My other half has said I really should do something about the ride on our 97 F-250HD 4x4. I have noticed that the spring to snubber distance on the front is only about an inch. What made me look was that there appeared to be a bit of neg camber so I took a peek at the springs. Shouldn't there be more than an inch? And if I install new springs what can I expect the new spring/snubber travel to be?

If the fronts are sagging can I assume the rears are as well... to a point? My factory overloads in the rear are about an inch to and inch and a half from the pads. In fact, one side is about a half inch closer than the other.

I figured if I had worn springs then I could start on a fresh playing field to achieve the best possible ride I can with what there is to offer.

If I go with a 2.5" lift that would give me more clearance thus more spring travel but would it give me a better ride?

If I could just ride around with 1000# in the bed every day she'd be happy!

Oh, one more question:
Were all 97 F-250 diesels considered "Heavy Duty"?


Oh, so many questions.......

 

all 97 old body were heavy duty, cause there is a 97 f-250 light duty which is nothing more than a new body f-150 with a higher ride height.
the 2.5 inch lift is nothing more than add a leafs to your worn out pack, even if you put new factorys up ft and then added the 2.5 lift it would ride horrible, if you considered a 2.5 then go an extra 1.5 and get a 4 inch ALL SPRING lift, it will ride like a dream, you can still tow as much as you like but the ride is incredible compared to stock.
the rear lean isnt uncommon on these trucks. the 4 inch would fix it, but what you have sounds about right, maybee a little low but not bad, the facotry helpers usually touch the pads after about 1000 to 1500 goes in the bed.

 

Ok, now that brings up new questions.

As I understand it, the new springs (at all 4 corners) will ride nothing like my original set-up - and I'll have the same load rating? Will it sag farther with the same weight or is it comparable?

Will I need to go with different wheels and tires? Will my originals look out of place?

Are other suspension componants needed with the lift to get my alignment in specs? Steering column....? Drive shaft angles/lengths...?

And is the ride really THAT much better? I'm interested!

 

i'm sure other people on here have lifted trucks,they are bound to chime in. i have a skyjacker 6-inch all spring lift, no blocks added, they have the same kit in 4-inch, it costs a little more than a rear block lift but the ride is worth it. for our 250's they come with the i-beam drop bracket and the only other change is a drop pitman arm, but call your lift kit co. they useually send everything, my kit was complete all hardware too.
driveshafts stay steering shaft stays, its ft and rear springs, pitman arm, i-beam brackets, u-bolts, sway bar links, i think thats all you change.
the exact load rating i'm not 100% sure about, my springs are progressive rate, it takes bumps awesome but when you load it down it only sags to a point then the leaf packs are stiff and it tows great, i noticed no difference in the way it drives from stock to lifted with a load, i dont even have sway bars on mine, it leans a little if you take turns really fast but not bad at all, very drivable handles excellent.
with my car trailer loaded with 4200 lbs of 69 charger the rear still sits a little higher then the ft just enough to be noticable but almost level, i'd compare it to pretty even to the way it sat stock. no sway when towing no bounce
i still have stock rims on mine, i am running 315\75\16's, they look right for the truck, if you have 235\85's it wont look right, the 265\75's maybe but most guys with a 4 inch run 305\70\16's the equivalent to a 33\12.5 they look really good on that set-up
i dont know how to show you the ride difference but if you live near me come take it for a spin, that goes for anybody else as well (applies to the shiftkit too)
one more thing, if you have an extended or crew cab you may have to shim your carrier bearing if it shudders on hard take off, its easy to do, drop the 2 15mm bolts out and toss a 1\4 inch hunkof metal in there and bolt it back up, 20 minute job
if you want detailed pics of my set-up i can snap photos tomarrow after work

 

http://skyjacker.com/products-search...number=F840TKS
above is what you want, below is what you dont want
http://skyjacker.com/products-search...tnumber=F840TK

there is the better kits further down in there page that come with the pitman arm too and sway bar links, but these 2 showed the spring vs block kit with the same picture set-up, idealy you want the f2841tks-a

 

When you have the time that would be very helpful and appreciated. Thank you.

I, too, haul a car trailer with my 65 Mustang fastback but I need the load carrying ability for a fifth wheel RV, also. This set up has me thinking there might just be an answer to my wife not being able to have a drink in the truck... not because it's too rough for the cup holder, but because her hands are busy taking up the slack where her support bra falls short! Kinda painful for her sometimes.

I see there's a dealer nearby so I'll be giving them a call in the morning.

Thanks, again, for all the info. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

i'll take a bunch of pics after work and post 'em, your best bet is to call skyjacker and tell them what you are hauling and let them tell you what they have to fit your needs, they are pretty good in their tech support dept.

 

i'll take a bunch of pics after work and post 'em, your best bet is to call skyjacker and tell them what you are hauling and let them tell you what they have to fit your needs, they are pretty good in their tech support dept. i can gurantee no problems towing with your reciever hitch but i'm unsure the spring rating for a 5th wheel, but i've hauled full truckloads of sand with no problems so i cant see the 5th wheel being any worse? what weight are you looking at? 1000 lbs or so? if it aint much more i'd say your fine but give them a call they can tell for sure

 

We haven't purchased the 5'er yet, but depending on what "she" likes it could have more than 1000# pin weight. Ride height of the truck could be a factor when choosing a 5'er, too.


I'll call tech support before I call the local guys in the morning.

Thanks, again!

Past you bed time, isn't it?! I know it's past mine.

 

i told myself i was goin to bed at 11

 

Looks like you blew that outta the water!

Give me a few minutes to log off before anymore replies. It's hard enough to pull myself away from this thing!

 

i am fashionably late

 

It is OK to stay on hear late. Sleep is overrated anyway.

 

right, but when i have to get up for work in 5 hours to go handle multi million dollar prototype army vehicles i think its time for me to head off to bed, i'll check in tomarrow evening, have fun tonite boys

 

I called a few places today before calling Skyjacker and was told Skyjacker and Tuff Country are two of the softest riding systems out there (of course they handled both).


I then called Skyjacker and they confirmed that the F840TKS was the system best suited to my needs with H7041 & H7060 shocks. It runs progressive rate springs and has a load capacity within 10% of the original equipment. Just how far the springs settle compared to an equal amount on the originals they couldn't say. I suppose I can always run a set of overloads if it settles farther than I like. So far I'm ok with what I've heard, now the only thing is to actually see the 4" lift with stock and non stock tires.