Leaf Spring?
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 33
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From: Irvine, CA
Leaf Spring?
My truck has an extended cab and a long bed so I know it will bouce a little more than normal but I have tried numerous types of shocks and I can not get it to ride smooth. I have over 350,000 miles on my truck and I am fairly sure I have the orginal springs on it. Do they go bad and if so should I buy new ones or get my old ones rearced. Will this help at all. I have the rancho 9000 series shocks and no matter what setting the shocks are on they dont seem to be able to slow my spring rate down. Any ideas?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
What's your definition of "smooth"? There's nothing you can do to a truck to make it ride like a Lincoln. And the condition of the rubber bump stops and suspension bushings will also affect the ride quality. If for example the front radius arm bushings are shot you may get a bang on every bump... and shocks and springs will have no effect on this.
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 33
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From: Irvine, CA
Thankyou for the info, I know how to change out leaf spring bushings and Im sure I need to do that. As for the front radius arm bushings do I need any specialty tools for that? As far as how smooth do I want it. I would like to loose the feeling that my truck is going to loose parts going down the freeway, When im driving on the freeway id like to be smooth as the other trucks i guess. There is not way for me to word it but I understand what yours saying.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Quesnel, BC, Canada
Originally Posted by Conanski
What's your definition of "smooth"? There's nothing you can do to a truck to make it ride like a Lincoln.
rear air ride, front and rear discs, 4.6L 
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Originally Posted by pud
not true! lol theres a guy on this site sticking an old truck body on a '93 grand marquis chassis...mercury I know, but the same chassis as a licoln town car rear air ride, front and rear discs, 4.6L
rear air ride, front and rear discs, 4.6L 
These trucks were not known for thier ride quality, especially once you get into the heavy duty trucks. The newer trucks use substantially longer leaf springs in the rear, and this apparently makes a significant improvement in unloaded ride quality without hurting total cargo capacity.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
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with 350,000 miles, its going to be a good idea to just replace the leafs. Just as much work putting new bushings in.
Coils can get old too.
Radius arm bushings arent the easiest, but you can do it. Take the coil and shocks out, pull the arms out of the radius arm brackets.
Some other things you might want to look into thats giving you a rough ride
ball joints. If they are bad, your tires will sit like /---\. They will also have a memory steer, which when your going around the corner, and your wheel doesnt go back to straight by its self
camber bushings
tie rod ends
axle pivot bushings(with my lfit and 33's, when i go over bumps, you can feel and hear the play)
coils
shocks
Coils can get old too.
Radius arm bushings arent the easiest, but you can do it. Take the coil and shocks out, pull the arms out of the radius arm brackets.
Some other things you might want to look into thats giving you a rough ride
ball joints. If they are bad, your tires will sit like /---\. They will also have a memory steer, which when your going around the corner, and your wheel doesnt go back to straight by its self
camber bushings
tie rod ends
axle pivot bushings(with my lfit and 33's, when i go over bumps, you can feel and hear the play)
coils
shocks
