F150 Suspension Refresh

C

CarbonToast

Joined
Jul 18, 2022
Messages
588
2017 F150 5.0 Crew Cab 150k miles

This is my daily and tow rig for a 29' travel trailer. after our last big trip towing, the ride quality really wasn't there. The shocks that were on it had probably 50k miles also. Inspected and noticed the leaf springs were looking tired. Bending the wrong way. I measured the rear ride height against the service manual spec. It was out of tolerance.

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Scored a set of used leafs from a savage yard. $200 cash off a truck with 40k miles. Included all the bolts and shackles. This is important because you have to cut the front leaf bolts OR drop the gas tank and exhaust.

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I figured the front coils were probably shot also. I ordered OE coils and spring isolators from Ford. I put on New Bilsteins all around from Rock Auto. With the new coils and shocks, I picked up 3/4" of ride height on the front. So it was worth it. Truck rides like new now. Amazing thing to me is all the balljoints on the front are original and just fine.
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Since I wore out 1 set of leafs I figured I should do something. I look at Airbags and then found Timbren Bump stops. They replace the stock bump stop and act like a helper spring. Took our first trip last weekend and they are totally worth it.

Trucks back to 100%, ready for another 150k miles!

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I installed Helwig overload leafs on my rear springs on the F150. That helped with towing quite a bit as it stiffened up the rear end under load . They simply clamp over the existing springs and are adjustable for stiffening. They don’t affect ride quality either. Something to consider if you either haul big loads or pull large trailers. Just remember you still have a 1/2 ton truck.
 
I've got the Timbren SES on my Ram, definitely a worthwhile upgrade for towing or hauling heavy. No more butt sag and the loads feel much better supported. With an empty bed and not towing, it's perfectly stock since they're not touching the axle.
 
CarbonToast said:
2017 F150 5.0 Crew Cab 150k miles

This is my daily and tow rig for a 29' travel trailer. after our last big trip towing, the ride quality really wasn't there. The shocks that were on it had probably 50k miles also. Inspected and noticed the leaf springs were looking tired. Bending the wrong way. I measured the rear ride height against the service manual spec. It was out of tolerance.

View attachment 307147

Scored a set of used leafs from a savage yard. $200 cash off a truck with 40k miles. Included all the bolts and shackles. This is important because you have to cut the front leaf bolts OR drop the gas tank and exhaust.

View attachment 307149
I figured the front coils were probably shot also. I ordered OE coils and spring isolators from Ford. I put on New Bilsteins all around from Rock Auto. With the new coils and shocks, I picked up 3/4" of ride height on the front. So it was worth it. Truck rides like new now. Amazing thing to me is all the balljoints on the front are original and just fine.
View attachment 307159
Since I wore out 1 set of leafs I figured I should do something. I look at Airbags and then found Timbren Bump stops. They replace the stock bump stop and act like a helper spring. Took our first trip last weekend and they are totally worth it.

Trucks back to 100%, ready for another 150k miles!

View attachment 307153

View attachment 307151
Click to expand...
Cool. I'm surprised that trucks haven't migrated over to coil springs for the rear.
 
There are way more parts to a coil spring rear. The leaf is simpler and IMO inherently stiffer by design.
 
Interesting. I sold my ‘18 at 90k and was suspicious it was riding lower than when I bought it. My oem rear shocks were useless after one year but the fronts seemed as good as the day I bought it. I ended up using up a set of bilsteins in the rear and switched custom tuned shocks from accutune, just a linear shock instead of progressive or regressive tuning, and found them to balance very well with the front. The difference in having adjustable rears for towing vs commuting, I enjoyed much.
 
I’m just not that big of a fan of coils on a truck rear suspension. It’s a personal preference, but I don’t think it would stop me from buying a truck. I like the simplicity of a leaf suspension.
 
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