A long time ago JEBar posted something about removing long leaf spring on his 3500 truck like mine. How big a deal is it to take those off? Does it reduce load capacity significantly? I already have Air Lift and Compressor. 90% of the time I drive mine unloaded and the other 10% of the time I tow a boat with 300# tongue weight and 4000# truck camper. Maybe my new Bilsteins and removing long leaf springs will take out the harshness on the ride when unloaded but could reduce load capacity for truck camper weight. Any thoughts? If I can get the ride better unloaded, maybe the wife will let me spring for a Juice. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

tomtahoe,


I'm not sure about the 3500 but my 2500 was a little firm until I "added" a leaf. I added a leaf just below the top leaf, the one with eyes, to level off my trucks 1st spring stage. I carry a toolbox and some other stuff in the bed which uses up most of my 1st stage spring. It seemed as if every bump had a "thawack" and a bottom. I found out via~ John Kennedy (http://www.kennedydiesel.com) that I was "bucking" off the 2nd stage spring, the heavy bottom spring. So, I added the Bilstiens and an extra leaf..... whoah-la... easy ride. That "one" extra spring makes such a huge difference. The truck is more stable, can handle "more" tonge & bed weight and just plain rides better. My only fear was wheel-hop on washboard roads. Well, I just got back from AR duck hunting where 90% of the roads are gravel "washboards" on levy's, dikes and anything close to them. The truck handled better than stock, much better.


Like I said, I'm not sure on the 3500 but the 2500 performed quite well.


Burner-------------->http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

I removed my lower "overload" springs on my 2003 2500HD.


WARNING: Make up the 1 inch space taken up by the spring with washers; as the shackle bolt threads come close to bottoming out and may not allow you too torque the assembly down fully.


You will lose about an inch in height, and I saw no issues towing my Fiver (5K total)


You will gain wheel hop.


Running on normal Juice, setting four gave me horrible wheel hop that streached the shackle bolts http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif


I was thinking of building traction bars, but now run on Juice tune 2 http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif .. Anyone have a traction bar design?

I would suggest ADDING a leaf, and removing the "slapper" springs. Just stand on the rear bumper and bounce. There is NOT excessive spring rate there...





The Air lift bags will more than compensate for the load when the slappers are defeated. T





Thess pics are WITHOUT the air bags:





http://www.kennedydiesel.com/photogal/dmaxtrailer.htmlEdited by: Kennedy