Factory front leaf spring sag.....

[AustinDube]

So my truck used to be a plow truck its whole life and the front factory leaf springs are arching in a negative way now. Would it hurt to flip the front springs and maybe get another inch higher and ride a bit smoother or?

 

[Craig 85]

No, they aren't designed to do that. I would buy new springs.

 

[CSFJ]

The 1/2 and 3/4 trucks all had a slight negative arch anyway. Not saying that yours hasn't sagged from the plow years, but just a heads up that a brand new set of springs won't give you a positive arch if that is what you were after.

 

[AustinDube]

ah okay

 

[Keith Seymore]

Are they two leaf or three leaf?

If they are two leaf then the installation of a three leaf pack would pick the front end up a bit.

K

 

[rich weyand]

To get rid of the negative arch, I used a 2" lift via Tuff Country EZ-Ride. To even out the front and back wheel spacing to the fender cutouts, I paired it with a 3" Tuff Country EZ-Ride lift in the back. The ride is much better when you get some positive-arch springs under it, but that means going to at least a 2" lift, because the stock springs were negative-arch.

 

[shiftpro]

To get rid of the negative arch, I used a 2" lift via Tuff Country EZ-Ride. To even out the front and back wheel spacing to the fender cutouts, I paired it with a 3" Tuff Country EZ-Ride lift in the back. The ride is much better when you get some positive-arch springs under it, but that means going to at least a 2" lift, because the stock springs were negative-arch.

This^

 

[yevgenievich]

Do positive arch springs actually give a better ride?

 

[theblindchicken]

Do positive arch springs actually give a better ride?

Ride quality is all about spring rate and the actual amount of weight on that particular spring.

High spring rate + little weight = Stiff ride
Low spring rate + little weight = Nice ride
Low spring rate + lotsa weight = Sagging & bouncy ride
High spring rate + lotsa weight = Nice ride


Get the spring rate that works best for your truck. If you've got a big block, heavy duty bumper, dual batteries, lotsa gismos in the front or rear, or plan on hauling loads all the time... Go with a heavier duty spring.

If you're planning to only really drive around town without hauling much, got a small block, stock bumpers, and want a comfortable ride... Go for a softer spring rate

Shocks make a big difference as well.

 

[yevgenievich]

I am more interested in specific negative vs positive arch springs with same rates. The ride then would be more dependent on how well the spring can move

Ride quality is all about spring rate and the actual amount of weight on that particular spring.

High spring rate + little weight = Stiff ride
Low spring rate + little weight = Nice ride
Low spring rate + lotsa weight = Sagging & bouncy ride
High spring rate + lotsa weight = Nice ride


Get the spring rate that works best for your truck. If you've got a big block, heavy duty bumper, dual batteries, lotsa gismos in the front or rear, or plan on hauling loads all the time... Go with a heavier duty spring.

If you're planning to only really drive around town without hauling much, got a small block, stock bumpers, and want a comfortable ride... Go for a softer spring rate

Shocks make a big difference as well.

 

[theblindchicken]

I am more interested in specific negative vs positive arch springs with same rates. The ride then would be more dependent on how well the spring can move

If you think about it a little, a negative spring in compression is similar to a positive spring on extension. The spring eyes try to come together as if bending them in the middle.

On extension for the negative is similar to the compression of a positive spring. The movement is trying to flatten it out.

My assumption would be that there is a slightly larger resistance to flattening the spring versus further bending it in, which would actually give the negatively arched springs a slightly better ride quality.

Would make sense in that the stock springs in the front are negative, but the rears are positive. Seems like the original design was to go towards a smoother ride up front with the weight capacity in the rear. Also makes sense in that the stock springs compress pretty well, but have very limited extension.

 

[yevgenievich]

That is about what my thoughts were. So when earlier in the thread it was mentioned that positive arched have nicer ride, it made me question it.

If you think about it a little, a negative spring in compression is similar to a positive spring on extension. The spring eyes try to come together as if bending them in the middle.

On extension for the negative is similar to the compression of a positive spring. The movement is trying to flatten it out.

My assumption would be that there is a slightly larger resistance to flattening the spring versus further bending it in, which would actually give the negatively arched springs a slightly better ride quality.

Would make sense in that the stock springs in the front are negative, but the rears are positive. Seems like the original design was to go towards a smoother ride up front with the weight capacity in the rear. Also makes sense in that the stock springs compress pretty well, but have very limited extension.