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Does anyone know if helper springs were a factory installed option on the 1973-79 F-350 trucks? Not dealer installed but factory installed. I can't find any information concerning this and my truck has helper springs and I really don't need them but as I restore the truck if they are original to it I want to keep them on it. It is certainly a rough ride with them installed with no load. I am hoping they are aftermarket, Can't find any Ford markings or part numbers on them. Thanks in advance for any help.
Slapper springs over top of the regular leaf springs that when loaded heavy, the ends contacted tabs mounted on the side of the frame? All of our F-350s with dual rear wheels had them. They looked like regular leaf springs with no end eyes. They almost made music on the back roads between post offices, slapping the tabs on dips, etc.
Thanks for the reply but I'm trying to determine if they were added by the dealer or by a commercial upfitting company or were they an option ordered through Ford when the truck was purchased. Mine is F-350 but not a dually. Thanks, T.W.
My '76 F-150 4 X2 has a second spring that is totally disengaged until the truck is heavily loaded. I am strongly considering their removal b/c I'll be running CalTracks. They sure look factory to me. Note the bracket with a piece of string on it. This is rivited in place and holds a rubber/plastic strike. Here's what they look like:
Thanks for the reply but I'm trying to determine if they were added by the dealer or by a commercial upfitting company or were they an option ordered through Ford when the truck was purchased. Mine is F-350 but not a dually. Thanks, T.W.
What is the GVWR on the door tag? They could be added I guess, it was a pretty popular deal for camper hauling.
Our mail trucks all had DRWs original ...but had stretched frames that the owner / contractor whom did so in his shop and he added his own 30 gallon saddle tank too (2 15 gal. grease drums end to end) ... but I saw one of the trucks, a new '79, before he did any work to it, it already had the slapper springs and except for looking new, they were like on the others. They looked like that, maybe two or more leaves each though. When they slapped, was a good dip with a good load. I'd never seen them on a half ton though. My FIL made his set for his F-250 as he was planning to haul a bed camper to Alaska and back..
I do not know for sure, but I would GUESS the overloads/helper springs were installed at the factory. I have had a couple of reg cab 4wd 79 F250's and the frame mounted brackets were always riveted on, not bolted on. I can not see a dealership doing that kind of rivet work, that seems like more of a Ford factory deal.
Do you have a Marti report on your truck? Maybe it would be mentioned in that? https://www.martiauto.com/martireports.cfm
No mention of "overloads/helper springs" on this.
Well, IMO that top helper spring is going to do nothing until that frame stoppers comes all the way down to hit it.
By then way too far down. If I remember correctly,, those single leaf helper spring were installed with a band (like the spring clamps) in your picture
BUT also had extended flat bars on each that extended up about 1 or 1 1/2 inches above that helper spring with a bolt from bar to bar.
As weight was added to the bed, and springs begin to cal-apse that bolt would come in contact with the helper and supply the extra load relief.
hard to explain on here but if I can find a picture that would help.
Also rides pretty good and not too stiff as if with a large pile of springs....
My 78 F350 Camper Special has the factory installed overload springs in the rear as well as front and rear sway bars. My camper weighs about 3000 lbs loaded with full water tank and the overload springs still have about 3/4 inch clearance between the ends of the springs and the stops.
m gvw is 8900 lbs and the rear springs are definitely all factory.
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