V/b spring confusion
 

Ok, first let me say that I have been reading up as much as possible on this swap over the last few days and I am still confused after reading all the diys and articles. There are alot of threads on the subject I know.

The question I have is when finding used springs will the springs off any 2000-2005 4x4 f250/350 work? I have two guys parting out f350's in my area but neither know the code off the springs and are unwilling or unable to look for me. The first is a 2003 f350 and the second a 2004 f350 FX4. I'm trying to get a good deal by letting them bid against each other I just want to know if both will work. Thanks! Btw I have a 2000 ex 4x4 limited. Just bought it on Saturday.

Offhand I'd say the FX4 ones would be better but I have no idea for sure. If they're local why not just swing by and look at the door jam sticker? Spring codes should be listed there IIRC.

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/images...code-tag-2.jpg

Yes you can use leaf springs off any 2000-05 F250 or F350 Super Duty 4x4. That's what the spring swap is all about. If you can't get the spring codes off the door pillar sticker, you're rolling the dice as to what you're going to get. Whatever the donor springs are, they won't the same as your X factory original springs. You'll probably have to install them, see how your X sits, and go from there.

The F350 blocks are quite handy if you can get them but you'll definitely have to do some work to raise the front more than just the donor spring.

Depends on what your lift goal is.

Also, make sure you read up on things like shocks and u-bolts.

Also what Matt said. No idea about FX4 springs.

The guy with the fx4 just told me that it was painted over. Thanks for the help guys, I guess I'll just go with who I can knock down in price the most. Wrxin, my main goal isn't necessarily to lift it, it's to help out with some of the wander that I'm getting. Gonna tighten the steering box tomorrow to see how that works. This site is awesome btw, so much information!

If you can get the vin I can tell you what was on the truck when built. Or, if you can look at the springs, the part number is near the spring eye. Either way I can tell you what the spring is.

Be careful with the steering box. It's very easy to over tighten it and it's not usually the cause of wandering. Before lifted our X I had the most luck improving steering with a new steering stabilizer, a good alignment and the right tire air pressure.

Excursion suspension
 

Also, I would definitely get the rear sway bar off one of those one tons. Even if your X has a rear sway bar, it's probably a 26mm one. The one ton bar is 30mm and will bolt to your existing hardware (or get the end links and all from the donor truck if your truck has none).
It made a huge difference on my 03 that came with none!

Thanks for the advice! Btw, how much is everyone paying for used springs?

Excursion suspension
 

I got mine from Pick n Pull on a 1/2 price weekend, so they were unbelievably cheap... 80 for springs and 12 for the rear sway bar. Tousley Ford has great prices for FTE members if you have to go new. CT Performance can get you dialed on everything to make the combination work together... Cary is the greatest!

$80 for all 4!??

Like I said, it was their 1/2 price weekend! I was amazed that they had a truck that had everything I was looking for that hadn't been picked over. Took me about 5 hours to wrestle it all out with hand tools; I took it all and ran!

I haven't had the coin to do it yet but I want to confirm what walt says, reach out to Cary at CT performance, he's got the whole thing dialed.

Also, 00-03 x has no sway bar at all!!!! what was the blue oval thinking!!! again, cary will cover that issue as well.

Somewhere in this forum it discusses how the blue oval due to marketing softened the suspension as compared to the F250 and lowered it so it would fit in most peoples garages, a serious dilemma for the weight you're driving, hence floaty, drifty = scary

Your on the right track. My local ford dealer quoted me $126 each for new v codes. At that price I cannot pass that up. So try the dealers first. The rears were quoted at $256 each. A tad pricy for me, as there is a local truck salvage yard that has 10 or 15 super duties. Rear sets are $75. So check local yards. If you are lucky you could pick up a rear away bar too.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post11346356

Here's the thread that covers it all, I can't wait to do this as the Mrs recently said sell the minivan I like the ex (we've owned it for 10 months now)

so my sig will say 97 f350 psd and 01 ex psd (no more sienna...yahoo)

I beg to differ. If you go to the tech folder sticky thread, that's the thread that covers it all. ;) :-X22

Click on the tech folder thread and scroll down to Suspension, Steering, Axles, Hubs, Driveline, etc and you'll have the links to all the suspension threads you could want, covering all the options other users have chosen.

Stewart

what mods have you made?
 

Thanks Stewart. Please let me clarify as CT's run down (authored by one of his customers, as I don't want to be seen as speaking for Cary either) I can only say Cary gives prompt response to inquiries and pricing seems very fair.

So Stewart what suspension mods have you made? Thanks again

Rich (White Buffalo) is the man who wrote up that thread. It's in the tech folder too, in the "compilation" link. ;)

There was an undercurrent of humor in my post above because the threads in the tech folder covers more than just one way to skin the proverbial cat called Excursion Wander and that tech folder thread really covers it all. :D

Cary was instrumental in helping all Excursion owners when he decided to go into business and sell a "one-stop kit" that fixed the Excursion Wander. :-jammin From all accounts, he provides excellent customer service.

It's listed in my sig. :-X22

Stewart

I got all 4 used F350 springs and the taller F350 blocks for $200.00. I was able to verify that they are V/S codes.

Both the guys want $300 for the springs and blocks. He's pulling them off though. Does this seem alright?

The price seems OK, but the problem is you really have no idea what you're getting... I would not buy something that you may have to buy again- after you've gone to the hassle of installing them to find out they're not what you want!
The V's and B's were spec'd because they lift but still ride well.
Buy well and buy once!:confused::confused:

The other thing is, mileage of those springs. If they're ancient, or have hard miles (heavy loads, towing, plowing); they're not what they once were in regards to rating.
IMHO,There are a lot of these trucks out there and most folks who want to sell will go to the trouble of giving you the code off the door so you know what you're buying. Good luck!

Curjo,

If you're going to buy mystery springs, I'd first review all the possible springs codes for the donor truck. For example, the front could be V or X. X was part of a snow plow package. I don't think X code raises the front any more than a V but presumably it will ride a bit harder. There are more possibilities for the rear.

You can always buy springs, install them, see how your X sits and rides, or you can follow what some has done to get a predictable outcome.

I'm a good example. I used "modded" S rear springs (very similar to Bs) and then added the F350 blocks. I knew the front would be too low with just the V because of the F350 blocks, so I added 2" lift shackles. That wasn't enough so I added Skyjacker add-a-leafs to the front. The result was a perfectly level X. I didn't want the factory "lean" and I knew I wanted 35" tires on stock rims.

After all that, I had to get hub centric wheel spacers because the front tires were robbing on the leaf springs near steering lock in either direction. I like the look with the spacers too.

So its all up to you and I don't blame you for looking for the least expensive option.

Just to clarify, the S code is a B spring. I have no idea why Ford called it different but S and B share the same part number.

Yep. I didn't want to confuse things more. :) If the OP is able to send you a VIN number and accept your gracious offer for help, we might get somewhere.

Hope so, I can also figure from part numbers if he gets that far (or anyone else).

I've asked the sellers for the information again and hopefully they get back to me with it or I may just have to keep looking. I'm going to have to call some junkyards around and see if anyone has them.

It's very rare to find a super duty at a junk yard. Where I live, in colorado, dismantlerers get the super duties and part them out and charge $500 for a set of leaf springs. I have seen 1 super duty in a junk yard. It was 2-wheel drive and picked apart the day it arrived. It took me 2 years to find the set I got from a semi truck dealership that was parting out an F350. Honestly, good luck! :)

Ok so I can't post a pic from my phone but the front spring numbers are: F81Z-5B311-AA.

Google says that's a shackle not a spring.

My info says that part number is a front spring shackle.

The picture he sent sure looks like the bottom of a spring.

Where should he be looking on the spring? The rear pack is 11 leaves.

Goodness, 11 leaves? Doesn't sound stock. Did you ask if the donor truck was lifted or stock?

The numbers are stamped on the springs at an end. From my experience the stamped numbers are not reliable but I think RobRoss has a special way of looking them up.

Ok the fronts are 2C34 ADB and underneath that is 225 2

Rears are R 234 2
2C75 GB

Surprise surprise! That is a V code spring.

For reference,

1C34 5310 AAA = 2C34 5310 AAB = S
1C34 5310 ABA = 2C34 5310 ABB = T
1C34 5310 ACA = 2C34 5310 ACB = U
1C34 5310 ADA = 2C34 5310 ADB = V
1C34 5310 AEA = 2C34 5310 AEA = W
1C34 5310 AFA = 2C34 5310 AFA = X

5310 is the base part number for a front spring and usually that is left off which is what you saw.

Thanks!! Any idea about the rears? They are stamped ford so they're not aftermarket.

sorry, I missed that. I don't recognize "2C75", is it 2C34 or 2C3Z?

Nope it definitely says 2C75. I'll post the pics when I get home.

here are the pictures hopefully they aren't too big.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...2e8f51266.jpeg


rear leaf spring


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...c0921c85f.jpeg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...58ffafd93.jpeg