Jumping off the Diesel Bandwagon - UPDATED

transamz9 wrote:
This guy's main problem is lack of research. He has already stated that he had to modify his last 3 2500's to handle the load. He should have researched the availability of suspension mods for the truck he was ordering before hand. It sounds like to me he is overloading the suspension and is mad because he can't modify yet because of availability. A good fab shop could hook him right up he just want's to be able to order the mod through the mail.All he needs is some mounts fabricated to mount air bags where the coils are. The suspension is already there.:S

Also, all this talk of a coil spring suspension being weak and unstable is hogwash. A 4 link suspension is way stronger and more stable than a leaf system it's just harder to get the spring rates right for a wide range of weight. Air bags are the only way to go with this type of suspension on a truck and it's coming if Ram would just quit dragging their feet.

Agree totally...

Most of the other comments are out of context

Like more half ton has coils...therefore too many think weaker than
leaf springs...nope, out of context association

Locomotive engines has coil springs around my area. They weigh in around
500,000 lbs. Ditto the passenger cars, but they don't weigh that much
and I don't know their weights...but way more than our light duty trucks

issue with coils is that they need locational members and as stated by
transamz9, "links" are the norm and also way more accurate than
any leaf spring setup. There is a down side for trucks and towing...the
OEMs normally only size them for the bare minimum and why I don't
like IRS for towing...think the OEMs have not sized them for towing
heavy, but more for 'ride quality'. That all boils down to $$$$

Air bags have a very similar issue with locating the axle and links
also the solution. Air bags can also be ordered with tens of thousands
of pound rating. Their short coming is stroke or travel. Plus within
that travel, their spring rate falls very very quickly. So they have
a fairly short working stroke

Unknown to many is that by adding air bags in parallel to leaf springs
can gain both weight management capacity and ride quality.

Air up the bags a bit to lift the load a small amount off of the leaf
springs will have the leaf springs in their lower spring rate. In
addition to the lower spring rate of the air bags.

That will NOT increase the GAWR, just manage it better

It is NOT all or nothing in these things...nor absolute (one is better
than the other or worse than the other)...it depends on the application,
design around the other components/systems...