Overload springs

[gandalf]

I found a nice set of overload springs yesterday at the wrecking yard. They would be nice to have for the back end of the truck, considering that the camper is on there almost all the time. It's a heavy camper, even for a 350. They look like Helwig springs, constant duty springs.

The problem is that the overload springs are 2 1/2 inch springs, and the truck has 3 inch. The mounting hardware would be a problem. The "U" bolts, 4 of them, won't fit around the 3 inch springs, and the plate which goes between the legs of each "U" bolt cannot be made to fit a larger spacing.

I could, of course, get larger "U" bolts and plates. Maybe Helwig sells those separately.

Would the spring width difference, 2 1/2 vs 3, cause any problem?

Thanks for any thoughts on this.

 

[jperecko]

If you start investing any money in this more than junkyard prices... just go with airbags as it will not be much more and will give you variability that springs will not. Plus you will not have to bolt on/ unbolt... just fill/release air.

Sorry no help with specifics of getting those to work apart from that I would think you would want to use the same width.

 

[RLDSL]

Heavy truck parts and suspension places can custom make ubolts to any size. They aren't cheap, but you will get what you need.

 

[Mat J]

I almost did this same thing a few weeks ago but just didnt really want to go threw the trouble of it.

when you put on over loads do you have to put on those brackets that bolt to the frame that i guess the over loads will hit when loaded? I always though overloads will bottom out on the stock springs when loaded so i dont know why there is that backets on the frame.

 

[85ford]

You do not want to use different width springs, the skinnyer ones will rub some serious grooves in the thicker ones and lead to some serious cracking in the wider springs. It's not a good idea. You can do the air bag thing though.