Replacing front shocks with plowing in mind
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Replacing front shocks with plowing in mind
I have a 2000 250 PSD Crew cab and a Curtis plow. THe truck does OK with the plow and seems to handle it OK, but the suspension looks like it could use an update. I am wondering if there are any recommendations on Heavy Duty Shocks that will do well in these conditions.
Thanks
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
what kind of thing to you want to keep from happening? if your concerned with handling the extra weight of the plow then shocks aren't your answer. just wondering cause you did say what had a problem with.
hoping to help
tjbeggs
hoping to help
tjbeggs
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Chester County, PA
If you want the front suspension to handle the weight easier when the plow is on you could do one of the following:
1 - Change front springs to a heavier rated spring
2 - Add a leaf to the existing front springs
3 - Add either Timbrens or air assist springs(Air Lift's or Firestone Ride-Rites)
Ading the air assists is the most flexible addition. Add air when the plow is on and reduce air to minimum without plow.
Just my $0.02..........
1 - Change front springs to a heavier rated spring
2 - Add a leaf to the existing front springs
3 - Add either Timbrens or air assist springs(Air Lift's or Firestone Ride-Rites)
Ading the air assists is the most flexible addition. Add air when the plow is on and reduce air to minimum without plow.
Just my $0.02..........
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Joined: Jul 2004
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When replacing shocks,both front and rear, do I need to jack truck up to get weight off wheels, or just leave it on ground? I loosened nuts on my rears but the bottom bolt/bushing assembly would not come out.I tried tapping with plastic mallet, but it won't budge even after a couple of coats of penetraing oil.What next?
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What was bothering me was how low the front drops when the plow is on. The truck handles great, and if I had a salter or a pallet of salt in the back, it would ride level, but I was just looking to improve how the front end handled the extra weight. Also, as the truck has 140K on it and is second hand, I was planning to replace the shocks as part of maintenance, and wanted to try and put the heaviest duty replacements on. The airshocks sound like a pretty good option, but how do they compare to a heavy duty standard design?
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From: Chester County, PA
The air lift springs and the Firestone Ride-rites are supplemental to your leaf springs, not an air shock. You would add air to the system when the plow is on to assist the front leaf springs handle the additional weight. They also make these units for the rear suspension. Several friends have them on their trucks and the front ends barely drop with the plow as well as the rear ends hardly drop when loaded with a pallet of salt.
Firestone Ride-Rites
Air Lift Springs
Shocks will not help with the load handling of the front springs ie. the front end droop with the plow on and raised. In fact you could destroy a good shock if you're overloading the front springs with too much weight.
Remember no matter what you do to "beef up" the suspension it doesn't increase the GVWR of the vehicle.
Firestone Ride-Rites
Air Lift Springs
Shocks will not help with the load handling of the front springs ie. the front end droop with the plow on and raised. In fact you could destroy a good shock if you're overloading the front springs with too much weight.
Remember no matter what you do to "beef up" the suspension it doesn't increase the GVWR of the vehicle.
Last edited by FF-Paramedic; Aug 4, 2004 at 01:22 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
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From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
paramedic is correct. shock though they may need to be replaced they won't pick the front end up. and air shocks are cheaper but you risk the possiblility of breaking the mounts since they aren't designed to handle the weight. air bags are your best bet. a friend of mine had some on his truck with his plow and they worked good if you have on board air they are even better. he took them off since he is selling the plow and put a leveling kit on the truck. he is looking to sell the bags.
hope this helps
tjbeggs
hope this helps
tjbeggs
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Michigan
what type of plow do you have?? each plow manufacturer has a different amount of weight they recomend putting in your bed. i went to the local scrap yard and bought some chunks of steel, welded on some brackets and bolt them to my bed in the winter. total about 900 lbs, with about 150-200 in salt and it helps level my truck out. without the weight the rear of my truck is all jacked up and the front sags down.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
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From: Lyndonville, Vermont
Originally Posted by cahook
What was bothering me was how low the front drops when the plow is on. The truck handles great, and if I had a salter or a pallet of salt in the back, it would ride level, but I was just looking to improve how the front end handled the extra weight. Also, as the truck has 140K on it and is second hand, I was planning to replace the shocks as part of maintenance, and wanted to try and put the heaviest duty replacements on. The airshocks sound like a pretty good option, but how do they compare to a heavy duty standard design?
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Thanks for the extra information. And I appreciate the warning, I am keeping within the limitations of the Truck, but it's the drop that I want to get rid of. So I based on a lot of recommendations, the firestones look like a good buy.
The information I saw about the firestone equipment for the rear looked like it requires a compressor and airtanks, if I beef it up a little, that would play right into my plans to add airhorns (really big ones)
-C
The information I saw about the firestone equipment for the rear looked like it requires a compressor and airtanks, if I beef it up a little, that would play right into my plans to add airhorns (really big ones)
-C
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Michigan
if you think your truck drops when you lift your plow just watch a chevy, the front goes to the bump stop. 
the cheapest route will be timbrens. easy on and off so you can remove them for the summer. i plan on getting some x springs for this winter.
the cheapest route will be timbrens. easy on and off so you can remove them for the summer. i plan on getting some x springs for this winter.