2wd Front End Sagging

Hydro-idi

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Posts
2,273
Reaction score
359
Location
Lodi, California
Hey guys,

Been wanting to address the front suspension on my truck for a while. Thinking the springs are tired and wore out. When I have pulled the engine out in the past, it looks as it should, with the front almost being level with the back.
Looking at my truck this morning, I noticed that there is a good amount of negative camber coming from the 2 front tires which might be caused from these sagging springs. Cant believe I've never noticed that until now.
Looking to buy some new springs, but not sure which ones to get. Im leaning towards the extra heavy duty RV844HD or the RV824HD but don't understand the differences between the 2.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...v8+diesel,1124110,suspension,coil+spring,7512
 

franklin2

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Posts
5,161
Reaction score
1,385
Location
Va
If you back the truck up and look at it, most of the twin-I-beam frontends will have the top of the tires leaning in. Pull forward and they straighten up.

These trucks were also designed with the rearend higher than the front. I think leveling kits are dumb and for mall cruisers. The rear springs are progressive. Unloaded you ride around on thinner curved upper leaves that give you a nice ride unloaded. Put a load in the back and these thinner curves springs flatten out against a thicker flat spring on the bottom to give you some load carrying ability without the rear bumper dragging the ground. That's why the ride height is higher in the rear.
 

Hydro-idi

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Posts
2,273
Reaction score
359
Location
Lodi, California
Thanks for your response. These 2wd trucks will always be lower in the front for the same reasons that you explained, but mine is way lower than it should ever be.
I am not looking into installing a body kit to raise the front. Rather fix the actual problem & get it sitting as it should with new springs. Just need to figure out which ones to get is the million dollar ?.
 

gnathv

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Posts
1,048
Reaction score
522
Location
Athens, Al
I put those on my 93 f-250 ex cab 9 years ago. They still sit right and ride great, you'll be happy. When I replaced mine I could only get 2 fingers between tire and fender. With new springs I can get my hand between tire and fender.
 

towcat

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2004
Posts
18,196
Reaction score
1,437
Location
SantaClara,Ca/Hamilton,TX
have you ever changed out the axle pivot bushings?
if not, do those at the same time you're doing the springs.
 

gnathv

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Posts
1,048
Reaction score
522
Location
Athens, Al
While you're that far into it, check your axle pivot bushings. If they're worn now is the time to replace them.
 

compressionignitionrules

Full Access Member
Joined
May 1, 2016
Posts
840
Reaction score
286
Location
Bluevale ON
we put aftermarket front coils in our 1990 F350 diesel dually and like the ones you are looking at , they fit a lot of applications including the 7.3 diesel trucks. they did not last a year, I put the old coils back in which I saved and got a set of airbags for inside the coils. kept 5psi in them when empty so they would stay in place. put 20 psi in them when we hauled the slide in camper and thats all they needed to keep it up and more stable. present owner has had it for over 5 yrs now and he hasn't had any issues with it. he has a lot larger camper than ours bur runs more air in the bags too.
 

Hydro-idi

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Posts
2,273
Reaction score
359
Location
Lodi, California
we put aftermarket front coils in our 1990 F350 diesel dually and like the ones you are looking at , they fit a lot of applications including the 7.3 diesel trucks. they did not last a year, I put the old coils back in which I saved and got a set of airbags for inside the coils. kept 5psi in them when empty so they would stay in place. put 20 psi in them when we hauled the slide in camper and thats all they needed to keep it up and more stable. present owner has had it for over 5 yrs now and he hasn't had any issues with it. he has a lot larger camper than ours bur runs more air in the bags too.

Did you buy the standard or extra heavy duty springs? There's a couple different types to choose from. From what I've understood, a lot of guys install the CC844 springs with good results on both gas & diesel trucks. But the CC844S springs should be used for heavy duty applications, such as having a Diesel equipped truck/RV or running a plow in front of truck during the winter months.
I got the heavy duty ones so we will see how they work.
 

compressionignitionrules

Full Access Member
Joined
May 1, 2016
Posts
840
Reaction score
286
Location
Bluevale ON
our local auto parts supplier (Napa dealer) refused to sell the standard duty spring as they had warranty issues with them. HD was the only ones they would order in for us. I did a lot of trailer hauling but not much camper use. the coils looked be the same thickness as the originals, and were a good 4" taller when sitting on the shop floor beside each other. I was very optimistic. :idiot:

we also had serious issues with moog problem solver draglinks for same truck, I did the drag link 4 times in under 9 months. :fan: and eventually got a refund and went with a more expensive spicer built draglink which has been in the truck for almost 8 yrs now. 3 yrs by us and 5 yrs by the present owner.

this wasn't Chinese auto parts, but I'm pretty sure it was a quality control problem.-cussleft for the garage/family mechanic to eat the labour on!

air bags worked awesome and have been problem free but I would think about 10 yrs would be their service life from gravel road use.

I wish I had more pics of that old truck it was a good one, had an ATS on the 7.3 . I'll have to break into our old computer and see if my 13yr old can steal me soem pics out of it. :Q
 

The Bus

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2014
Posts
76
Reaction score
8
Location
Louisville, KY
Just to follow up on the pivot bushing check; once you have those springs off, go over all of the front end. A friend of long ago learned this the hard way.

Bad springs will severely changes the geometry of the front end.

You'll have an easier time to hearing squeaks and detecting unusual play/movement.
 

Hydro-idi

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Posts
2,273
Reaction score
359
Location
Lodi, California
I plan on changing the axle pivot bushings, steering ball joints, radius arm bushings, and maybe even the body mount bushings when I put the springs in. I just checked all the bushings/joints and they look ok, but replacing them sure wouldnt hurt.
Anything else I'm missing?
 
Top