I need some help trying to figure out if there is something wrong with my rear leaf springs. On vacation in the desert this spring I got the deadly and very annoying under carriage rattle.
After a little reading on this site I figured out that it was from missing rear leaf spacers that had fallen off. The missing spacers caused a lot of noise and a very harsh ride. So no problem getting the dealer to replace them, but after they were replaced the harsh ride continued.
After some crawling around under the truck I noticed that one of my rear springs looks different from all other 2500 HD trucks that I have seen. There is no space between the top spring pack and the lower over load spring on the left side of the truck. Every 2500 HD truck that I see I always check the rear springs and while I have never measured it appears to have about ½ to ¾ inch gap between over load spring and upper spring pack.
When I pointed this out to the dealer they said that the lower spring was not an overload spring but just part of the overall spring pack and that my springs looked normal. I asked them why no other 2500 HD truck springs looked like mine and all I got was an Al Bundy stare and the comment "ok what would you like me to do about it". So they replaced the left side spring pack.
Imagine my surprise to find the new spring pack looking just like the old one and now the right side springs look the same with the upper spring pack sitting right on top of the over load spring.
The ride is still very harsh much worse than when it was new.
Some other info that may help, I have a camper shell on, extra weight caused spring sag?
I tow a 30 ft toy hauler with heavy tongue weight. Installed Rancho 9000 shocks at about 5000 miles, have 22000 on the truck now.
I think by always riding on the over load spring that it is what is making the ride so harsh.
Any help?
Thoughts?
Help!

How is the rear of the truck sitting compared to the front. Is the truck level? Is it lower or higher. That wil tell you if the springs are sagging. Stock and empty the rear is about 1 to 1 1/2" inches higher. With the weight of the camper and/or freqent towing the springs may have sagged but typically the truck should ride better. You may need to air bags to raise the rear of the truck up to get it off the overload(Actually not an overload) but the biggest spring on the bottom. The airbags should soften the ride and get the rear end up a little higher. You can adjust air bag pressure up and down when loaded vs. empty.


Here's a pic of my old airbag set-up:
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/5495bags.jpg

Look up Firestone airbags or Air Lift air bags.