Ride height question

[tmf350]

I have a 2006 F350 4x4 with 150,000 miles that sits low on the left front by over a inch. I have looked for broken springs front and rear and can not find anything. Does this mean that the left front spring could just be bad?

[skanj0]

Originally Posted by tmf350

I have a 2006 F350 4x4 with 150,000 miles that sits low on the left front by over a inch. I have looked for broken springs front and rear and can not find anything. Does this mean that the left front spring could just be bad?

Yep. They are made in Mexico and soften overtime. Unfortunately the left side has the driver and the fuel tank, so most Super Duty's end up leaning to the left.

Two options: aftermarket coil springs (stock height or a time to level the front end), or buy a new set of OEM coils. OEM coils are cheap - about $85 each.

If you go OEM, you can reduce the likelihood of future sagging by going with a heavier rate coil spring. Spring code AA=7,000LB (F550), AB = 6,500LB (F450), AC = 6,000LB (highest factory coil spring rate for F250/F350s). My truck came with AE = 5,200LB and my truck bottomed out pulling into my suburban driveway. Went to ACs (6,000LB) for about 6 months and it was much better. Still a little soft for my liking. Finally, went to AAs (7,000LB) and couldn't be happier. Also gained another 3/4" of front lift. So, the AAs, plus a 1" below spring spacer and my truck is leveled.

[fifty]

With these springs, does anyone have the spring rating figured out in terms how most aftermarket spring compant rates their springs? Meaning, the amount of weight to compress the spring the first inch?

I am trying to dial in my c/o and currently run 14 inch/500 lb springs. Thinking of going longer and maybe a bit softer.

[tmf350]

Where do you find the 1" spacers and how hard is it to change out the springs?

[skanj0]

Originally Posted by tmf350

Where do you find the 1" spacers and how hard is it to change out the springs?

First the safety disclaimer. Be careful. This work is dangerous. I've done mine twice and my neighbors truck once. There are many aspects that could potentially get one hurt or even killed.

Got my 1" spacers from ICON Vehicle Dynamics. They refer to them as TEI spacers. Many companies offer them. I think they are better than the bigger rubber "hockey pucks" that some put on top of the coils to level the truck.

The front coils are pretty easy to change on these trucks. I would say 1.5 to 2 hours tops - including one beer - and you will be done

Steps:
1) jack up the front of truck and put jack stands under both frame rails just rearward of where the control arms connect to the frame.

2) Put a floor jack under the front axle just to support it.

3) Remove front tires and wheels.

4) Remove lower shock bolts on both sides

5) Remove either the upper or lower (your choice) sway bar link bolt on both sides.

6) Disconnect the wheel speed senor wire bracket from front of lower coil spring mount (known as the TEI bracket). One 10MM bolt per side.

7) Lower floor jack and allow one end of front axle to drop slowly until either of the front springs looks like it's about to fall out.

8) Wrestle the spring out, and wrestle the new one in. Be sure to "index" the lower part of the spring into the TEI bracket. Repeat the process on the other side.

9) Undo the first 7 steps in reverse order.

If you are installing TEI spacers at the same time as new springs, they would be step 7.5: "Remove single bolt holding each TEI bracket to the axle. Insert spacer and reinstall TEI bracket with new longer bolt provided with spacer".

That's all there is to it. Just need a good floor jack and some stout jack stands.

Remember that these trucks are heavy. I recently rolled my front axle on a scale while leaving the landfill and it was 6,400LBs. Entire truck weighed-in at 8,600LBs. You cant just use a jack and stands designed for a Prius.