Suspension Help - Leaf Springs

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Apr 20, 2006 | 01:47 PM

jasonhoodenpyle

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Suspension Help - Leaf Springs

Hi guys,

I have a 98F150 4.6l and I tow a camper that wieghs about 3500lbs. I get a little sag but no big deal. I do have a load equalizer and sway control as well. My thing is I just got a 4wheeler that weighs around 500lbs. I am getting a bit of sag, similiar to what I have with my camper. However this summer I will be carrying the 4wheeler in the bed and towing the camper. I am worried that I will be sagging too much.

Should I add a leaf spring? I figured it would at least counteract for the weight of the 4wheeler. Right? If I did this how much more load should I expect to be able to carry by having an extra spring? Is the a job you would reccomend a person or a shop to do? shop wants around $150 in labor to do it. One added thing, I notice one of the right rear leaf springs is mis-aligned. What should I do with it? Hammer it back in or what?

Thanks in advance,
Jason

Apr 20, 2006 | 02:06 PM

ivanribic

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From: Spokane, WA

My personal preference for a truck that hauls loads is to add airbags. They're inexpensive, easy to install and won't affect your ride when the truck is not loaded. Extra leaves/add-a-leaf often makes the ride a fair amount rougher. JW Whitney sells the airbag kits as well as a lot of online stores and ebay. Depending on the tools you have at your disposal you will probably be able to install them yourself.

Apr 20, 2006 | 03:53 PM

KubotaOrange76

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Joined: Feb 2005

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From: GA

just make sure you dont go crazy pumping them up...i have heard stories of fram cracking from people more than leveling their truck out with the bags and a ton of weight. this puts alot of stress in the middle of teh springs between the two leaf mounts...

i would run bags, jsut be careful

Apr 23, 2006 | 04:57 PM

mattd17

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Dec 2004

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From: Ketchikan, AK.

if you dont want airbags, you could also just get some overload "helper" springs.... they just bolt right on, and you can get them for different weight ranges. fairly cheap too. normal hand tools to put them on, and will take less than an hour for both sides. i wouldnt pay someone for that !!!

Apr 23, 2006 | 07:55 PM

stryder

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Joined: Jul 2000

Posts: 1,493

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From: SE Iowa

Try the local salvage yards. They may care 3" wide springs from F250s that will give your truck the added capacity needed. They may even carry factory overload springs. Around here used 5 leaf packs go for $150 for both. The overloads sell for $80.

Stryder

Apr 24, 2006 | 08:16 AM

jasonhoodenpyle

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Well my local leaf spring shop will sell a set for $70, a set of singles. Not sure if they are overload or if they are just an additional spring. That was what I was originally going to do. I figure that would be a cheap way to go with new ubolts I would still be less than $100 for the job. What additional weight could I carry by adding a leaf spring to each side?

Also what about the alignment of my rear left spring. It's slightly out a bit in an angle. What should I do? Take a hammer to it?

-Jason

Apr 24, 2006 | 06:23 PM

stryder

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jul 2000

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From: SE Iowa

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonhoodenpyle

Also what about the alignment of my rear left spring. It's slightly out a bit in an angle. What should I do? Take a hammer to it?

-Jason

Sorry forgot to address that. Loosen the ubolts a little and hammer back in place. Preferably a hard plastic deadblow type hammer, but a sledge will work as well. Once its lined up, torque the ublots back down.

Stryder

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Apr 25, 2006 | 11:37 AM

jasonhoodenpyle

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So what is really the difference between me adding one additional spring to my setup than to bolt on a helper spring? Also I checked out the helper springs at JcWhitney and they say they fit springs up to 2 1/2 inches. Don't we have 3inch springs on the F150. Anyway I am a bit undecided on this. I would like to just put one additional spring on with new u-bolts, but lots of people say this will change my ride to be stiffer. Really, will it drastically change it where I won't like it? I figure it would be a little stiffer in the back but the front should stay the same.

What's your thoughts on driveablity?

BTW, I will try and hammer in the spring. However, I heard once you loosen the ubolts you need to replace them, so I will just try hammering them in. If that doesn't work then I will wait and fix that after I add a spring. I suppose I will need some type of metal strap to keep the springs from shifting again.

-Jason