front springs

[hotrod ford]

just wondering why my f250 and the f100 i just got rid of have 9 coils in the springs and the original springs from my fisrt bump had 11 coils. both f100's were the same so i figured the f250 would of had more. are the springs on the 250 the right ones?

[FORDification]

It's more the wire diameter that matters than the number of coils. When it's thicker, you don't need as many coils...and it's a lot stiffer. It would all depend on the GVW rating of the truck.

[hotrod ford]

i looked at that as well. the ones with 11 coils were 2 3/4 in while the ones with 9 coils were 2 1/2 in. should i put the 11 coil on my f250?

[fordman]

what was on it before? of course if they are used springs then i guess i would use the larger heavier duty springs.

[hotrod ford]

the 250 still has the 9 coils on it. i still have the 11 coils from the 70 f100. those are the ones that are thicker in diameter. just wondering if those would be better.

[fordman]

they would be better as far as being tougher. but they also might make the front sit up higher than the 9 coil springs but since they are used springs they might not make it sit noticeably high in the frot.

[Wes]

Keith meant the diameter of the steel used to make the spring, not the diameter of the spring. I would use the f250 springs in the f250

[fordman]

your right. i caught what kieth said i just wasn't thinking he was measureing the whole spring. yes use the f250 spring in the f250.

[FORDification]

The more coils you have, the softer the spring rate. Fewer coils mean stiffer spring.

Unless you're going to be doing a lot of very heavy hauling/towing, I'd go with the softer spring. There really isn't THAT much difference, but it won't ride so harsh in front by choosing the spring with more coils. Just my

[fordman]

are the f250 top coil cups larger than the f100 top cups?