Rear Spring Question

[pcarlson]

What year did Dodge switch from 3 leaf primary to the 4 leaf primary? Also how hard is it to add a leaf to the top two overloads?

 

[HBarlow]

Don't know the answer to the spring pack question, I thought they had always had four leaves but I've only owned duallies.

Any old fashioned truck spring shop (blacksmith) can easily add a leaf or two. I had a leaf added on each side of my '06. IMO the Gen III truck rear springs, at least the duallies, are too long and too soft for carrying the rated loads. They are designed for a nice empty ride. Mine sagged and became soft under load.

 

[TLane]

It might be time to consider air bags for the rear. Keep the soft ride when empty and add air when loaded to bring it back to the right height.

 

[pcarlson]

Don't know the answer to the spring pack question, I thought they had always had four leaves but I've only owned duallies.

I might be phrasing that wrong, based on pictures here of '03-'06's there is the big thick overload/secondary, on top of that there are three springs clamped together and then two overloads on top of them if its a 1 ton. I noticed my '09 has four springs clamped together verses the three. All else is the same.

Any old fashioned truck spring shop (blacksmith) can easily add a leaf or two. I had a leaf added on each side of my '06. IMO the Gen III truck rear springs, at least the duallies, are too long and too soft for carrying the rated loads. They are designed for a nice empty ride. Mine sagged and became soft under load.

I'm thinking this is an option or I could just get a set off a C/C as it drives by. :-laf Seriously I found many post on here about the poor rear springs as far as carrying a load. Tradeoffs Dodge gave us for a nicer ride. I'm not an airbag fan so I either add a spring to the pac or raise and add one to the overloads and make them come on quicker.

 

[HBarlow]

I let a local blacksmith add a main leaf to each spring on my '06. It already had a set of Timbrens. It didn't ride like an expensive sedan with both but it was a work truck and loaded much of the time, overloaded part of the time, and I didn't really mind.

Options are an extra leaf in the helpers, an extra leaf in the main spring, Timbrens, or air bags. I decided against air bags because everyone I've ever talked with that has a set complains about air leaks and air loss in the inflation tubing. Air bags have the advantage of adjustability and allow the factory ride when deflated. Timbrens are cheap, practical, and very functional but provide a stiff bumpy ride empty.

Having "been there and done it" I think your idea of adding a leaf to the helpers will be the smartest. Your unloaded ride will remain soft but you'll hit the helpers sooner and have added stiffness when loaded.

 

[TCDiesel]

Pcarlson, 03 3500 SRW 4 leaf with 1 Platform, the Bump stop is just touching, the Truck has 110 Gallon (WC) Auxiliary tank with about 60 Gallons at present with factory tank about 1/2 full. Install 12/02. At Shamrock we generally tip the scales 21k to 30K the average 23K to 26K.

 

[RBridenbaugh]

I added airbags to level out my truck, when the camper is loaded. Since I already had the air tank for the exhaust brake and I mounted the dual air control, slow air leaks overnight were not an issue. Ride was better. Plus, if your TC isn't quite level you can deflate one side and inflate the other to level it out for the night.



If you want to engage the overload springs earlier, Torklift makes a product called Stableloads (angled rubber block that bolts in where the rear aux. spring bump stop is located).



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[pcarlson]

Pcarlson, 03 3500 SRW 4 leaf with 1 Platform, the Bump stop is just touching, the Truck has 110 Gallon (WC) Auxiliary tank with about 60 Gallons at present with factory tank about 1/2 full. Install 12/02. At Shamrock we generally tip the scales 21k to 30K the average 23K to 26K.

Thanks these might be my ticket to making the overloads work more. Looking at your picture you have 2 overloads, 3 springs (clamped together) and 1 main at the bottom. I have the same except for I have 4 springs clamped together and the rest is the same.

 

[pcarlson]

I added airbags to level out my truck, when the camper is loaded. Since I already had the air tank for the exhaust brake and I mounted the dual air control, slow air leaks overnight were not an issue. Ride was better. Plus, if your TC isn't quite level you can deflate one side and inflate the other to level it out for the night.



If you want to engage the overload springs earlier, Torklift makes a product called Stableloads (angled rubber block that bolts in where the rear aux. spring bump stop is located).



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Thanks for the info on the Torklift's. Looks like the energy suspension setup is about half the price and seems to be very simular to the torklifts.

 

[rwitt]

Here's what I did to get the overloads engaged sooner. 2" x 2" tubing puts the spring about an inch from engaging when unloaded. I tried the Energy Suspension bump stops but they were to soft, and squished when the spring engaged them.

Rich

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[pcarlson]

Here's what I did to get the overloads engaged sooner. 2" x 2" tubing puts the spring about an inch from engaging when unloaded. I tried the Energy Suspension bump stops but they were to soft, and squished when the spring engaged them.

Rich

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I like what you did there. A homemade fix and I even have 2x2 stock laying around. Thanks for the idea and the photo.