I have a 2006 Ram 1500 quad cab 4x4 with 162k miles, and need some advice on replacing the leaf springs. The springs are the factory 3/1 setup and the middle spring on the left rear is broken completely off slightly behind the axle. First of all, can I get away with replacing just the one leaf and call it done, or do I need to replace the whole leaf spring assembly, or is it best to replace both sides together. I occasionally haul a 30ft tow behind camper and I have a WD hitch for that but I don't want to mess around with bad springs or unevenly matched spring if that's a concern. If I'm looking at replacing the leaf springs on both sides I'm also wondering if it would be worth doing 4/1 heavy duty spring setup, anyone have experience with that, go with it or no? Thank you for the help!

 

Replace them both. I don't know if you can even buy the individual leaves, at least, likely not from dodge...... Given that you tow, I think new springs would be a good investment.

 

So, did you break the leaf with your current towing demand? If so, an upgrade rather than a quick and dirty repair would be in order.

 

Good question, The spring was cracked before I started towing my camper, I believe there may have been a defect in the metal or previous owner may have hauled something heavy with it and stressed it. It looks like the spring broke at a weak point where there is a hole through it for an alignment pin or whatever you would call it (a plastic pin going through all the springs). It looks like for about an extra $20 per side I can upgrade from the standard spring sets rated at 1700lbs to heavy duty springs rated at 2200 lbs. I'm not sure if the heavy duty springs would change the ride height or geometry of the rear end, but maybe it's worth it if the change is minimal?

 

New springs are going to change your ride height in any event. The heavy duty springs *shouldn't* raise if much, if at all. It will ride harsher with the heavy duty springs though, when not loaded.

 

Thanks for the input guys, I'm going to go ahead with the heavy duty springs. I'll try to post back here with anything I learned along the way once I get to it.

 

I know this is old, but how did the HD springs turn out? I’m in the same boat now, contemplating between the standard 1700 leafs or the 2200 leafs. I frequently haul about 800lbs in the back and it sags lower than the front. Hoping to put something in that will retain some height under load. But not be too tall unloaded or too harsh of a ride.

 

HD leafs ride like **** on our half tons. I had them, got rid of them in favor of air bags.

 

So you are now back to stock springs and added air bags?
I am certainly curious (and please excuse my ignorance, I am here learning about our trucks.) I've only been a RAM enthusiast for all of six weeks now.

What airbags do you have installed Prismatic?
A link please?

 

1/2 tons tend to sag (wrt the front) as soon as you put the load in there. Air bags help reduce sag, and are easily adjustable (air pressure). If you leave alot of air in the bags when unloaded, they too will ride rough.

Likely original poster just needs to replace his high mileage broken springs with new standard springs and get along fine. Tongue weight would have alot to do with the ride quality. Adding the weight distributing (WD) hitch will reduce sag with the trailer load.