I've seen a lot of threads about adding springs but I'm going to remove some for ride comfort.

My 1/2 ton ram has very stiff ride and I'm going to remove some of the leaf springs. I currently have 4over1 setup, think the 1/2 tons normally come with 3over1, but mine has an extra leaf making it a 3/4 ton spring setup. I noticed the 1/2 ton Chevy's come factory with 2over1 spring setup and they have quite a nice ride. I'm going to take it down to 2over1 and see how it rides and handles.

I mostly ride empty and roads here are horrible. I do tow some but nothing heavier than 4k lbs. I will add firestone airbags to compensate load in the future.

What do you guys think?

 

Yes I had that extra lead spring too on my 1500 suspension.

However, it is nowhere near a 3/4 ton setup.

How old are your shocks?

 

My 01 ram (off road package) has a bouncy rear as well on bad roads. But it was not always like that. Could be tired springs or it could be bad shocks, or it could be both. I changed my shocks and it helped only a bit (but the old shocks were shot at 65K).

It could also be your alignment or steering. I had to change my steering stabilizer after I bought a new rancho one because the rancho is complete crap. The rancho one was shot after a year and I had the death wobble. I put the stock one back on and the death wobble disappeared (even though people on this forum say that the steering stabilizer will not cure death wobble). I also had the trac bar and tie rod ends replaced and it didn't cure the death wobble. Then I replaced all four tires, still death wobble.

 

Personally, I'd look at making sure you have good shocks on the rear 1st, then consider air bags, if needed. I'd hate to remove leafs, as you will find they are needed when towing the trailer or tossing any weight into the truck's bed.

 

My alignment and steering are in good shape, the shocks are still good too. I'm at a spring shop now and looks like I have 1700lb spring packs each side. They are removing the 3rd leaf to bring it down to 1400lb load rating each side. Said that would be about the same as a Chevy. Be test riding it soon.

 

1700 each side??? Are you sure you dont mean total?

You'd be over a ton and a half with those

You do have a 1500 right?

 

Yes you are correct, it's 1400lb capacity both sides together. It has a little give to it now when hitting bumps on the road. I saved my leafs incase I want to go back.

They charged $200 it took them 2 hours. I'm pretty happy with how it rides. It dropped the back end 1inch, I'm still 2inches higher in the back than the front.

I'll have to see how it does with a little weight and a trailer.

 

Before 4over1



After 3over1