Any options for lighter rear springs?

[MikeO]

My '92 D350 was previously a LWV C&C with a 12' rack body. It came from the factory with eleven leaf rear springs (not a typo). Well, I've since cut it down to size and mounted a dually bed. The bottom line is that the rears are harsh beyond description. Load the bed with gravel or sand and it rides nice, but for the 98% of the time it's empty it's a kidney basher.



Any aftermarket options? Can I just remove every other leaf to ease the pain?



Mike O.

 

[JLEONARD]

Mike,

There is a spring/suspension shop in Wtby that can do whatever you want.

Can't remember the name of the pace but they are in the South end of town... a little past Cheapo-Depot. I know they are in the yellow pages.

 

[OKish]

Remove a couple leafs from the pack and see if that makes it any better.

 

[KOG]

I've actually cut the bottom (pogo) leaves from mine without bothering to disassemble the spring pack. My came with a utility body. I've got 5000lb airlift springs on the rear to use when carrying a load.

You can disassemble the spring pack, remove several leaves and put it back together. I would recommend using a 1" or 2" spring block under the spring to restore it to near stock ride height with the leaves removed.

I've been doing similar things with springs on A body (Valiant/Dart) and Grand Caravan going back about 35 years.

Dodge trucks have always tended toward a lot more spring than Ford or Chevy. That means they ride like trucks and carry loads like trucks. They ride too much like trucks for me too.

 

[Wickstead]

Remove a couple leafs from the pack and see if that makes it any better.

My father in-law did a similar thing with his `93 D-350 Standard cab when he had it, took out a couple leafs then threw on some Ride Rite #2071 air springs for the 11k travel trailer. Made life much better when the truck was unloaded.



My `93 D-250 rides pretty harshly when empty, but rides perfectly level and not too jittery with our fifth wheel hitched up (about 9,500lbs but a fairly light tongue weight). I also bought the air springs thinking I would need them. Now I am selling them on ebay, didn't even bother to install them.



Regards,

Kris W.

 

[CSchafer]

I have mine down to 5 of the stock leaves in the back and it rides decent. I think if you tow you beter keep at least six but 11 is overkill. You will lose some height if you remove 6 leaves so you might have to build a block to get it back.

 

[Moab4x4]

Not really cheap (well, mine were cause they were on a parts truck), but I swapped the rears on my SRW W350 with skyjacker softride 6" lift springs. Just remove the block and you will keep stock ride height. It feels lots better, but I know I lost load capability.

I would probably go the spring shop.

Ken

 

[TSkibyak]

What I did was remove about half of the springs cant remember off hand. Then I installed a set of 5000 pound air bags so I have the ride I want when I want it.