over from scratch I would most likely go with the ProComp springs and air bags for my tow rig EX.
Thanks WE3ZS this helped alot..... I am looking into the Procomp springs now I will keep y'all posted.
I’ll second the pro comps. I’ve got 10K on mine now after my swap and couldn’t be happier. No rear sway bar. I have yet to put any towing mileage on them yet, but it’s coming. Just have to get these dang kids graduated so I can get back to other projects.
got a question about leaf springs. i have a 2001 2wd and want to lift my rear end with leaf spring addition and not with a lift block. i only need about 1.5-2inches due to the fact i put levelling spacers in the front and now it aint level. go figure. my questions is can i take a leaf from a donour truck and add to my spring pack safely. or do i need to just purchase an add a leaf? should i have started a new post? i thought maybe this would follow in line with what is already being discussed.
thanks
I would say just go with new add a leaf unless you have donor truck and springs available, I was going to go route of junk yard leaf springs off a used F250-F350 but after looking at Pro Comp springs and price I am just gonna pay a lil more for new vs used.
EXSwap I am going to go with Pro Comp springs next week.....I will be starting new thread with pics on that joy, my Ex has 220k on the ticker and original springs so I am sure there will be some fun and good times getting old stuff off and replacing springs and shocks.
People love the Ford Excursion and why wouldn't they? It is a great looking truck. Usually when considering the Excursion you are looking for versatility, the power of a truck with the comfort of a car or SUV. If you have a camper or trailer to tow but do not want to sacrifice seating and interior comfort by getting a pickup a full sized SUV is a good choice. With the Excursion you get a nice, big truck with plenty of space inside. The problem here is the towing capacity is not always where it should be for a vehicle this size. By a quick search on the internet you can see that many Excursion owners have found a simple solution to this issue by swapping out the stock leaf springs for F250 leaf springs.
Ford Excursions were built based on the Ford F250 however, they put lighter springs on them to increase ride comfort and have them drive more like a car or SUV then a truck. This becomes an issue for drivers who purchased the Excursion for towing purposes and need a heavier weight capacity. Ford Excursion springs have around a 1980lb capacity per side in the front and 2275lb capacity per side in the rear, the F250 springs on the other hand will give you between 2030lbs and 2630lbs per side in the front and 3000lbs per side for the rear, this is a substantial upgrade. When researching Ford Leaf Springs you will see a lot of information about spring codes. The most common switch for the Excursion is to use the F250 code V or U for the front and code B or F for the rear.
Difference in Capacity Spring Excursion F250 Front 1980lbs (43-804) V(43-814) 2230lbs or X(43-818) 2630lbs U (43-812) 2030lbs Rear 2275lbs (43-1541)(43-1331)(43-1325) B (43-1261) 3000lbs F (43-1571) 3000lbs With these leaf spring charts you can compare the dimension of the Excursion Springs and see how the A and B dimensions are the same as the F250 Springs
Any of these combinations will work, with V and B spring codes being the most popular choice. Once you have decided on your springs you can easily make the swap. You want to follow the basic rules of changing leaf springs, but there are a few Excursion specific steps you want to look out for. There is a great article on this with step by step instructions on preforming this leaf spring installation with a set of v-code springs. The writer mentions in this article some things to look for such as new U-bolts, measuring to monitor height change, using an extra jack stand to combat the heavy weight of the Excursion and removing the shock bolt to prevent over extension during the process. He also mentions several other important steps like removing the corner bumper supports to make getting to the front eye-bolts easier and removing the support bracket from the radiator to get the eyebolt out on the driver's side. This writer does a fantastic job of walking you through a leaf spring installation on the Excursion and makes sure to point out every bolt you will find in a tight spot and the correct way to remove it. I highly recommend reading through this guide before installing your new springs. According to Excursion owners that have done this switch the ride height was slightly affected. To correct this they simply switched out the stock Excursion rear blocks for the 3.5" F250 tapered blocks. This solution gives you the slight rake that they come from the factory with, the rear slightly higher than the front. Another thing you may want to look into when making this switch is new shocks. Bilstein recommends using front F250 and getting the rear Excursion shocks in this situation.
When working on improving your suspension for towing Excursion sway bars are a very popular option. People with Ford Excursions have chosen to replace their stock front sway bar with the F250 bar from Hellwig, they have also added a rear sway bar or replaced the stock rear sway bar with a Hellwig and have had positive results. The addition of load support like air bags or a Timbren kit can also help in towing situations as well as protect your new leaf springs.
The Ford Excursion is a favorite amongst Ford lovers; it brings the comfort of an SUV or car while providing you with the size and durability of a full sized Pickup Truck. Unfortunately this vehicle drives like a car and when used for towing can encounter some safety issues. This problem can be easily corrected with use of some aftermarket parts from the Excursions close relative, the F250. Using F250 springs, shocks and sway bars can increase safety and ride comfort when towing.
EXSwap I am going to go with Pro Comp springs next week.....I will be starting new thread with pics on that joy, my Ex has 220k on the ticker and original springs so I am sure there will be some fun and good times getting old stuff off and replacing springs and shocks.
I had 297K on the clock when I changed mine out. Front's were pretty easy as I already had the bumper off and engine/trans out (along with the other parts pulled to do that). The rears were a bit more of a challenge as the rear AC lines are a bit of a bear and the rear shackle bolts were "siezed" in mine. They would turn with a long ratchet or impact, but wouldn't come out of the shackle bushing. One thing is for certain, the guys that do that work for a living earn their money. Good luck and post up some pics of the install!!
Code V, and C Leaf Springs 2005 Ford Excursion V-10 43k miles
I know this thread is old, just wanted to post to let others know when searching like me. I recently installed the code V, and C from ATS. I wanted something that rode as close to stock as possible, for towing, and cross country trips. I have gained 2 inches all around measuring from center hub to fender. 26" Rear 25" front after install this is normal ATS told me. ATS said she should settle to around 1.5 inches. Before the spring install I had put on the hellwig rear sway bar, set at the stiffest setting, the Bilsteins all 4 corners and bilstein front steering stabilizer. I also installed the redhead steering box. The ride has Definitely improved with the springs, well worth it, night and day difference. The height is a little higher than I like, but once she settles I think it will be perfect. I'm running stock 265 75 16, and don't want to go bigger as I have read 10 to 15% reduction in mpg. I would Definitely not want the X springs with modded Cs unless I was putting a plow on, heavy duty bumper etc. I think the Vs and Cs are where it's at for my application. I'm very impressed with ATS they took well care of me, and actually took the time to explain everything. Highly recommend. Hope this helps someone trying to decide which route to take. Before After
Was the entire 410 miles driven at 70 MPH? I’ve made the 450 mile drive from Philly to/from Columbus OH which is all highway with the exception of a few interchanges and have gotten 14.5 MPG with the cruise set at 65 MPH. My EX has 4.88 gears with 35” highway tread tires that nets an effective 4.39 ratio, it also has Banks headers and runs the 5Star 89 octane performance tune with matching gas.
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