Highboy suspension upgrade

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Feb 7, 2025 | 11:15 PM

Jgrove762

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Nov 2023

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Highboy suspension upgrade

Hi there wondering if there is any way to improve ride quality of my 74 f250 without doing a coil over super duty conversion? I see skyjacker makes some lifts kits that supposedly have a smoother ride quality. If there’s any aftermarket springs that ride better I’m interested.

Feb 7, 2025 | 11:44 PM

77&79F250

Moderator & parts slinger

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 50,189

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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county

Sorry to say not really, here is the normal places that carry lift kits. https://www.rockymountainsusp.com/li...0/1966-79.html

Deaver Suspension might be able to build you a custom and better riding set. https://deaverspring.com/

Have you seen this? https://www.battlebornbrakes.com/f26b

Remember that your HB has 2 1/4 wide rear leaf springs.

Feb 7, 2025 | 11:56 PM

maddogjohnson

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jan 2012

Posts: 887

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From: Santa Clarita

I have the skyjacker 4" lift springs and shocks. Still a pretty rough ride and not worth the money if your goal is to get a smoother ride IMO.

Feb 8, 2025 | 12:56 AM

maddogjohnson

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jan 2012

Posts: 887

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From: Santa Clarita

This thread (posts 4 & 5) talks about non-coil over suoerduty front + rear 64" chevy springs as an option. I've never tried these options so I don't have first hand experience to tell you what the ride is like compared to stock or skyjacker.

Feb 8, 2025 | 04:35 AM

Mark8man

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Joined: Feb 2011

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While Highboy's had the chuckwagon ride even when new, it will get worse with 40 year old rusty springs. In order to flex, the tightly packed leaves essentialy have to slide on each other. Too much friction and they won't slide unless under heavy load. For many years I've used a 40/60 mixture of offroad diesel and hydraulic oil and soak/spray the springs every so often. This will seep/creep in between the leaves reducing friction and softening the ride. Granted it won't make a great difference, but it does help. That and radial tires at minimum inflation (when not loaded) also makes a difference. Just me but I'm more a traditionlist and wouldn't want a Highboy that didn't ride like one. Changing it would be like making a bull into a steer.

Feb 8, 2025 | 12:20 PM

tbear853

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Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 10,808

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From: The Shenandoah Valley

You don'tneed lift to get smoother, you just maybe need softer shocks ... and lighter tire / wheel combos can reduce un-sprung weight that also result in softer ride. Maybe just not run max load carrying weight tire pressures? Just pump them up for work.

As stated above, lubricating spring leaves to reduce friction will go a long way towards smoother operation, and I've seen leafe springs greased then wrapped with a clot like tape I guess to preserve the grease? There are even thin materials (like nylon, polyurethane, etc.) you can cut to make pads to inert between leaf ends that car makers used under cars but hardly ever under trucks. I once used 1/8" aluminum sheet cut on a bandsaw, but it wears where things like pieces cut from old used bedliner pieces seem to last longer. Got any old Tupperware? Don't need to do much more than jack the truck up by the frame, let the axle hang, and insert 5 or 6" long strips in leaf ends.

Feb 8, 2025 | 06:11 PM

stpackard

Tuned

Joined: Sep 2015

Posts: 484

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From: Lincoln, Nebraska

I have the 99-04 superduty front swing swap. Seems to run smoother. I took my leaf packs apart, wire wheeled and degreased, then painted slip plate. It dries hard and is graphite based. In my mind it seems to drive smoother, should allow the leaves to move a bit more on each other. If you load her down or move a fuel tank to the rear that would smooth it out too. I run my tires at 50 front 45 rear psi.