Well hey there, welcome back to the shop — or at least, the next best thing. Spring is here so this week, we’re going to talk about springs – heavy-duty springs. If you’ve got the coffee brewing and the garage door cracked open, you’re in the right headspace, because this little corner of the web is about as close as you can get to a Saturday morning truck talk show without an old AM radio humming in the background.
Every week, we hear from folks just like you: weekend wrenchers, proud pickup owners, and working guys and gals whose trucks aren’t just for show, they’re part of the family. The questions come rolling in through the shop, email, and the old-fashioned way — a neighbor hollering over the fence. Some are dead simple. Others, well, you wouldn’t believe the creative ways people find to push their suspensions past the limit. Either way, we’ve noticed the same themes popping up again and again.
So this week, we thought we’d sit down, crack open the mailbag, and run through some of the best coil and leaf spring questions we’ve gotten lately. Whether you’re new to truck life or you’ve been driving the same beat-up workhorse for 200,000 miles, chances are you’re wondering the same things.
Now, before we get rolling, let me say this: no judgment here. Trucks work hard, and so do the folks who drive ’em. Whether you’re hauling concrete, firewood, fifth wheels, or your in-laws’ furniture, the suspension under your rig takes the brunt of it, and it’s easy to overlook until something feels off. Maybe you’ve noticed your truck sitting a little lower these days. Maybe the ride’s gotten a little rougher, or you find yourself bottoming out on the same speed bumps you used to float over. Or maybe you just want to get ahead of the problem before you’re stuck on the side of the road with a trailer full of trouble.
That’s what this little Q&A is all about. Think of it like pulling up a chair at the counter and asking the old-timers what’s what. No sales pitch, no tech-jargon blizzard, just straight talk about how coil springs work, when they wear out, and how to pick the right setup if you’re thinking about an upgrade.
So whether you’re trying to solve a saggy rear end, prep for towing season, or just understand why your truck doesn’t sit quite as proud as it used to, you’re in good company. We’ve got the coffee poured, the toolbox open, and the answers lined up.
Alright, let’s crack into some of the top questions we’ve heard this week—and trust me, if you’ve been wondering, you’re not the only one.
Q: “Hey, my truck’s riding lower than my buddy’s. I haven’t even loaded anything heavy yet. Did I mess something up?”
A: Happens more than you’d think. If your truck’s starting to sag even when it’s empty, chances are your coil springs are waving the white flag. Steel only bounces back so many times before it starts to give up. Especially if you’ve spent the last few years towing trailers, hauling tools, or piling the bed full of weekend project supplies. Springs are quiet about it too — they don’t snap, they just slowly wear down until one day you’re scraping your tailpipe over speed bumps.
Q: “How do I know if it’s the springs and not just my shocks?”
A: Good question, and a common mix-up. Shocks handle the bounce, springs handle the weight. If the truck sits low when it’s parked, that’s your springs talking. If it sits normal but rides like a pogo stick over bumps, that’s your shocks. Sometimes both are shot, but the dead giveaway for tired springs is a sagging stance, especially on the rear axle.
Q: “My buddy said adding airbags is cheaper than replacing coil springs. True?”
A: Sort of, but it’s like duct-taping a leaky pipe instead of fixing the plumbing. Airbags can help if you’re hauling uneven loads or want to level out a trailer, but they don’t fix worn-out springs. If your coils are done, airbags are just a Band-Aid over the real problem. Fix the springs first, then add airbags if you want extra support.
Q: “I only haul heavy stuff on weekends. Is it worth upgrading to heavy-duty springs?”
A: Depends on how heavy and how often. If you’re hauling a couple of dirt bikes once a month, probably not. But if you’ve got a landscape trailer, construction equipment, or a big camper, heavy-duty springs are the way to go. They give your truck the backbone it needs so you’re not bottoming out on every pothole or driveway ramp.
Q: “Are heavy-duty coil springs gonna wreck my daily ride? I don’t want my teeth rattled out.”
A: That’s the old myth, and it’s not entirely fair. Good heavy-duty springs are designed to hold more weight without turning your truck into a stagecoach. Most setups actually ride about the same when empty, but hold their height better when loaded. If you’re pairing them with the right shocks, the ride stays surprisingly smooth. If your truck feels like a brick cart, somebody sold you the wrong setup.
Q: “How long do stock coil springs last anyway?”
A: On paper? Forever. In the real world? Not so much. Mileage, load, and road salt chew them up faster than you’d think. I’ve seen trucks with sagging springs at 60,000 miles if they’ve spent their life hauling. Others hold up fine for 150,000. The moment your truck starts looking low in the rear or nose-dives under braking, it’s time to give them a look.
Q: “What’s the install like? Can I swap ’em myself?”
A: If you know your way around a wrench and have a good spring compressor, sure. But if you’re the type who calls AAA for a flat, leave this one to the pros. Springs are under a ton of tension, and if you get it wrong, you might send one flying through the garage wall — or worse. Most shops can knock it out in a few hours.
Q: “What if I lift my truck? Do I still need heavy-duty springs?”
A: Lifting changes the game. Some lift kits come with their own coil springs, usually designed for the extra height, but not always for extra load. If you plan on hauling or towing post-lift, check the weight ratings on those springs. Some guys end up with a sky-high truck that squats worse than stock once they hook up a trailer. There are heavy-duty lift springs out there — worth every penny if you actually use your truck for more than looking cool at the gas station.
Q: “Is it normal for one side to sag more than the other?”
A: Yep, especially on older trucks. The driver’s side usually wears faster, thanks to the extra weight from the fuel tank, the driver, and sometimes the battery. It’s called “Chevy Lean” when it happens to older Chevys, but really, any brand can sag a little lopsided after years of work.
Q: “What’s the best bang-for-the-buck upgrade for a work truck suspension?”
A: Hands down, heavy-duty coil springs and matched shocks. Before you mess with fancy lift kits or oversized tires, make sure your suspension can actually handle a load. Too many folks throw money at appearance before fixing the backbone. Heavy-duty springs turn a worn-out hauler back into a truck that works for a living.
Q: “How do I pick the right springs?”
A: Talk to someone who actually knows trucks. Not the kid at the parts counter who drives a Civic. You want springs rated for your truck’s axle weight and your real-world loads. Too light, and you’re right back to sag city. Too stiff, and you’ll hate driving it unloaded. We usually start by asking what you haul, how often, and what your truck’s already equipped with. Match the spring to the job, not just the catalog listing.
Wrap-Up:
Truck suspension’s one of those things nobody thinks about until the ride gets rough or the rear end sags like a hammock. Heavy-duty coil springs are the unsung heroes under your truck, especially if you put it to work the way the badge on the tailgate suggests. Whether you’re hauling hay, concrete, campers, or your buddy’s broken-down project car, the right springs make the difference between a truck that looks the part and one that does the job.
Swing by the shop, shoot the breeze, and we’ll get you set up with something that’ll keep your rig standing tall, no matter what you load in the back.
