Improving "empty" ride quality - Rear Leafs

Alright guys...

Just getting my axle/engine swapped rig on the road. The front axle/leaf springs seem to do great over bumps... soley for the fact that my powertrain is probably 500+ lbs heavier of what the original 230 tornado weighed. So the truck in front rides nice. But wow... the back. (and ouch, my back). How many guys have removed rear leaf springs seeking ride improvement? If so, how many did you pull, which ones, and what was your resulting quality improvement. I will oil and bag/tag the removed leafs, but I built this entire rig to have somewhat street manners. It stops on a dime effortlessly (4 wheel disc, hydro-boosted), and it steers with one finger in a parking lot easily. The last check-mark I have left is negating just "some" of the empty dump truck feel.


So what say you zone... Is it worth it? (Note I don't need/have too, I already am smiling ear to ear after 4 years of restoration... but I no long term I need to tame it down in order to drink coffee while driving to work etc.

Mastercraft suspension seats really improved the ride quality for me.

Or get a custom set of springs made from deaver or Alcan that have more leaves but same load carrying rating. More leaves makes it ride smoother.

Spray your leafs with Fluidfilm. It will keep them from rusting and will improve your ride noticeably.

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Originally Posted by Mikel

Spray your leafs with Fluidfilm. It will keep them from rusting and will improve your ride noticeably.

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They already have a brushed paint surface of graphite slip paint. :(

I'm thinking leaves are coming out... and if need be whenever (if ever) I use the M715 for load carrying capabiltiy I can always air-bag it quickly. (Very easy for me to do/integrate)

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Originally Posted by venominjected

They already have a brushed paint surface of graphite slip paint. :(

I'm thinking leaves are coming out... and if need be whenever (if ever) I use the M715 for load carrying capabiltiy I can always air-bag it quickly. (Very easy for me to do/integrate)

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Air bags seem like a good way to have your cake and eat it.

I got airbags on my F250 and they don't change the empty ride just level out the truck when fully loaded.

And I don't think removing leaves will work very well since you don't have many leaves to work with as it is.

The best ride quality I had on the M715 was with 2000 lb pallet of corn in the bed.

I know people have posted that they removed 2 leaves from the rear to smooth the ride...I believe it was the next to the shortest and then skip the next slightly longer one and then the next one...
So if the very shortest is #1, remove 2 and 4.
Hope that makes sense...

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Originally Posted by brute4c

I know people have posted that they removed 2 leaves from the rear to smooth the ride...I believe it was the next to the shortest and then skip the next slightly longer one and then the next one...
So if the very shortest is #1, remove 2 and 4.
Hope that makes sense...

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But if you do that, you won't get the bone jarring jolt when you drop down off of a curb ;).

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Originally Posted by Don Cavey

But if you do that, you won't get the bone jarring jolt when you drop down off of a curb ;).

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My 2nd ride around the block I hit a blacktop joint where a culvert goes underneath between farm fields...

I was surprised the fillings and crown in my mouth were still in-tact. :eek:

All said and done.. I could "live it with" but I do enjoy my coffee on the way to work... vs. wearing it. :cool:

Have you thought about converting to a 4 link suspension and coil overs? The cost of a kit is what will get you though.

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Originally Posted by k8icu

Have you thought about converting to a 4 link suspension and coil overs? The cost of a kit is what will get you though.

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No... most or less I'm looking for it to behave like a modern 3/4 ton pickup in ride quality, power, handling, braking/steering.

Power, handling, steering, braking I have already completed to modern day. Ride is only thing thats left.

I think pulling leafs out... and then adding a air-lift airbag assist for extra load capacity seems to be the ticket.

To be honest the truck may actually see a sway bar if the ride ever gets soft enough.

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Originally Posted by Mikel

Spray your leafs with Fluidfilm. It will keep them from rusting and will improve your ride noticeably.

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I marinated mine with Fluidfilm, and the difference in ride was barely perceptible.

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Originally Posted by Nailhead

I marinated mine with Fluidfilm, and the difference in ride was barely perceptible.

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Probably because your leafs were not rusted solid like most in the North East.

Counting the longest leaf as #1, I removed #3 from the front and #3 and #5 from the rear.

Much improved ride and could still haul heavy loads without noticeable squatting.

I was also running a 6.2 diesel w/ turbo in front of the stock T98 transmission, or about the same weight as a Chevy Bigblock.

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Originally Posted by rollie715

Counting the longest leaf as #1, I removed #3 from the front and #3 and #5 from the rear.

Much improved ride and could still haul heavy loads without noticeable squatting.

I was also running a 6.2 diesel w/ turbo in front of the stock T98 transmission, or about the same weight as a Chevy Bigblock.

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how long ago did you do that swap? are the leafs sagging or flattening out at all?

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Originally Posted by Mikel

Probably because your leafs were not rusted solid like most in the North East.

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That's an interesting point that I never really thought of.

Mine rides pretty good after restoring it.
But I have NOS springs in the back, and all of the spring eyes/ shackle bolts are free and lubricated well.

And the fresh, new NDT tires are only running 25# of air front and rear.

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Originally Posted by Mikel

Probably because your leafs were not rusted solid like most in the North East.

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That was not a stated prerequisite-- the only experiences I can relate are my own.

From Old_Red_Jeep: "how long ago did you do that swap? are the leafs sagging or flattening out at all?"

The truck already had high mileage from use at a construction contractors, and I only had the truck for about a year after removing the leafs. I really never noticed any sagging or flattening while I had it.

My .02-- YMMV.