Anything like a fence stretcher? I bet you have one of those.
Front suspension ?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
Front suspension ?
My truck has started to bottom out on bumps, and today I noticed the inside edge of my 2 front tires are just starting to get a scalloped edge. Truck still goes straight down the road if you let go of the wheel, and no other symptoms that would make me think something else is going on. Shocks are Bilstein and maybe 6 months old.
These are the extra heavy service front springs from Ford. I guess the combination of the miles and the additional weight of the ranch hand finally took it's toll. I do tend to use my truck, and had to add air bags in the rear last year when the rear leafs started to sag, but I didn't think the front coils would do this.
Anyone else out there with a 4 x 2 that could snap a couple of pictures of their truck for comparison purposes? With Thanksgiving here, I won't be able to do anything over the long weekend, but I'd like to see what others look like so I don't keep worrying about this.
Here's my pics;
These are the extra heavy service front springs from Ford. I guess the combination of the miles and the additional weight of the ranch hand finally took it's toll. I do tend to use my truck, and had to add air bags in the rear last year when the rear leafs started to sag, but I didn't think the front coils would do this.
Anyone else out there with a 4 x 2 that could snap a couple of pictures of their truck for comparison purposes? With Thanksgiving here, I won't be able to do anything over the long weekend, but I'd like to see what others look like so I don't keep worrying about this.
Here's my pics;
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
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From: Utah County, UT
At first I was thinking your sway bar end links while reading, but those pictures clearly show what is going on. Mine is a 4x4 so no help here. I am curious to see where they are supposed to be.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,298
Likes: 25
From: Damon (South East Texas)
Ride Height
Looks like new springs are in order. These are the specs:
Curb Ride Height — F-250, 4x2
Front 110-124 mm
(4.3-4.9 in.)
Measured from the frame to I-beam. Looks like it is less than that on yours.
Curb Ride Height — F-250, 4x2
Front 110-124 mm
(4.3-4.9 in.)
Measured from the frame to I-beam. Looks like it is less than that on yours.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
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From: Texas
Gonna go measure now.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,298
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From: Damon (South East Texas)
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Damon (South East Texas)
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: St. Louis, Mo.
Chris - I dont know how to post pics( technically challenged) but on your last pic where you have about 1" I have 2-5/8", but I also have a 2" coil spring spacer. My spring overall measures right at 12" top to bottom. Dont know if this helps.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
From the pictures and dimensions Roland posted, it looks like mine is about 1" - 1.5" too low.
What's frustrating is I can't even call around to find new springs until probably Monday.
Thanks for the offer Rick, but I'm kind of in a hurry to get this fixed, and somehow I don't think you sitting in your truck punching that F5 switch will provide enough power to do much right now.
Maybe after Jody gets you the chip back, I could drop off the old springs and you could turn them into rebar for me.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
But mine are sagging, so I would have thought his would measure more than mine. I found new springs from Ford for $98 ea with the matching spring code. I guess I'll know for sure soon enough.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
Well I spent all morning going to 2 different spring shops who couldn't help (no aftermarket coils available as of yet I'm told) so I stopped by the Ford dealer and it turns out the Ford dealer 20 miles from me (2nd closest) had my springs in stock, as opposed to the places 60 miles away that I was looking at.
Turns out it took less time to change the springs than I spent driving around looking for them.
The good news is, the truck sits higher again, but still a 1/4" below spec. I'm guessing it's the ranch hand bumper up front doing this. Took it for a spin, and all seems well so far.
In case anyone else does this in the future, unbolting the front swaybar before lowering the front beam will let the spring fall out. The workshop manual didn't mention that, and if you don't unbolt it, the spring won't come out (or at least mine didn't).
Thanks to all who chimed in on this.
Turns out it took less time to change the springs than I spent driving around looking for them.
The good news is, the truck sits higher again, but still a 1/4" below spec. I'm guessing it's the ranch hand bumper up front doing this. Took it for a spin, and all seems well so far.In case anyone else does this in the future, unbolting the front swaybar before lowering the front beam will let the spring fall out. The workshop manual didn't mention that, and if you don't unbolt it, the spring won't come out (or at least mine didn't).
Thanks to all who chimed in on this.