Anybody know capacity of ft springs?

[hammersley]

Ok - I guess I can't remember. Several questions? I'm looking at putting a whinch and a HD front bumper but am concerned about the front - loading. For example the increase weight may be OK but when you load and unload teh suspension, I'm trying to avoid any "bounciness" - how 'bout that for a word! So here goes... .



1. Is there a difference in the 2500/3500 front springs - carrying capacity (CC)? If so what is it?



2. If you have the snow plow package - what difference is there in the springs - I guess what I want to know is how much of an increase does that add to your front end?



3. If you have the HD snow plow springs - does that increase your front loading, or are we stressing the front axle?



4. About what should it cost to change the front springs?

 

[Alaskaskiff]

There is a wide range of springs that cover the applications you listed. Post the spring numbers (mine stayed on the truck for a few years) and I will look in my parts manual and let you know.

 

[dresslered]

Dave Fritz has a table on the various springs offered by DC along with their ratings over at his site: http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/springs.htm.



My 3500 came with a pair of 046 springs but I have heard of other trucks getting different numbers as well. Often times the 2500's with the "snow plow" will get an "unmatched" set to offset the additional torque of pushing a plow. This probably isn't what your looking for in a winch application.

 

[hammersley]

How do you tell?????

Good info folks - but how can you tell which spring you have? There is no tag on mine, nor is there a line setting ticket that tells you what you rig has. Does DC have a place where you can submit your VIN and get an exact list of what it has - I guess that's to much to ask for...

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Dealer Printout

Hammersley,



With your truck VIN the dealer can print out the entire build data for your truck. Mine is titled VEHICLE INFORMATION PLUS SUMMARY REPORT.



It is several pages long and mine has the following for springs:



(Yours would be similar)



4 letter Code Description



ZJGP SPRING - LEFT FRONT

ZXGP SPRING - RIGHT FRONT



With these I could also cross to the parts manual.



In my case these are both 1688 lb springs.



PM me or answer in this forum and I will look your springs up.

 

[dresslered]

If your truck is very new, there should still be the blue labels hanging on the springs showing the proper number.

 

[Scollins]

I've got a '98 12 valve 2500 regular cab. I've got an 046 on the left (1854 lbs) and an 039 on the right (1688 lbs. ) I have the Camper special group, but not the snow plow prep group.



I have no idea why the springs are different, unless they are trying to compensate for the driver's weight. I guess DC assumes that the truck would mostly be used with only the driver, thus the higher spring on the drivers side?



The other thing I don't understand: My build sheet provided by the dealer based on the VIN says my front axle is the 5,200 lb capacity axle. BUT, the door stickers on the truck indicate the 4,850 lb front axle. What gives? Did I get the newer axle (for the heavier 24 valves) but an older sticker?

 

[YA_TO_UPA]

I also have two different rated front springs but the passenger side spring is larger than the driver's side???? I have a 38 (1537 lb) and a 39 (1688 lb). I'm in the process of looking for replacements as the truck leans to the left pretty good. What is the general rule for the spring ratings?? Should one side be larger or should they be the same??

 

[csutton7]

Ya_To_Upa--I think the factory reversed your springs when they installed them--



I believe I read here on the TDR that all the front end springs are different from side to side with the drivers side being the more stouter of the two--this is to compensate for fuel tank, driver and etc..... chris

 

[Cooker]

What Chris said.

 

[hammersley]

Ok this is what I have.....

Alaskaskiff - I put another topic about teh Build Sheet and thanked you for putting me on to it - thanks again. Man you gott'a have one of these.



Left Ft = ZJGP

Right Ft = ZXFP

 

[hammersley]

Hey - is this new math......

I just thought of something - what gives here guys - how do you calculate the unsprung weight - after all our front half weighs a lot more than the spring capacity - but a lot of that is not subject to spring loading. Am I doing something wrong - let's see - the engine weight doesn't even get counted here - as it's not transmitted to the top of the springs. Actually there isn't much weight coming to the top is there - unless you have a camper.....

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Hammersley,



You have a left and right 039, rated at 1688 each. I believe this figure is the 1" compression rate. Coil springs are more complex than that though. They are variable rate, as it is compressed the spring gets stiffer.