Pulling out Leafs to lower rear

[Rales]

I have had my 95 F250 for about a week now and I was looking over the rear end and noticed that it looks like my old F150 my dad had added leafs to so that it could haul heavier loads. It has the 3 if I remeber right leafs that all stick closly together and then it has a larger about 1/2 inch thick leaf on the bottom that seems like a helper leaf. I understand removing this will lower the amount that I will be able to hold in the bed and also tow behind it. I would just like to get the bed a little lower so that it will be slightly easier to load dirt bikes and also my sport bikes into the back without such a steap incline. Any suggestions would be great or concerns like the drive shaft maybe going too deap into the tranny since the axle will be higher up etc. Any idea how much lower the truck will be in the back then currently. Thanks

[99Smokin73Stroker]

That's a tricky one. Might have to get marc on this and see what he'd know...he seems more of a motor guy but i'm not sure. I would think that it might give you some vibration in the drive line if you have a 2 piece shaft with a carrier bearing. But i'm not the expert!

[Rales]

Yeah I was wondering about that. I looked at it when i got home and its actually 4 leafs with another bigger leaf on the bottom so actully 5 leafs in all. It is a 2pc drive shaft and I would prefer that it not vibrate any more then it already does My first diesel.

[mschn99]

adding usually isnt a problem other than maybe a little driveline vibration, but taking leafs out can really affect handling and ride....i wouldnt reccomend it......Marc

[99Smokin73Stroker]

Well looks like you got your answer! lol

[wesjones]

the lower fatter leaf is just a beefier one, and i think pretty hardto remove without taking everything off. a helper spring would be on top of the stack and bends way up from the rest and catches two plates on the frame when loaded heavy...sounds like you don't have those...why don't you raise the front instead of messing with your payload?

wes

[Rales]

Thanks for the input guys. I actually dont want to raise the truck at all as I am trying to make it easier to get bikes into the back. I will see about just getting a longer ramp that will give a smoother angle. I wasnt really worried about the back end sticking up higher then the front. Thanks guys I'm going to leave it stock height.

[lilredpowerstroke]

Do you have a block between the springs and the axle??? I was just wondering because if you did you could take the block all together or put a shorter one in.
TJ