coil spring specs

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I have a friend who just returned from a trip to Alaska in a 98 2500 diesel 2wd with a 2500 lb slide-in camper. He's experiencing a slight pull to the right that an alignment hasn't cured.

In looking at his front suspension I noticed that the coil springs are compressed to the point that the rubber bumpers are in contact with the stops on the arms. Looks like he's bottomed out on travel.

He has a front axle gvw of 4500 lbs and has wieghed the front at 4300 lbs. Anyone know what the clearance should be before the suspension arms bottom on the rubber bumpers? Could the springs be shot at 70,000 miles? Are there heavier coils that he could go to? What gives???


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2001 Ram 3500 QC 4x4, Cummins HO with 6 speed trans. Trailer tow, camper package, stock w/all the goodies except leather. Pulling 3 horse slant load with Lance 8. 5 slide-in camper.

 

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I always thought my 97 2500 2WD rode a little low up front too, and it has always shown contact with the rubber stops. One day I jacked it up about 24". and dropped all four big bolts on the inner end of the lower control arms, and took both springs out. (I didn't have to seperate any ball joints this way) I placed a 1" rubber spring lift ring or spacer under each spring, put it back together, and that solved the problem. It leveled the truck up, took away some of the "nose heavy" feel, and it drives fine. This was about 3 years ago, and the spacers have held up fine, didn't affect the alignment at all... ... . DDG

 

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Thanks Dennis, could you tell me where you came up with the spacers? Also, how much did it lift the front end? I'm concerned that it may lift the front end too high when I don't have the camper on.

 

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I would look into a heavier spring from a good spring shop. The spacers will help with clearance but not the spring rate. Dodge may even have different springs heigths/rates available for the 2wheeler. I know they offer different springs for the 4x4's.

 

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I found these at Auto America, they are a hard rubber split ring, grooved to fit the coil diameter. They are grooved to fit between the coils, but I placed them under the spring instead, they can be used both ways, but under the spring is a longer term fix. they raised the front end about 1" and it has never bottomed out on the stops since.