Should I replace the Leaf Springs?

I would weigh the rear axle each side to verify the rating needed.
Get the right springs, no helpers etc. If in doubt go UP in rating.

Here's the 4000-lb spring at SD Truck Springs. A number of us have used that vendor for various parts.

Please post your Axle Ratings. From your OP, 12000-lb, I'm taking rear at about 8000 and front at about 4000. Our 1983 E350 was rated a little less, 11000-something, but that's from memory. I didn't keep any of the old information.

Our 1983 E350 was right at max weight, both ends, under a 24-ft Holiday Rambler. Springs were sagged and I added a "Repair Leaf" to each side. BUT the two springs matched! Would not try that with a spring set that's mismatched, which I think yours is. Look at RockAuto.com and you'll see a 3200-lb (per side) and a 4000-lb spring. If I had to guess, it calls for 4000 and somebody replaced one side with 3200, but your GAWR-Rear should confirm that.

Shop "might" be able to weigh it, but I think you'd be better to get your own weights. Then you'll know how to take what they tell you. It may be tricky finding a scale that does sides/corners. The CAT scales at truck stops do Axles. The ones at scrap yards do the whole vehicle. You could get ends/axles but I don't know about sides.

Thank you guys. I will search for a truck spring shop and get this worked out.

Should a spring shop be able to weigh each side of the vehicle? I would think so.

Obie

Taking it to a shop that knows what they are doing is really the key..the trick is to know if the person looking really does know. The only way to determine is to take it to several. They will need to do the springs, no question, but the suspension is an interesting mix of engineering know-how and seeing what's maybe bent or busted can take an experienced eye. A shop may suggest re-arcing....but I would think that at that age, the set of leafs should be swapped out for new. And the same number of leafs on each side, too.


Gary Haupt

heyobie wrote:
1988 Ford E350 Travel Master Motorhome (became Coachmen), 12,000 LBS, 30,000 miles

Bought this a few months ago and have been fixing it up. Things are good except the home has a strong lean to the passenger side. When I checked the leaf springs, they look rather stressed (to me the leafs should have a bow to them with the ends higher than the axle. These are straight to the ends pointing down)and I counted the leafs.

Driver side has 10 and passenger side has 8. Is this by design?

Should I replace the passenger springs to new 10 leafs. And had helpers to both sides?

Thanks in advance,
Obie

Obie,

That set up is not at all normal. This coach is 30 years old. I bet you dollars to donuts that somewhere along the line a spring failed (any guess which side) and it was replaced. Any shop work a shat would have only done the job with a matched set (even if the owner was cheap - liability). So, someone with no sense of responsibility found a spring and put it in there.

First, try to find a scale where you can get weights by wheel. The go looking for a truck spring shop. Many spring shops have no capability to do the replacement, but can either repair the right spring or make a pair that match....

Matt

Different springs have different arches to them depending on their application. It would not be unreasonable for one side to have a few more leafs in them because of the weight. I have seen leaf springs on HD vehicles under extreme stress every day and not lose their arch. A truck spring shop is your best bet. IF the springs check out ok a set of Goodyear air bags ( by far the best in the industry) would help to level out your rig as you adjust each bag independent of each other.

Hi,

Springs do get old and tired. On my E-350 I took it to a spring shop and they added a leaf to each side. It was a good repair/upgrade and much improved the ride.

Take it to a good HD truck spring shop. Options are:

Replace springs, add leafs (like likely happened on the other side) or add a shim.

This is what they do for a living.

With the unit dry the springs should not be straight. Not enough miles to wear them in my opinion. Take it to a truck shop and see what they say.
Brian