I am well aware of the old 2 leaf parabolic spring stack that was made by Custom Suspension - the consensus seemed to be that it rode good if you threw the bottom leaf away and used one from the stock stack.

Now that I acquired another W250 I am again on the search for a better ride. I see the Custom Suspension now only offers a 3 leaf pack.

Dodge W250 W350 BEST Softride Spring -Order in 1" - 3" Lift

Does anyone have any experience with these? Do they actually ride smooth without the bounce that the others were known for?

 

IMO, A much cheaper solution to a better ride is a set of air bags for the rear. Depending on how much pressure you put in them, they can be a smooth ride over the stock leafs, as you can take the pressure off of the springs, and ride pretty much on the bags. All of my trucks have had them in the past, and they all rode much better with the airlift rear bags with about 10 to 15 lbs in them (truck empty). If I was to haul something, I could add more air, and support the weight better, and get a much better ride during towing.

The only reason I haven't installed them in my dodge, is I would like to build a custom mount for them so that they sit between the frame and the axle, vs outside the frame on a perch to axle.

This is the stock kit:


Just another option.

 

I am planning a Chevy 63" spring swap with airbags and a leveling valve for the back. The front doesn't seem to be as cut and dried as I don't want the lift that a 52" spring swap would give me.

Can anybody tell us from experience if the 3 leaf pack fixes the ride of the frontend?

 

I'm in the same boat. I would like 52" springs in the front but really don't want anymore than 2" of lift. I have one of those parabolic leafs from the 2 leaf combo, and the 3rd leaf up from the rear springs in my setup. It still rides too harshly for my liking when driving slow But much better on the highway compared to the stock leafs.

I've only heard from 1 person so far saying they like their 3 leaf parabolics. (Not saying I've heard of people saying they don't like them)

 

I am set up to do the 52" swap later on but am in the same boat on the lift.
I think spring could be either pieced together or made up at a spring shop that would fit the bill. I just hear too many complaints on the paribolics.

I will start experimenting after I get my truck in one piece.

P.S. I had been keeping track of the people that do and don't like the parabolic springs. it mostly depends on wheelbase the longer the better.
Almost always the guys with standard cabs say they are too harsh.

 

I had the local spring shop do my springs, both front and rear. Dodge = Stiff ride, IMO. I'm happy to say that it rides the way I like it. My little Toyota pickup's rear springs ride harsher than my dodge does, but as soon as I installed the air bags in the rear, that fixed that.

 

I wonder if it'd be possible to have a spring shop make 52" springs but keep the arc down and maybe use thinner leafs while still maintaining a capacity of over 2000lb per pack.

 

I know many knock them, but I've had the 2" lift skyjacker springs in the front of my truck for 2 years now and they are great. I love the way the front rides, rear is still stock springs so it's horrible as we all know them to be. But the fronts coupled with skyjacker m95 shocks is night and day. Ride is much softer and those shocks are the only ones I've found that are heavy enough to dampen the load of that bouncing Cummins front end

 

The air bags take some of the preload off the springs and transfer it to the frame between the spring hangers. it works.

 

I am planning on running the Alcan lift block eliminator springs (7" drop) in the back. Dunno what I'm going to do about the front springs yet.

 

I am going to give my old D250 rear springs a try. they are softer than the W250 springs. Mostly because of the tapered ends on each leaf.

 

Smooth them and put wear tips on as well. I did this, but it still rides a bit rough empty. But toss some weight in the bed and it smooths out right away.

 

So back to the front, basically we are still out of luck as to an off-the-shelf stock height solution?

 

skyjacker makes a 1" lift front spring. the 2" lift front springs didn't even give me 2" of lift, so i'd bet the 1" units are darn close to a fresh stock spring. much better ride quality. D100C is the part number.

 

I'd give Alcan a call and see what they can do for you. I bought mine off of another member here but called Alcan to confirm the application. They were really decent to deal with. There is a very good chance that I will buy my front springs from them.


I have no experience with the Skyjackers but have read on several other forums that they tend to sag out pretty quickly. I would think that if you bought the 1" lift springs they would settle to stock height or less.