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Leaf Spring

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Old Mar 17, 2003 | 01:16 PM
  #1  
gofastman's Avatar
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From: Alabama
Leaf Spring

I have a 98 12v 2500, ;D the left side leaf has lost its strength, and it is letting back of the truck sag about 3/4 inch. <br>Now i am going to fix it but i am thinking about all my options. ???<br><br>1} replace both springs with new? ???<br>2} replace both springs with used? ???<br>3} Rearch the bad spring? ???<br>4} replace with 3500 springs new or used? ;D<br><br>Tell me wht you all think I should do....<br>I pull campers anywhere from 2500 up to 23000, in travel trailers to 5'er to slide-ins so there is weight back there about all the time from one day to the next.<br>It just changes in how much wieght.<br><br>Let me know what you all think....Any thoughts of were to purchase.<br>Thanks, <br>Allen
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Old Mar 17, 2003 | 03:48 PM
  #2  
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From: Sandy, Utah
Re:Leaf Spring

Personally, I would replace both with new.<br>(2500 or 3500, but both new)<br><br>If you replace with used, you don't know what kind of abuse they've taken and could have same problem, or broken springs due to misuse.<br><br>If you only replace the bad one with new, the old one will soon have to same problem, if not right away.<br>Same replacing bad one with used, uncertainty of quality.<br><br><br>I broke the middle leaf on my Toyota, took it to the dealer for fix, and they replaced both with new, updated spring pack.<br>Different situation, but the original factory pack wasn't available anymore due to an unrecalled problem with the original, and it wouldn't have matched resulting in one side sagging more than the other.<br>I also replaced both shocks, as the broken spring punctured on of the shocks and wanted evenness.<br><br><br>phox
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Old Mar 17, 2003 | 04:58 PM
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From: Elm Creek MB Canada
Re:Leaf Spring

Because you are working the truck, I would change both springs. Then I would install an air ride. There are sereral brands available, mine is Firestone.<br>John
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Old Mar 17, 2003 | 05:07 PM
  #4  
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From: Elm Creek MB Canada
Re:Leaf Spring

Go with the 3/4 ton springs, (new or used) if you use an air ride. 1 ton springs will stiffen the ride quite a bit and when empty, the ride might be rough.<br>John
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Old Mar 18, 2003 | 12:20 PM
  #5  
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From: London, Ontario, Canada
Re:Leaf Spring

It is my understanding that springs loose a % o tension on a continious basis. I cannot remember the % but ~ 5% year comes to mind.<br><br>My Dodge 3500 dual was sqatting a bit when I loaded my 5th. (36.5 foot unit). I had my springs cold rolled and added a helper spring. The cold rolling made the spings like new and the helper came into play when I loaded her up. No squat and no harder ride. ~ cost was $300.00 CDN (1.50 US) and 2 hrs of downtime. I went to a place where the big rigs have their springs rolled. Been happy since - 2+ years.
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Old Mar 18, 2003 | 03:51 PM
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From: Alabama
Re:Leaf Spring

;D ;DThanks to all that replied.<br>I ordered a nwe set of 3/4t springs,<br>But the overloads are going to have 3 leafs in them instead of 2.<br>That should take care of the nice ride when empty, but give me some help when loaded and that way it wont work it all to the point i did the last ones.<br><br>Thanks again,<br>Allen
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Old Mar 20, 2003 | 11:38 AM
  #7  
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From: Naugatuck, CT
Re:Leaf Spring

A local spring shop can respring your old ones or make new ones to whatever you want. Just make sure you do both sides.
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