Im ready to start on the rear end of the truck now and i am looking for opinions on who makes the best leaf springs to lift the rear of this heavy truck. I dont want to spend a bunch of cash on leaf springs just to have them start sagging a month after i install them.
Currently i have air suspension on the back with spacer blocks but i want to go back to leaf springs.
I considered using a shackle flip kit and utilizing factory ford springs to lift the rear, but im looking for maximum ride quality and i dont think the flip kit is the answer.
I I have a lifted 2wd Chinook with 4.5" front lift and used 2 inch blocks in rear plus raise MorRyde to get even, but after two years it has dropped in rear quite a bit. My rear axle is 7,200 which puts whole rig at 10,700 fully loaded which is 200 over max. I am looking to add 5" in rear & wondering the same things. My preference is to remove blocks and just go leaf spring.
However, I wasn't aware sagging with leaf springs is a real concern? Don't they use these on heavy duty trucks, dump trucks etc...way heavier than our Chinooks? I was looking at atlas springs (
http://atlassuspension.com/) or local to make custom, Monday I will discuss with local guy. Atlas running 2-3 months but could be sooner, but like everyone their supply chain slow. Atlas was very helpful to talk to and not rushed.
I wonder if shackle flip is bigger question, the flip and shackles aren't cheap and if they do not work money may have been spend better towards leaf springs, but no idea if true.