Front Springs Question for 96 F-250/Diesel
 

First the story:

I just picked up a used '96 F-250/Diesel. Drove it from Monterey, CA to Oregon, where I live. I noticed the steering was sloppy as heck and that it rode like it was a rigid frame Harley. (I had to check to see if my teeth were loose when I got home, 700 miles later.)

I bought the truck with a clear California title to it but when I went to register it in Oregon, I found it was totaled and carries a "Reconstructed" title. (I had first been sold in Oregon). Since it had a clean title I assumed—don't say it, I know!— it was, in fact a clean truck. No Carfax needed. WRONG!)

Anyway, I ordered an all new tie rod setup to solve the problem of the steering, but I also checked the front leaf springs against a neighbor's '95 F-250/Diesel. His truck has 5 leafs about 5/16" in thickness. Mine has 3 very thick (maybe 1/2" in thickness") ones. I'm thinking they may be off of an F-350.

My question: Was there a change in front springs from '95 to '96?

It's looking more and more like I have additional work to do to get this truck the way it should be.

The lesson: There exists a thing called "title washing" which is what I was a victim of. I could have avoided it all if I had checked with Carfax before I bought it. IOW, a clean title is not necessarily a clean title.

Damn sorry to hear about that, that's a terrible situation to be in. Hopefully I can help a little

All the F250 front springs were a 2 leaf, full taper leaf spring. There were a few different 2 leaf options with different arches and weight capacities but all were a two leaf, full taper. If you have three then someone either added another leaf or installed a heavy duty setup. The F350 leafs springs were similar looking but different in the makeup because they are for a straight axle so less weight capacities and different arches.

Your buddy's truck has maybe a lift spring in the front? Definitely something that wasn't factory.

Thanks, ATS, Jr. So, considering that the only really hard work I expect that truck to do is towing a 3400-4000 pound travel trailer, what weight of spring would be the best for a smooth ride but sufficient for the truck's job? (I checked you website and will probably wind up buying from you. Maybe you could suggest a Part no./SKU?)

Bob

I would at least match what your truck was equipped with from factory. Best way to determine that is to supply me with your trucks "Spring Code".

Open up your drivers side door and find the VIN sticker. Bottom right hand corner of the sticker it will say Spring or SPR. Directly under that will be the code.

Let me know what you come up with!

The code is Q4A....

Here is just the leaf spring:

Ford F250 Truck 4wd Leaf Spring, Ford F250 Truck 4wd Leaf Spring Over 8500 Lbs, Ford F350 Truck 4wd Leaf Spring, Front

And here is an entire kit. The kit will give you all the hardware and shackles to take all your old stuff off and start new, we sell a lot of both options but more kits because you don't have to worry about finding other parts:

Ford F250, Ford F350 Complete Front Leaf Spring Assembly Kit**SHIPPING COST FOR LEAF SPRINGS ONLY**

Well, that's curious.

The spring you suggest and which presumably was used in the truck's manufacture looks a lot like the spring currently on the truck (IOW, has current spring has three thick leaves to it.) If they are one in the same, then my complaint about how it rides is just how the truck was built.

Even in a front end collision, I wonder if any damage would be such that a new set of springs would be required in the reconstruction. The OEM spring calls for a >8500 pound spring. Can I step down to a softer spring, something that would give me a smoother ride?

Then again, I'm now wondering what role the shocks may play in this whole thing. Do you think I might/should start with replacing the shocks before I go out and buy springs?

These leafs are two leafs, not three.

Okay, it looks like I have my nomenclature wrong: two leaves and a 3rd "something or other" beneath the two leaves. I don't know the name for it. But the pictures on your web site look pretty much like the springs pictured here, which I took a few moments ago. The shock is a heavy duty one sold by Les Schwab called "Mountain Ryder XT" which may be for off road driving.

I'm thinking the best place to start is by replacing the shocks. If that doesn't soften the ride, than I'll go to the springs.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...295173d66c.jpg

Left side


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...89e3dfaffe.jpg

Right side

It may be the shocks but that third leaf someone added which is making the ride so harsh. You could even try and take that bottom leaf out and see how it works out and feels. Guy before you may have put that in there because he needed more capacity or the springs were getting weak and he needed a quick fix.

The spring bushing is shot on the left side (1st pic, post 9), that won't help the ride any.

Yeah, that bushing looks like it could be "metal on metal". If you don't replace the springs with new (which I assume would also get you new bushings), you've GOT to replace those bushings.