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09-19-2018, 04:40 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Moosup CT
Posts: 93
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2002 F250 Leaf Springs
Howdy folks,
Last week I added a set of Timbrens to my 2002 F250 diesel. One of the things I discovered after the install was that my truck is 1/2" lower on the driver's side of the truck. I took the truck to my mechanic and he feels that the leaf springs are weaker on that side and I should replace them. I have been towing with this truck for 14 years so I agree that they might be a little tired by now. He suggested I replace them myself as he said it's a labor intensive job and doesn't want to spend the time in his shop. Seems like an easy fix once the old ones are off so I agreed. Now on to my question...
Should I replace with original Ford springs or are the after-market brands like Dorman a good cost saving replacement? Is there a better spring out there that I should be looking at? I don't wanna add any lift to the truck but stronger springs might be worthwhile. Any thoughts?
__________________
Tom
2018 Hideout 299RLDS
2015 F350 SD Lariat Platinum Crew Cab, 6.7 Diesel
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09-19-2018, 04:43 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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09-19-2018, 04:59 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Moosup CT
Posts: 93
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I have seen these springs and they look like a great deal but have you ever bought from this company? There are some pretty bad things about SD Truck Springs on the Better Business Bureau. They seem to have some serious customer service issues?
__________________
Tom
2018 Hideout 299RLDS
2015 F350 SD Lariat Platinum Crew Cab, 6.7 Diesel
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09-19-2018, 05:04 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomasbeau
I have seen these springs and they look like a great deal but have you ever bought from this company? There are some pretty bad things about SD Truck Springs on the Better Business Bureau. They seem to have some serious customer service issues?
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I've purchased a couple of things from them over the past few years, a set of Bilstein's and a Firestone air bag kit were the major things.. everything was as advertised and arrived in good shape, didn't need customer service so... YMMV
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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09-19-2018, 06:24 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,327
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I guess your mechanic is a pick and choose kinda guy? Before I spent $300 or more on springs I might want to know for sure that was the problem. Where did you measure to discover the 1/2 inch?
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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09-19-2018, 06:59 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Moosup CT
Posts: 93
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My mechanic has moved further away from general repair and more into body work. He noticed the slight difference in the level of the truck when he replaced the truck bed for me about a year ago. He checked the leaf springs because he feared there was a broken spring but they were all intact. Told me it's just something I should keep an eye on. When I installed the Timbrens last week it was very noticeable. The instructions state you should have between 1/2" to 1" of space between the rubber and the axle. On the driver's side I was almost touching the axle yet the passenger side was a good 1/2" above.
__________________
Tom
2018 Hideout 299RLDS
2015 F350 SD Lariat Platinum Crew Cab, 6.7 Diesel
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09-19-2018, 07:35 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Solomons
Posts: 3,874
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I just installed Timbrens on 2016 F350 and have a similar situation. The truck sits level side to side. The def and fuel tanks are on that side. Both were full. Going to look when I’m low on fuel and see if it still looks that way.
__________________
Tom
2019 Alpine 3651RL
2016 F350 CC DRW
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09-19-2018, 07:50 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomasbeau
Howdy folks,
Last week I added a set of Timbrens to my 2002 F250 diesel. One of the things I discovered after the install was that my truck is 1/2" lower on the driver's side of the truck. I took the truck to my mechanic and he feels that the leaf springs are weaker on that side and I should replace them. I have been towing with this truck for 14 years so I agree that they might be a little tired by now. He suggested I replace them myself as he said it's a labor intensive job and doesn't want to spend the time in his shop. Seems like an easy fix once the old ones are off so I agreed. Now on to my question...
Should I replace with original Ford springs or are the after-market brands like Dorman a good cost saving replacement? Is there a better spring out there that I should be looking at? I don't wanna add any lift to the truck but stronger springs might be worthwhile. Any thoughts?
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From your signature photo you definitely need something in the rear or tractor weights on the front. Appears to be squatted severely in that picture.
If you live in a larger city there's probably a spring place locally, then if you have customer service needs you go to them face to face.
Before retirement, the company always leased Ford's, once we got tool boxs & necessary equipment loaded the headlights shot straight up, so always took them to the local spring shop & added a leaf or two to be able to drive at night.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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09-19-2018, 08:13 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
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I have had 3 F250s and every one of them had the notorious sagging rear end when hooked to a 5er. None were over payload capacity but had to put air bags on all of them to bring to some semblance of level.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
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09-28-2018, 09:43 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: san andreas
Posts: 73
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add in bags and never look back.
set them up as independent of each other and your golden.
better ride. much easer on your tv and trailer for the bumps than stiff leaf springs.
and 1/2 inch diff is nothing in springs. could just be how the spring was made. they rairly fail on a pu truck. need to haul a lot more weight than a 5er as in many loads a month kinda way.
i waste springs on my jeep -rock crawler- i abuse they very badly. never broke one but weaken them by twisting them over extending and compressing them a lot. even bent a main leaf once. but never snapped any.
but changing leafs or adding air bags, anybody can do this with simple hand tools. maybe a inpact gun for convince.
and a onbord air compresser with tank might come in hany elsewhere in your travels.
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10-06-2018, 04:43 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC
Posts: 379
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change the spring it is time. I had one spring on my 99 break because I figured I would live with the sag, lucky for me I was empty when it happened and I did even know till I went to rotate my tires. it was cheep to get new springs and you could even maybe get an additional leaf so you don't sage much when you load up. go to a proper spring shop, it will be cheaper and you can tell them what you tow and such and you will get the proper springs in a couple hours or less.
Steve
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