Rear spring swap for softer ride

[351FUN]

So I'm looking to soften the ride on my truck, it's setup from the factory to haul but it hasn't pulled a horse trailer in over a decade. I do not and will not be towing or hauling anything with it, load capacity can be completely dismissed here. I know most of the ride harshness is from the rear springs and I'd like to know if there are any light duty springs that would fit and soften the ride, possibly F150 springs? I found these but they're suspiciously cheap. Truck is a 1983 F250 4×4 with the 5 leaf packs.

[Gary Lewis]

I had a 7-leaf pack and pulled out 2 of them.  It dramatically improved the ride, but also lowered the truck by 2", so I put a 4" F350 pair of blocks in to replace the 2" F250 blocks.

Give it a try as it won't cost anything.

[351FUN]

Problem is I don't have the space to do something like that, the truck is too big to hide in my garage and I know I won't get away with something that big in my apartment parking lot.  The less trial and error the better, since I'll have to pay someone to do it.  

I really just need to find a place to work on things.  

[Gary Lewis]

Oh.  Ok.

Yes, it was a lot of work.  The u-bolts have to come off, the truck has to be held up, and the springs are heavy.

[85lebaront2]

It's not too bad with the bed off .


Part of it is the 133" wheelbase does make it more noticeable. As built Gary's Big Blue and my Darth Vader had identical rear springs. BB rode like a buckboard according to Gary's description, Darth, rough road, the rear does get rough, but Darth's front, being a 2WD uses coil springs, so is much softer even though it is a 3900 lb rated axle (twin I-beams), rear is 7400 lbs, and the duals will hop on bumps.

[351FUN]

There's a really bad section of road just as you turn into my apartment, I paid attention to it last night and the front going over it wasn't bad but when the back hit?  Different story.  I have hit my head on the ceiling more than once at my old house going down the driveway if I forgot to put my seatbelt on.

It's good to hear that worked though Gary, makes me know it can get better.  I do remember when I had it apart for the traction bar thinking I hope I never mess with these springs ever again.  This may have to go on the back burner until I have more space again, I don't think I even have a jack out here that I could use for this.  

[Gsmblue]

Not a long term solution, but in the short term, throw some sand bags back there? I do that in my 350 and it makes a big difference.

[JimJam300]

351FUN wrote

I found these but they're suspiciously cheap.

I got my springs from here. They slap a label on the springs and ship them without a box. Otherwise they appear to be acceptable quality. There are 1650 lb springs for the F-150 as well if you want middle ground.

[351FUN]

Good to know it's a legit site, thanks.  I may try the sandbag trick for now until I decide on something.

[mat in tn]

he stole my thunder. I was about to say put some thing in it. 350-500 lbs tames these trucks down well. that use to be a few tool boxes for me a few years ago.