Will shocks help the ride?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 64
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Will shocks help the ride?
I have a hard riding 96 F250 that just had some surgery. I did the front end conversion to strait axle. New two leaf springs and moved the shackles because it was advertised to give a better ride. I dont think it helped. The old shocks are shot and i'm ready to buy but not sure if gas or hydraulic. Will one or the other help soften the ride some? It bounces pretty hard right now. I'm reading reviews and it seems like the consensus is gas shocks give a harder ride. I doubt any shock will make much difference but i'd rather not make it worse.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,190
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Yes, shocks will help, but TTB or Straight Axle, the 4wd F250/350 with leaf spring front ends just ride rough.
That's what they do.
You can play around with spring packages, and potentially get it to ride closer to a Cadillac, but you're going to hurt it's ability to carry loads. About the only way *I'm* aware of to make an OBS 250/350 ride softer is doing a coil spring conversion in the front end, and I don't actually know if anybody makes a kit for that, or not.
That's what they do.
You can play around with spring packages, and potentially get it to ride closer to a Cadillac, but you're going to hurt it's ability to carry loads. About the only way *I'm* aware of to make an OBS 250/350 ride softer is doing a coil spring conversion in the front end, and I don't actually know if anybody makes a kit for that, or not.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,539
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From: North Texas
I THINK Solo Motorsports offers a coil sprung D50 TTB, you would have to check. That would be pretty neat under my dually, but I would be happy with a Truetrac.
Agreed, you are driving a truck far unlike today's plush trucks. Creature comforts are low and NVH was not even a concern in the 70s when this platform was designed. Reverse shackle kit is to help some, to what extent I cannot comment.
All shocks do are control the dampening. I like Bilstein 5100s on my previous 4x4 stuff, my current 4x4 uses electric controlled shocks for soft/firm so they are still OE units.
Agreed, you are driving a truck far unlike today's plush trucks. Creature comforts are low and NVH was not even a concern in the 70s when this platform was designed. Reverse shackle kit is to help some, to what extent I cannot comment.
All shocks do are control the dampening. I like Bilstein 5100s on my previous 4x4 stuff, my current 4x4 uses electric controlled shocks for soft/firm so they are still OE units.
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2021
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Softest factory leaves you can get to safely attach your axle to the frame and carry some of the weight, air springs on top of that for any additional load capacity you may need, Bilstein 5100 or next class up (them silver ones with the body/resi up top and shaft on the bottom are better), and air down your tires unless you actually are loaded heavy.
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Lead Driver
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If someone is seeking those I would definitely be down to trade my weakest springs for some stiffer kind, these ones are nice and broke in even.
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