Notices
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L) Diesel Topics Only

leaf springs

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 11, 2007 | 06:42 PM
  #1  
j tate's Avatar
j tate
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: houma, louisiana
leaf springs

i noticed on my truck that i was missing a leaf on one side. can someone tell me how many leafs came in the 350s? and can you buy different leaf packs with different numbers of leafs in them, other than taking them apart and adding more leafs.
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2007 | 07:38 PM
  #2  
brownieboy525's Avatar
brownieboy525
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
From: south jersey
i think stock they came with 5 leves not sure though. jc whitney has springs for our trucks. did you check out a spring shop around you?
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2007 | 08:16 PM
  #3  
j tate's Avatar
j tate
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: houma, louisiana
no not yet. when i get ready to change them im going to check into it a little bit more, just right now im asking some questions just to get a little familiar with it. thanks for the info.
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2007 | 10:29 PM
  #4  
Dave Sponaugle's Avatar
Dave Sponaugle
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Club FTE Silver Member

Five leaf main springs.

I had a set built with 7 leaf mains, running five leaf overloads on top of that.
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2007 | 11:52 PM
  #5  
powerstroke6ltr's Avatar
powerstroke6ltr
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
Front 2 rear 5.. Snow plow package gives 3 leafs up front and still 5 rear. You should call around to local shops, or hit up a salvage yard.
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2007 | 10:33 PM
  #6  
j tate's Avatar
j tate
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: houma, louisiana
thanks dave and power stroke for the info, yes im planning to look around at some junk yards and see if i can find a set in good shape. i would realy like to find a pair that has more leafs in it so i dont have to worry about the weight of my fifth wheel camper. the front of that camper is very heavy, i know it used to squat a 2002 f350 pretty good. so i would imagine it would squat mine to. i havent had a chance to really look at the springs yet to see how there put together, but i know on the chevys ive had in the past that we used to build our own set of springs by addind as many leafs as we wanted in them. can you do that with these?
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2007 | 10:41 PM
  #7  
powerstroke6ltr's Avatar
powerstroke6ltr
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
The springs are in packs and the u bolts are specific sizes as are the blocks for a certain amount of lift empty and sag full. You could do airbags... Adjustable, and you don't sacrifice ride empty... For a more level and stable ride loaded, I would fix the missing leaf and then add ride rite bags or equivelant.
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2007 | 11:38 PM
  #8  
David85's Avatar
David85
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Not sure, but I think the newer fords have longer springs that are intended to give a better ride when empty, but also make them more prone to sagging when loaded compared to older trucks. Five healthy springs may be all you really need.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 12, 2007 | 11:43 PM
  #9  
Dave Sponaugle's Avatar
Dave Sponaugle
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Club FTE Silver Member

All of the springs I have seen lately have a center bolt that has a big tapered head to center the axle.
Most spring builders cut the center bolt off so short you can not add a leaf.

It has been a couple years since I replaced the back main pack, it was only 300 dollars for both springs with two extra leaves at a local spring shop.

Front springs with two extra leaves each were 600 dollars last year.
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2007 | 08:38 AM
  #10  
powerstroke6ltr's Avatar
powerstroke6ltr
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
Longer leaf springs with similar characteristics in spring metal quality and thickness will under the same load exhibit more 'sag' because more torque is being applied to them. So if the newer F-series have longer leafs, (1999+) then the fact that the newer truck sags may not necessarily mean that your older truck will...
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bigdogca1966
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
5
Jan 23, 2017 09:00 PM
findre
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
4
Jul 20, 2016 12:29 PM
Davidp76006
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
5
Jan 17, 2016 07:03 PM
Obowersox26
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Aug 22, 2015 07:40 PM
V8 Andy
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Nov 16, 2005 09:51 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:28 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE