2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Overloads and U-bolts

[KBurgoyne]

truck is a 95 3500 dually. It has the secondary set of leave springs that can be hooked up for really heavy loads. Im looking for the U-bolts or the brackets to hook up the extra spring set and some instructions as to the correct way to do it.

Thanks in advance

 

[HHhuntitall]

Hooked up? Are you referring to the two leafs on top of the primary spring leaf packs?

If so, there should be pads directly above the ends of the auxiliary springs that make contact when the primary spring pack depresses to a certain degree..... Some earlier trucks weren't equipped with the springs or pads.... if you added the aux springs, there may not be pads on the frame for them to contact with.... Which can be purchased from the dealer and added.... or stripped off a donor frame.

 

[KBurgoyne]

definitely looks like somebody has messed around with it. There are no pads for the helper springs, they look like they are mounted up too high, and one side of the upper spring has been making contact with the underside of the bed with heavy loads. any ideas on ways to fix it, get rid of the extra springs or install some tabs.

View attachment 88551View attachment 88552View attachment 88553

 

[SnoKing]

Those are aftermarket overloads, not OEM. There should be u-bolts that go down and around the OEM spring pack. SNOKING

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/Dodge/Ram_3500/Hellwig/Helper_Spring/1995/H639520.html

 

[HHhuntitall]

Ugh. Hellwig. Almost as bad as SuperSprings. They can cause extra stress on your main leaf eyes, causing the main leaf to break at the eye, or at the U-bolts.....

MY SUGGESTION would be to find a factory AUX spring setup.... Since you have those, you may want to use them... and you might could fit the frame with the pads, cut those springs off some, and make it work.... BUT... they sit higher than the other AUX springs and would make contact quicker than the factory AUX springs, making it want to ride rough at times.... Otherwise, you will probably want to call Hellwig and see if you can order the Ubolts for the ends. I've seen those U-bolts slip off the end of the springs, too. It's kinda a tempermental system, as if you get it too tight, you have a rough ride, and if it's too loose, the U bolts can come off the ends. Yeah, I know, those are already on there......

As far as getting rid of them, I can simply see there are two U-bolts holding down the brackets over the main leaf that hold them on. Undo those, and jerk 'em off, if you want to get rid of them...... Looking at your main spring packs, they look awful light for a dually.... Another suggestion would be to take them off and take to a spring shop, have two leaves added (or more) and get new bushing pressed in while there..... Maybe even arch the bottom overload a little to make it make contact sooner... hard to tell from here....

 

[SnoKing]

2001 2500 Camper Option Overloads. SNOKING

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[HHhuntitall]

SNOKING, did that come with only one leaf in the AUX pack? All mine have two......

 

[SnoKing]

SNOKING, did that come with only one leaf in the AUX pack? All mine have two......

Yes it is a late build 2001.5 in May 2001 Taco truck. I think the spring pack is wider than earlier ones.

Some of the late 3500 have a similar setup with part no on the overload leaf different by one digit.

SNOKING

 

[NIsaacs]

On my '01 2500, I removed the hard rubber bumper between the bottom overload and the main spring pack. It really helped the ride, the springs are more progressive, rather than a firm jolt/shock when they made contact. I also have the 2 leaf overloads. With a heavy load it does take away a slight bit of capacity.

Nick

 

[KBurgoyne]

Thanks for all the info, it all makes much more sense now. As long as it isnt screwed up I would rather just get it to work for now and probably just replace the whole set with an airide one later. Any opinions out there on the best air spring set.

 

[SnoKing]

People seem to like the Firestones. Why waste 30 or 40 bucks and time on the parts to fix these marginal overloads. Just bag it and be done with it. SNOKING

 

[KBurgoyne]

This will be temporary. like until friday because my uncle is going to borrow the truck to move gravel and brush. After that I want to get a few leaves added to the main set ditch the hellwigs and go with air springs to smooth out the ride when empty. leave spring metal is perfect for making machettes.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Firestones and AirRide are the best for simplicity, but they suck if you run offroad, IMO. I've had several sets on my own, and installed several dozen over the years.... Kinda handy when hooking up trailers.... air 'em up to 100psi, then dolly the trailer down, then let the air back down to 0psi.... usually enough to clear the knob. Just be sure to see what gooseneck hitch you have.... the airbag brackets for the '94-02 trucks go on the side of the frame, above the spring packs, right where you have the two pieces of large angle iron in the picture.... they might be able to bolt up just fine like that, but you might want to check....

 

[KBurgoyne]

After looking at several reviews of the firestones it looks like the brackets can bend under very heavy loads. Most likely more than ill put in it, but I don't get why the brackets shouldn't be able to hold up to what the bags can. If I were going with air ride it would be the Pacbrake system, but then found this. http://www.xtremediesel.com/timbrensevereservicerearsuspensionenhancementsystemdrtt3500.aspx
Basically a set of giant progressive bump stops rated for 7000lbs, and no preloading or maintenance of any kind. Ill let you know how they work when they show up.

 

[HHhuntitall]

I haven't seen any of the brackets bent, unless they are severely overloaded. Putting 10k lbs on the back of the truck will bend a lot of things.....

I haven't used the Timbrens, myself, but SuperSprings has their SumoSprings, which are similar in design. They work okay, but it seems if you set them up to where to start to hit where I feel they should, they ride rough. Setting them up to where they hit with enough weight to ride smooth, the truck is too moonshot for me.... but that's my opinion....

 

[JR]

I've got a set of the Firestone bags and I can tell you the brackets are thicker than the frame of the truck. I'd wager something on a 16 year old truck is gonna be the first to give if anything does. I've had way more hooked to the back of my 98 than I should have and never had any problems with mine.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I haven't seen any of the brackets bent, unless they are severely overloaded. Putting 10k lbs on the back of the truck will bend a lot of things.....

I haven't used the Timbrens, myself, but SuperSprings has their SumoSprings, which are similar in design. They work okay, but it seems if you set them up to where to start to hit where I feel they should, they ride rough. Setting them up to where they hit with enough weight to ride smooth, the truck is too moonshot for me.... but that's my opinion....

The Air Lift driver side lower bracket on my '03 3500 dually bent after about 30k miles hauling my Lance slide in truck camper. The bent bracket threw the air bag out of alignment and would have damaged the bag if I had continued using it. I have had Timbren SES on the rear for about 10k miles. They are OK, and like you report, they are rough riding if the truck bed loaded to where they just barely touch the rear axle. With Timbren SES, I don't have the ability to change the level of the truck bed front to rear and side to side like I could with air bags using my on board air compressor and in-cab controls. When I go back to air bags, I'll try PacBrake air bags since they appear to be more robust than Air Lift. (Note: Air bags mount differently on a third gen than a second gen truck.)

Bill

 

[KBurgoyne]

The Air Lift driver side lower bracket on my '03 3500 dually bent after about 30k miles hauling my Lance slide in truck camper. The bent bracket threw the air bag out of alignment and would have damaged the bag if I had continued using it. I have had Timbren SES on the rear for about 10k miles. They are OK, and like you report, they are rough riding if the truck bed loaded to where they just barely touch the rear axle. With Timbren SES, I don't have the ability to change the level of the truck bed front to rear and side to side like I could with air bags using my on board air compressor and in-cab controls. When I go back to air bags, I'll try PacBrake air bags since they appear to be more robust than Air Lift. (Note: Air bags mount differently on a third gen than a second gen truck.)

Bill

A rough ride is something that I was expecting with the timbrens, but its not like its super smooth now with 4 back tires all set at 70psi. Ive managed to get wheel hop with a few thousand pounds in the bed.