97 F-250 powerstroke springs

[WTA]

My truck is now passing 200K miles and it's about due for a new set of springs.
I have already started replacing all the front end bushings one set at a time and just setting the toe myself each time I replace something. I did enough alignments in my years that I can eyeball it better than most people.
Anyway, My camber angle is out and eating the inside of my tires. It a 4X4 with leafs up front. I was going to just replace all the spring bushings and align it right but I'm debating over whether or not to replace the springs.
If I do the fronts I'll have to do the back too or else it will be higher in the front.

Springs are expensive. Would you all think it's better to just do the bushings and align it? The springs probably won't sag any more in their life.
Or replace all the springs first? I can't make up my mind.

I pull a really heavy horse trailer with this truck and right now it just levels out when I drop the trailer tongue on the ball. It's fine in the ride height for what it's used for. Just when those front springs get the sag in them the camber goes with it and eats tires.

I was also thinking of blocking the front and rear springs. 1 inch in the rear and a half inch in the front. That will put the alignment and ride height right back into factory specs but I've always been leary of blocks.
I sure wish I could make up my mind what to do.

 

[podagrower]

In most states, lift blocks are illegal in the front. I have seen one break, and the results are quite dramatic. I would not trust pulling a horse trailer that way. As far as replacing the springs, I would say that depends on how long you plan to keep the truck. If the camber is out and eating the front tires, how many sets of tires can you buy for the price of the springs?

 

[lug nut]

You can get camber/caster bushings that will add up to 2*. That should be enough to compensate for the sagging springs.

Another option may be to add an extra leaf to the front springs. I did that on the '88 F-250 I use to have. That made the front end level with the rear.

 

[RobertN]

You have the leaf spring IFS? That system is prone to sagging. I swapped my '89 F250 to a Dana 60 solid front axle. It was practically a bolt-in. That ended the sag issue... I did have the springs rearched when I changed front axles because, well, a saggy spring is a saggy spring.

Before I swapped from IFS to a solid axle, I had my front springs re-arched, and an additional leaf added to the pack. I hauled a 11'6" camper around, so I wanted to beef the front end up(already had good overloads/leveler's on the back.

The local spring shop could re-arch, or build an all new custom spring set just for the intended application. And, thier prices were pretty good.

There is one gaurentee on those leaf spring IFS's... They will sag, and are replaced/rebuilt, will sag again. Leaf springs do not hold up well to the radius arc swing of the IFS. That system works on coil spring, as the coils can handle stresses from more direction, so that radial arc movement as the wheels move up and down are not as detrimental.One other thing of note; the straight axle turned tighter than the IFS...

My truck is now passing 200K miles and it's about due for a new set of springs.
I have already started replacing all the front end bushings one set at a time and just setting the toe myself each time I replace something. I did enough alignments in my years that I can eyeball it better than most people.
Anyway, My camber angle is out and eating the inside of my tires. It a 4X4 with leafs up front. I was going to just replace all the spring bushings and align it right but I'm debating over whether or not to replace the springs.
If I do the fronts I'll have to do the back too or else it will be higher in the front.

Springs are expensive. Would you all think it's better to just do the bushings and align it? The springs probably won't sag any more in their life.
Or replace all the springs first? I can't make up my mind.

I pull a really heavy horse trailer with this truck and right now it just levels out when I drop the trailer tongue on the ball. It's fine in the ride height for what it's used for. Just when those front springs get the sag in them the camber goes with it and eats tires.

I was also thinking of blocking the front and rear springs. 1 inch in the rear and a half inch in the front. That will put the alignment and ride height right back into factory specs but I've always been leary of blocks.
I sure wish I could make up my mind what to do.

 

[tractorsanmore]

Have you checked the ball joints . You may already know all this but as lugnut said they make a larger bushing ( eccentric ) for the upper ball joint , it fit's over the stem on the top of it , turn to adjust as needed .

 

[Rara Avis]

These can help maintain your next set...
Vehicle Suspension Kits - Timbren Suspension Enhancement Systems

 

[RobertN]

These can help maintain your next set...
Vehicle Suspension Kits - Timbren Suspension Enhancement Systems

Maybe... The problem is, the leaf spring in a Ford IFS does not move straight up and down like a solid axle. Since there is a pivot point near the center of the truck, the springs moves up and down, but in and arc. The combination of moving up and down, and twisting the spring a little as it moves in an arc but the ends remain on a flat plane, really tweaks the springs.

The design was a good concept, but a poor overall design.

Look at about any Ford F250 or F350 with that 4x4 has a leaf spring IFS; 9 of 10 will be sagging, and the tires will be leaning in at the top.

The trucks with the Dana 60 solid axle up front, use the same springs and shocks. They do not sag...

 

[Rara Avis]

Maybe... The problem is, the leaf spring in a Ford IFS does not move straight up and down like a solid axle. Since there is a pivot point near the center of the truck, the springs moves up and down, but in and arc. The combination of moving up and down, and twisting the spring a little as it moves in an arc but the ends remain on a flat plane, really tweaks the springs.

The design was a good concept, but a poor overall design.

Look at about any Ford F250 or F350 with that 4x4 has a leaf spring IFS; 9 of 10 will be sagging, and the tires will be leaning in at the top.

The trucks with the Dana 60 solid axle up front, use the same springs and shocks. They do not sag...

Sorry, I'm a GM man...

 

[WTA]

I did check the ball joints real well. While doing that I found all of the bushings, the pivot bushings, spring bushing on both ends, were starting to distort so I already replaced the pivot bushings with polyurethane ones. That got the camber back a little. The front spring bushings are next.

I have the alignment bushings running out of my ears in the bottom of my tool box for this truck. I was an alignment tech at two ford dealers and 2 GM dealers so I have a lot of left over parts, that's no problems. I think I can even eyeball which ones I need to do it right the first time without the alignment computer. I have a set of magnetic caster and camber gauges too that I can set it with after I get it all fixed up.

I do kinda like the front Leaf spring system myself. While it doesn't have the travel of a coil spring IFS it can take a lot more weight. I think it drives a little better on rough roads too. It's rougher but more stable. I put on a set of rancho RS5000 shocks last year too and that really helped a lot!

When I was still a mechanic I used to have a lot more of these springs rearched than I replaced. That was in a different state though. I've had experience with the spring shop here and I wouldn't let them arch the springs on my horse cart. Last time they did a set for me the ride heights were different on all 4 corners of the truck.

My only worry is that if I do the alignment bushings, I'll be at or near my max imum adjustment for it. Maybe the add a leafs are the way to go but I'll do it on all 4 instead of just the front.
I can do that myself anyway and not have to rely on a spring shop.

Been thinking about air bags too. Not sure.

 

[kennyd]

Sorry, I'm a GM man...

We won't hold that against you

I have a 92' F250HD with the 7.3l IDI diesel, I have owned it since new...I have battled this problem for 5 years now. Tried the Add-a-Leaf with bad results, the tires looked like \/ after I installed it and it would not align.

The only solution I think is to find a local spring shop that is familiar with the problem, and let them build new spring packs.