Leaf Springs

[SFaulkingham]

I have a 92 250 4x4, and need new rear leaf springs. I called St. Louis Spring here in town (St. Louis, MO), and they said they needed a number from the bottom of the springs... I cannot find the number. Is there any place I can get this number, so I can order new springs? Any help is appreciated.

Shawn

 

[dpuckett]

I'd be interested, too. Whichever truck I keep will need new leafs.



Daniel

 

["Mad Max"]

Fellas -



I'm doing a leaf springs gig on my Ramcharger and it'll also be 6BT-powered. In my research I've discovered that most aftermarket spring mfg's don't carry the big heavy duty springs for the Dodges. But, there are a couple that I found that'll work.

What I'm doing is using a Pro Comp '85 K20 Suburban front 3/4-ton leaf and having a custom top leaf made locally with the Dodge eyes. Also, I'm having the spring made to accomodate a 1-1/2" bushings front and rear. The Pro Comp spring is very beefy - has a military 'wrap' second leaf, best I have come across, and should handle the Cummins weight quite well. The problem is the Chevy spring is about 2" shorter than the Dodge, but if you're looking for a good spring I think the Pro Comp is a good way to go if you can get a Dodge top leaf made for it.

If not, Superlift makes a pretty beefy Dodge front spring and has the stock Dodge small bushings. Not necessarily a drawback, but it'll bolt right up.



- M2

 

[SFaulkingham]

The number is 34-153, which is a 6/1 leaf spring (6 curved, 1 straight). You need to know the I bolt diameter, which is either 3/4 or 5/8. Mine is 5/8 and they are 3250lbs springs. You can get HD springs which are 4000lbs springs... but could solve that problem with compressed air or rubber spring overload kit. This is for the rear springs. For the front springs, St. Louis spring said to bring them in, and they will recast them and add a leaf. They said the stock springs weren't heavy duty enough to handle the weight of the Cummins...

I will let you know when I get em installed and how they install and ride.

Shawn

 

[AH64ID]

I would call Alcan spring. . they will be the best spring... HD and excellent quality.

 

[glhs]

Ordered mine from Alcan 3 weeks ago.

Should be delivered soon.

 

[glhs]

Just received mine from Alcan. They look great and have a pad at the end of every leaf.

My old spring packs are 7 leaves (6 arched and 1 flat) + the single overload on top.

The new springs are 8 arched leaves.

 

[AH64ID]

Good deal, the Alcans I had were HD and flexy, very nice ride.

 

[SFaulkingham]

I just got mine today as well. They are 6 curved and 2 flat, with the upper flat one longer than the other. They said it was for better stability under heavy loads. I have no caps on mine, but all in all, very well built. I bought the rear bracket for the rear springs, and have someone fabricating the front frame bracket for the rear springs. Should be interesting.

Shawn

 

[glhs]

I ordered mine with a bunch of arch so I can eliminate the 6" spacer block.

How about you?

 

[SFaulkingham]

Kept the block. 4000# springs and looks great. I rust coated the entire rear frame and shot some black rustoleum. I will post some pictures. I am currently redoing rear drums, bearings and seals...

 

[KOG]

Taking out the block and rearcing the springs will result in a lot of roll oversteer. This can make the truck hard to drive because it will not want to track straight over any type of bump or in any turn. A leaf spring acts as a trailing arm from the fixed (front) end. A trailing arm sloped down at the rear steers the rear axle to the outside of the turn as the truck roll to that side. Nasty handling characteristic.

 

[Moab4x4]

Taking out the block and rearcing the springs will result in a lot of roll oversteer. This can make the truck hard to drive because it will not want to track straight over any type of bump or in any turn. A leaf spring acts as a trailing arm from the fixed (front) end. A trailing arm sloped down at the rear steers the rear axle to the outside of the turn as the truck roll to that side. Nasty handling characteristic.

Thanks, KOG, I get it now! I have the 6" skyjacker softride springs in the rear with a 2. 5" block. Those softride springs are softer and springyer. When I hit a bump it is sometimes exciting. I did not understand why it was so more exciting in a curve when I hit the bump. I have 4" lift in the front and 2. 5 in the rear. The springs are definitly not as HD as the original SRW 350 springs were so if I am going to tow heavy I will need airbags.

All in all though, I will keep the softrides for the difference in ride quality. I plan on installing crossover steering to help with some of the bumpsteer and hop that will make things handle enough better.



Ken

 

[dpuckett]

KOG- that explains why riding in CSchafer's pickup was such a pucker power experience on the back roads, if you get my drift. On Hwy 24, it was just fine. He had quite a bit of arch in his.



Does anyone know where I could get some 4" blocks? If/when I redo the springs on my W350, I'd like to get shorter blocks, as I like the stance with the flat springs on 6" blocks. If I get an arch to my springs, it'll put the back REAL high up there. Higher than I want to be reaching for an anvil and stand.



DP

 

[KOG]

1", 2", 4" and 6" blocks with U bolts are pretty common parts. You can get them lots of places.

Lots of arch is not only exciting on your truck, but check out the spring position on any trailer you're towing. If the front half of the spring angles down toward the axle you get the same bump oversteer and the trailer will NOT track straight over bumps. Note that most trailers are set up that way. Raising the tongue higher aggravates the problem of course.