I have a 92 F-350 4x4 crew cab. I use it a few times a month for going places the city vehicles can't; rough roads but not jeep trails. It is ugly and perfect for my purposes.

When I bought it a couple of years ago, the concussion-inducing suspension was one of its charms, but now I would like something a little more forgiving on the rocks and ruts.

My question: Is it the springs that make the suspension so stiff or can I get a softer ride by replacing just the struts? Asking around locally, I have gotten conflicting answers.

Thanks for your expertise.

 

One tons aren't exactly designed for rocks and dirt. They're designed to carry quite a bit of weight and when the vehicle is not loaded you're going to get a very stiff ride. Best way around this would be to remove a leaf or two from the rear and switch out to a little lighter coil spring on the front. When you do this you are going to lose some height so you may want to compensate with a bigger block in the rear and a booster for the front.