Rear suspension higher than front

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greenbank
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Rear suspension higher than front

Post by greenbank »

So, is a camper special supposed to have the rear up high and the front down low, or do I just need to get new front springs? My new truck has a pronounced rake to it, something I've never really liked (I like a level truck).

If it's supposed to be that way I can live with it, but if not, I would love to know!
1968 F250 Ranger Camper Special
-- 360, AT, PS, PB, disks
-- See Goldie
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wekelm
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re: Rear suspension higher than front

Post by wekelm »

I'm pretty sure that the raer measured at the wheel wells is supposed to be 2 in higher than the front. With yours being a camper specail it might be more 'cause when you put the weight of a camper on the bed it might level out :?
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re: Rear suspension higher than front

Post by FORDification »

Any time you add weight to the back of your truck, it's going to squat down. If Ford had made these trucks ride level front-to-back from the factory, any time you addeded any cargo, it would cause the back to sag and the nose to go up in the air. Since these were designed to be work trucks to be hauling cargo on a regular basis (and especially a Camper Special, hauling a slide-in camper), they wanted the truck to be closer to level with a full load, which means the back-end is going to be higher when unloaded.

You can level it out a little bit by getting rid of the HD spring pack and getting one from an F250 with a lower GVW rating....fewer springs, but less load capacity. The only way you're going to get it more level is to essentially remove the possibility of you ever hauling heavy loads. If you're never hauling heavy loads in the first place, you can probably get away with removing a leaf or two from your spring pack (though I'd leave the bottom overload spring in, for support.) Or, as you suggested, get stiffer front springs, which would raise the front end up a little.
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greenbank
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re: Rear suspension higher than front

Post by greenbank »

Cool, I recognize the rake as being built-in as a load leveling device, but it seems really pronounced on this truck. Think I'll start with new front springs and go from there.
1968 F250 Ranger Camper Special
-- 360, AT, PS, PB, disks
-- See Goldie
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68F250
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re: Rear suspension higher than front

Post by 68F250 »

I looked in your gallery and your Camper Special has the same amount of rake as mine does.

http://www.fordification.com/galleries/ ... 0011/2.jpg
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