2004 f250
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2004 f250
Looking at getting a 04' F250. Just noticed that 2000-2004 had leaf springs for front suspension. Not having dealt with leaf springs too much what kind of difference will i see in the ride, handling etc.?
the truck has a 8" lift with 37" tires.
what are my main differences in coil versus leaf?
thanks all
the truck has a 8" lift with 37" tires.
what are my main differences in coil versus leaf?
thanks all
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Washington State
Coils have no sideways strength and require various links to keep the axle positioned. Hence, links underneath (limit front to back movement) and usually a panhard type rod (limits side to side movement) on top.
Leafs can locate the axle on all planes but can give up sideways strength. They also can limit turning radius as the wheel has to be stopped prior to it hitting the leaf spring. No such issue with a coil sprung truck.
Typically coils will run a bit smoother & controlled but it all depends on the rating of the springs & the dampening of the shocks.
Leafs can locate the axle on all planes but can give up sideways strength. They also can limit turning radius as the wheel has to be stopped prior to it hitting the leaf spring. No such issue with a coil sprung truck.
Typically coils will run a bit smoother & controlled but it all depends on the rating of the springs & the dampening of the shocks.
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From: Spring Lake
Leaf spring front ends tend to be cheaper to lift as well. I believe turning radious and ride quality were the main reasons however I could be wrong.
Personally I prefer the leaf springs as they are much simpler and quite durable. Like coil springs, they still hop in low traction conditions and in all reality I wouldn't let the spring type make or break your choosing of a SD.
As you see on other threds however, the steering stabilizer is much more fuctional (stock of course) on the leaf spring models and the coil spring models really can use a dual-stabilizer.
Personally I prefer the leaf springs as they are much simpler and quite durable. Like coil springs, they still hop in low traction conditions and in all reality I wouldn't let the spring type make or break your choosing of a SD.
As you see on other threds however, the steering stabilizer is much more fuctional (stock of course) on the leaf spring models and the coil spring models really can use a dual-stabilizer.
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well i guess you were kinda getting at what i was looking for....is this a deal breaker...my problem is i havent experienced this kind of front end so i want to hear it from the mouths of ones who know
the 04's had 6.0L right?
the 04's had 6.0L right?
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From: Spring Lake
I believe 04 had 6.0's and 7.3's (maybe that was 03) someone will jump in and correct me there. The leaf spring front end is very primative and most of the first 4x4 trucks used it. Ancient and reliable... but yeah, i'd be more skeptical of a 6.0 voodoo engine than of leaf spring fronts.
Hell, my 04 has 146,500 on the factory shocks! ya cant tell until you hit terrible roads either... THANK YOU LEAF SPRINGS
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first i heard of voodoo 6.0L....my dad has had a few 350's with 6.0 and no probs....id like a little insight
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From: Lubbock
With lots of miles the coil sprung suspension will get what is called death wobble. It is more severe in short wheel base vehicles and trucks that don't have correct steering geometry... Ie lift kits where the fron track bar and the draglink are not in the same plane. Both types of suspensions can be really rough both can be very smooth. The reason I would think ford went to coils is turning radius and probably cost. The leaf spring suspension I think has less long term problems. Both are cheaper than a ifs to lift. All in all they are pretty comparable a frind of mine had a 02 with 8" of lift and it rode and drove great would have never guessed that I could have been that easy to drive being on 38x15.5x16 mud tires
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From: Spring Lake
My biased opinion is get an 04 V10. 03's and older have plug problems and the 3 valve v10's are overly complicated. By which i mean you cannot hack out the cat at will and weld a piece of pipe in place of it, and throttle by wire just seems like a retarded concept from a simplicity standpoint.
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all great info...anything particular with the 6.0? turbo, inj., etc. or just a random list of probelms. but i guess every engine made no matter who or what size always has problems and a list of people that hate/love them.
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From: Spring Lake
I had a 7.3L, personally i;m gonna have to respectfully disagree with the 'list of problems' around that engine... it was gthe best thing ever. I just couldn;t kill it (my crazy ex did tho, 1 hour of driving at redline burnt the valves and turbo out). That engine seems to have a cult like following, the only major flaw is that motor dont run nearly as fast or powerful as the 6.0 once ya get building them
Cargo Master
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From: Lubbock
On any 6.0 get a oasis report. You can get it here on this site or at a ford dealership. This will tell you what ford has done to this truck under warranty. If it is clean or had little wrong with it then great if the truck has a checkerd past walk away
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From: Spring Lake
Post some pics, it sounds like it'll be a sweet ride. If it treats you half as well as my truck has treated me you'll love it and cherish it forever.