sanddragon2004

Thought i would ask the crowd for some feedback. Ive got a 96 3500 4x4.

Has 4 leaf leaf packs and stock front coils. I have replaced the shocks with FOA 2.5s and the ride is much better but man those springs just buck over every bump on the dang freeway, washboarding on the highway blows feeling like I should ditch something. Has a flatbed that is mostly driven unloaded accept for dirtbikes on the weekends.

Thinking new coils up front and not sure on the rear. Air bags? new leaf springs?

I dont ever intend to haul a 5th wheel so thought about swapping the leafs for 3/4tons anybody ever done that do they ride better?

NJTman

There are a few members here who've "experimented" with mixing up the leaf springs in the rear of their rides, Oliver Foster's RC coming to mind. Jim Lane has done his as well.

for me, it was an easy call. I put air bags in the rear of my small pickup ride, adding just enough air in them to lift the weight off of the rear spring pack. Now I'm riding on air and not steel springs. Cheap, easy and fast results.

FWIW, if I load up the back of the truck with my sand ballast (for snow plowing) or have a load in the back heavier than 500 lbs or so, the truck rides like a dream, vs being unloaded.

oliver foster

As T-man said, I did modify the rear spring pack on my '89 Ramcharger to get the ride height and suppleness I wanted.
I kept the 1/2 ton spring pack on it, but added the 2nd and 4th leaf down from a W-250 to it to stiffen it up and gain an 1 1/2 or 2 inches IIRC in height to match the W-250 springs that where installed on the front end. In the end I kept all the 2wd rear 1/2 springs added those two W-250 ones, then center pinned and clamped it all back together. I love the way it rides in the end.
I basically ended up making a 2wd, 1/2 ton, V-8 gas, automatic RC into a 4x4, 12V diesel, manual shifted, 3/4 ton RC. That is the short version of a very long story...

You could try removing one or two of the 1 ton springs from that pack and swapping in some thinner ones from a 3/4 or 1/2 ton. Your payload carrying ability will be less, but so say that is not a concern for you.

OR remove a leaf spring out of the spring pack and add air bags like I have on my black '85 crew cab.

OR call up a company like Deaver [they happen to be in Cali. as well] and have them build you a custom set of springs that are rated for less weight carrying capabilities. This will make it ride better as well.

Danderson

Deaver can fix the back and Carli or Thuren offer much nicer riding coils.

johnh

use it for what it was built for! put at least 800 lbs in the back

gorms

Another vote for airbags. I have 2500 camper/2nd/tow whatever you want to call them springs (same as 1 ton) that were sagged a bit and rode pretty harsh. Few lbs of air without doing anything else helped quite a but. Can't comment on front springs, stockers are still holding up ok.