front suspension coil question
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,428
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From: Wisconsin
front suspension coil question
What keeps the front coils from coming out on their own? I realize the weight of the truck keeps them in, but what if I where to raise the front end off the ground with a hoist, or an off road situation, etc.? I ask this because when I installed my 2.5" leveling kit (Ready Lift), the instructions simply said to raise the front end or lower the axle until the coils fell out. The only thing I can see is the sway bar and shocks, they might hold for a bit, but still. On my 1975 1/2 ton 4x4, there is an "L" bracket bolted to the top, and a metal disk plate and bolt at the bottom. But on my '17 F350, no hardware at all..........what am I missing?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
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From what I can tell it's like you said, the sway bar and shocks that are the limiting factors. So I suppose if you decided to disconnect your sway bar, and had a shock break, also while doing some extreme off roading, it could be a problem.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
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I haven't looked closely at the Ram trucks, but I think its the same.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 309
Likes: 56
From: Dallas, TX
The bump stops prevent rolling travel of the frame and cab. Without bump stops, it's possible (but unlikely) that you could flex the suspension enough to unseat a coil spring. Unless you removed your front sway bar, removed the top mounting nuts from your shocks, AND removed the bump stops, it would take an ungodly amount of twisting and rolling to eject a coil spring. You likely wouldn't survive that wreck to know any better.
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 395
Likes: 95
I also worried about this same thing.. so I installed aftermarket radius arms with limiting straps to make sure this doesn't happen!
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2017
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From: Wisconsin
I did jack it up by the frame, as the instructions said..........and the coils fell out. (Thus prompting my question).
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Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2017
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Likes: 728
From: Wisconsin
Could you post a picture of the installed straps?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
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The Ready Lift instructions do not say to simple lift the truck by the frame till the coils fall out. Like all the rest of the lift kit instructions they tell you to undo the brake line mounts, undo the sway bar end links (from the frame in this case) and remove the shock.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
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I dont think the sway bar helps limit pinion arm extension to the point that the shocks dont fall out.....the sway bar is in a bushing that allows it to rotate to follow the axle. the shocks definitely limit pinion arm extension. the last time I installed a level kit...I had to disconnect the shocks and remove a brake hose clamp....then jack up the truck and the spring could be pulled right out.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2017
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From: Wisconsin
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
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And for reference,a qoute from your op, "I ask this because when I installed my 2.5" leveling kit (Ready Lift), the instructions simply said to raise the front end or lower the axle until the coils fell out. The only thing I can see is the sway bar and shocks, they might hold for a bit, but still."
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2018
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The spring is captured by the shock's travel. You didn't just jack up the frame, you unbolted the shock mounts which is what allowed the coil to fall out.. That's not going to happen just rolling down the road. Even if you break the shock in a catastrophic roll over, if the axle drops far enough to let the spring out, it's not coming out under pressure, it will come loose because the tension has been released by the shock no longer being able to limit the axle droop. As stated above, if that happens, that coil coming loose is not your primary concern. There was a news story a couple weeks ago where some guy ran his Super Duty off a highway overpass, thing was air born for a while, coils stayed in place.