Bowed front springs on 2014+

[MoparToYou]

Just looking around trying to see if anyone has done anything to address the bowed front springs on the 2014+ trucks. I think it is debatable whether the bowed springs are a problem or not, but it certainly looks like Ram didn't do something right when they designed this. Have any aftermarket companies improved it?

Here is stock:


Here is AEV:

Looks better to me, but I'm not really able to tell if both pictures are with the weight on the suspension or not. Both pictures are with stock springs, AEV just changes the bottom perch with their spacer.

Anyone found pictures of other companies suspensions yet?

[olyelr]

What AEV also does is lowers the radius arm frame mounts 3", essentially twisting the top of the axle back.

From what I have found through internet research is that the normal 2500/3500's dont have the spring bow. Personally, I think that the few inches of lift that the PW's have is what causes the bow, most likely because RAM didnt change the position of the radius arms to account for the lift (or adjust for it in the articu-link setup).

The other thing to consider is that when the suspension is fully compressed, the springs most likely straighten out. But, my thoughts are that it would be better for the springs to be straight at ride height (where they spend most of their time) rather than at full compression.

[laramieskibum]

The bow is supposed to be there. It is accentuated by compressing the springs, look at the pics above. One axle appears to be compressed by a jack, one is resting on the floor at droop.

My truck (2500'ctd with aev lift), had the bow stock, and still has the bow with the lift. It is by design. These new front ends are not simple.

See fabrech sales pitch (which I think is wrong). http://www.fabtechmotorsports.com/ram-coil-tech.php

My ctd rides awesome. All the trucks have a bow stock. Powerwagon I'm sure has a bit different geometry but by design. Their are 30something springs for these rams from factory to fit all different configurations, that's why I went aev. Leveling kit really bowed my springs out and gave a very very harsh ride (was on truck before I bought it.).

[laramieskibum]

Aev also moves axle forward 1", so the axle does not roll any different (in my opinion, I installed my lift). 1" forward, 3" up on the front. 2.5" up in the rear.

[Reloaderguy]

Both pictures are with stock springs, AEV just changes the bottom perch with their spacer.

AEV uses a stock height Ram 2500 spring, the Power Wagon uses a 2" taller spring. Those are not the same springs.

[Snowsled]

Both pictures are with stock springs, AEV just changes the bottom perch with their spacer.

AEV uses a stock height Ram 2500 spring, the Power Wagon uses a 2" taller spring. Those are not the same springs.

Not the same suspension arms either, PW front suspension is different than standard.

[MoparToYou]

The bow is supposed to be there. It is accentuated by compressing the springs, look at the pics above. One axle appears to be compressed by a jack, one is resting on the floor at droop.

My truck (2500'ctd with aev lift), had the bow stock, and still has the bow with the lift. It is by design. These new front ends are not simple.

See fabrech sales pitch (which I think is wrong). http://www.fabtechmotorsports.com/ram-coil-tech.php

My ctd rides awesome. All the trucks have a bow stock. Powerwagon I'm sure has a bit different geometry but by design. Their are 30something springs for these rams from factory to fit all different configurations, that's why I went aev. Leveling kit really bowed my springs out and gave a very very harsh ride (was on truck before I bought it.).

Thanks for posting that link for the Fabtech lift. That is what this thread was about, ... seeing if other manufacturers are doing anything to correct the bowed springs. It is interesting to see that some of them are correcting it. Also interesting to hear that your truck rode worse when the springs were more bowed with a leveling kit. I agree that these trucks are designed to have the bow in the springs. Ram wouldn't have had that big of an oversight. I still want to know why they are designed to have the bow in the spring though.

Good to hear that your CTD rides awesome with the lift on it. I just ordered a CTD (3500) of my own.

[laramieskibum]

Both pictures are with stock springs, AEV just changes the bottom perch with their spacer.

AEV uses a stock height Ram 2500 spring, the Power Wagon uses a 2" taller spring. Those are not the same springs.

This is true. Power wagons with aev lift do not have powerwagon springs (which I would actually want if I had gone powerwagon - restores load capacity, my BIL's wagon really sags when towing a camper.

[TwinStick]

IMHO, not only does it look like sh**, it should not be like that in the first place. Springs are meant to go up/down in extension/compression. It would seem to me that the way it sits in the first photo, the 2nd & 3rd coil would be stressed more than the others, as it is also flexing left/right or front/back, as well as up/down. Mine are certainly NOT like that on my stock 3rd Gen.

[Reloaderguy]

The bow is supposed to be there. It is accentuated by compressing the springs, look at the pics above. One axle appears to be compressed by a jack, one is resting on the floor at droop.

My truck (2500'ctd with aev lift), had the bow stock, and still has the bow with the lift. It is by design. These new front ends are not simple.

See fabrech sales pitch (which I think is wrong). http://www.fabtechmotorsports.com/ram-coil-tech.php

My ctd rides awesome. All the trucks have a bow stock. Powerwagon I'm sure has a bit different geometry but by design. Their are 30something springs for these rams from factory to fit all different configurations, that's why I went aev. Leveling kit really bowed my springs out and gave a very very harsh ride (was on truck before I bought it.).

Thanks for posting that link for the Fabtech lift. That is what this thread was about, ... seeing if other manufacturers are doing anything to correct the bowed springs. It is interesting to see that some of them are correcting it. Also interesting to hear that your truck rode worse when the springs were more bowed with a leveling kit. I agree that these trucks are designed to have the bow in the springs. Ram wouldn't have had that big of an oversight. I still want to know why they are designed to have the bow in the spring though.

Good to hear that your CTD rides awesome with the lift on it. I just ordered a CTD (3500) of my own.

Most aftermarket manufacturers use radius arm drops, geometry correcting radius arms, or switch to linked suspension. The geometry correcting arms mainly just correct the caster and axle placement forward/aft. Carli and Thuren actually correct the spring end details. Carli goes as far as to correct the spring and use a radius arm drop.

I've had linked coil spring suspension of all kinds and pretty much all of them bow at some point in the suspension travel, be it static ride height, compression, or somewhere in the middle. The static bow of the top picture is ugly but that doesn't mean the performance is bad. In fact, by all accounts the spring bow is a non issue until you get over a certain lift height. Most of the guys with 2014+ trucks didn't even noticed until I posted that picture of my truck because you can't tell until you take off the tires.