Front end on my '02 1500 is kinda mushy. I'm going to upgrade the front coil springs and give the front an inch or so more hieght. Anyone have part #'s or suggestions. I did find some online but would rather have a recomendation. Any write ups on the r&r?
lilredex
05-09-2009, 02:46 PM
Have changed all the front coils on my B150's (1979,87 and 89) and if you put the originals (3/4" dia. wire) back in there it will still fee mushy. That I did on my '79 and it still feels mushy. Used 7/8" dia. on the '87 and 13/16" on the '89. Found 7/8" rode very stiff and abrupt and would not recommend unless you haul very heavy loads or just like that feel. My fav is 13/16" as it stiffens up the suspension to give it a much more confident feel but does not make it ride like a "lumber wagon" as those 7/8" do. If I ever drive the '79 again it will get 13/16" coils also............not so cool on the ride of the 7/8"
Used TRW springs, CS 7270 was the number of one set (still had the box).
The easiest way to measure wire dia is with an open end wrench.
Edit: Ride heights 25 1/2" (for 13/16") and 26 1/2" for 7/8" dia. coils. Measure from BOTTOM of wheel up to wheel well at wheel center. This eliminates any diff. in tire size.
MaintAndMore
05-12-2009, 01:05 PM
Thanks lilredex, just the info i'm looking for. I did however google those 13/16" TRW CS 7270 and didn't come up with anything. Would 13/16" be stock for a 2500 and the 7/8" stock for a 3500?
B-300
05-12-2009, 06:32 PM
I to have 13/16" front coils on my 71 (long wheelbase) and agree about the to stiff factor.... I went way to stiff on my 78 (short wheelbase) and the front bounces and way to stiff.
Short wheelbase vans are more sensitive to being sprung to stiff on the front.
lilredex
05-12-2009, 07:47 PM
Just so we are straight here.............all three of my vans are SWB and I would rate the springs as follows: 3/4" too soft and spongy, 13/16" perfect for around town and hwy. driving, gives a firmer feel to the ride and improves handling at hwy speeds, especially in crosswinds. 7/8" too harsh, lumpy and jarring ride, almost annoying. Truck was used for heavy loads intermittently and now just grocery getter type duty. If was used more I would switch to 13/16" which is ideal for me.
Cannot really offer any more info on those TRW springs as I could not find anything either. I had a really good parts guy and he just looked in his book when he knew what I was looking for. I did not ask if they were listed for 250's, 300's etc. He had them in stock, I measured the wire dia. paid and left...happy as a pig in sh....t. Hope this helps further.
Autoglass
05-13-2009, 10:46 AM
Might I make a suggestion,
Go to the parts house, find the weight rating on those springs and get the next weight rated units and install those. I did this with my 90 D-150, it came with 1300lb springs, the next rated units were 1700lb units. Raised the front end and stiffened it without changing alignment. BTW, it was a 4X2 but when it was done, it looked like a 4X4! :D
MaintAndMore
05-13-2009, 10:03 PM
This will keep you busy. http://bbb-carb.com/moog_Coil_Springs.htm The 7270 is good till '94. Some listings say '96. http://autoparts.pricegrabber.com/suspension/1981-1994-Dodge-B250-Moog-Coil-Springs/m704750586.html
B-300
05-14-2009, 01:48 PM
The van was redesigned in '94 if I recall correctly when they went from the 150/250/350 designation to the 1500/2500/3500 designation and suspension was one of the major changes so the springs are probably different in size.
As to ride height comment by Autoglass, D-series trucks use a different spring height 7170 and 7172's as opposed to 7270 and 7272's used in vans... The van springs are about an inch taller at ride height which would be about 2" at the wheel. (Van springs in a truck could of been the cause.)
