D350 versus D250 tire size and rear helper spring question

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D350 versus D250 tire size and rear helper spring question

Postby 888 » Thu May 22, 2014 7:17 am

You guys probably already knew this but I didn't. My 93 Cummins D350 2WD DRW uses a 215 85 16 tire according to the doorjamb sticker rather than the 235 85 16's my 91 and 89 D250's used. I just noticed it when looking at the vehicle weights when looking for rear brake parts.

Apparently, the PO of my D350 didn't know either because he put a set of 235 85 16's on there right before I bought it. He sold Dodge trucks for years at one of the higher volume dealers back when these things were new, go figure.

I wondered why my mpg seemed so dismal, it's better now that I have the tires factored in.

Regarding rear helper springs, I'm planning on taking them off the truck once I figure out how best to approach doing that. The PO hauled horses and a horse trailer so he needed them, I can't go over a speed bump at 2mph without the rear of the truck going airborne so they are coming off. Any idea on what they are worth once removed? Anyone interested?

Any advice on removal? Otherwise, I'm going to soak everything down with ATF/Acetone, see if I can take the load off of the springs and have at it.

TIA

Joe
93 Dodge D-350 Cummins Xcab DRW - completely stock
89 Dodge D-250 Cummins SRW 5 speed father and son project
84 Dodge D-100 5 speed slant 6
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Re: D350 versus D250 tire size and rear helper spring question

Postby DodgeFreak » Thu May 22, 2014 9:55 am

are they the factory helper\overload springs? If they are removing them won't help. They shouldn't touch until you start loading the bed down. once you take the weight out they shouldn't touch or if they do just barely.
92 D350 Cab and Chassis. Auto stock, wiring gremlins. 330k miles
92 W250 Ext cab rotted completely out. Auto, pump maxed, 215 ppump nozzles, Denny T2 pin.
85 D350 single wheel, converted to cummins, getrag, turned up 2 turns and afc screw flush.
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Re: D350 versus D250 tire size and rear helper spring question

Postby RumbleFish » Thu May 22, 2014 10:05 am

You can run 235s as long as you dont tow real heavy and get them to rub together. Iirc the 2ndgens had a deeper dish which gave them enough room for 235s with plenty of sidewall bulge.

Are they factory overloads? If so youll need new, shorter ubolts. Remove the old ones, and the spring and spacer will just be sitting there. Then remove the brackets from the frame. If it were me and i thought I may want them later, Id just leave the springs on and pull the brackets off the frame. Im fixing to put overloads on my truck, if I can only remember what I did with all the pieces I had stashed!
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Re: D350 versus D250 tire size and rear helper spring question

Postby 888 » Fri May 23, 2014 5:42 am

Good question on the helper springs being factory. Would they be listed on the label under the hood with the other options? It has a hell of a tranny cooler below the pass side extended cab area and I've assumed it's not factory but it could be.

I guess I could look at the tag on the firewall and see of any of those codes tell me more than the sticker.

I just assumed that taking them off would help because the PO owned a number of these and he said the ride was usually a lot better on these trucks without them and since I wasn't hauling as much as weight as he was with the horses and trailer it would ride better if I took them off.

I'll post some photos when I get the truck back, it's uptown getting the rear axle pass side oil seal done. I've got too many other things to do to Dick with fixing that right now.
93 Dodge D-350 Cummins Xcab DRW - completely stock
89 Dodge D-250 Cummins SRW 5 speed father and son project
84 Dodge D-100 5 speed slant 6
92 Dodge D-350 Cummins DRW 5 speed
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Re: D350 versus D250 tire size and rear helper spring question

Postby CumminsPower59 » Fri May 23, 2014 5:49 am

All the DRW D/W350's I have seen have had "helpers". The brackets will be riveted to the frame if they are factory.

That transmission cooler is probably originally too.

There is a few things to do to get these trucks to ride better, but it'll take some $$$ to get there. Yea, you could pull the overloads and pull some of the springs out of the pack, that's the cheapest way to do it, as all you'll have in it for parts is center pins and U-bolts. I have a SRW W350, and am running a Kelderman rear air ride system. I still have the capacity, but it takes up all but the biggest impacts. if I load it down, the air ride bottoms and the springs take over. It's worth looking into.
Ike

91 W350 SRW, 3.07's, NV4500, 370's, THD LPPP, Super HX40, 2nd gen IC swap, BHAF, Isspro's, 2" lift, 285's on 3rd gen 17"'s.
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Re: D350 versus D250 tire size and rear helper spring question

Postby 888 » Sat May 24, 2014 9:22 am

888 wrote:I'll post some photos when I get the truck back, it's uptown getting the rear axle pass side oil seal done. I've got too many other things to do to Dick with fixing that right now.


Wish I had noticed that oil leak sooner or the PO had mentioned it because it has obviously been leaking a long time. It took out every bearing in the rear end along with the spindle nuts, I saw them and they were trashed. That can be a very expensive oil seal.
93 Dodge D-350 Cummins Xcab DRW - completely stock
89 Dodge D-250 Cummins SRW 5 speed father and son project
84 Dodge D-100 5 speed slant 6
92 Dodge D-350 Cummins DRW 5 speed
others....
888
fuel screw!!!!
 
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Re: D350 versus D250 tire size and rear helper spring question

Postby bmoeller » Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:09 am

CumminsPower59 wrote:All the DRW D/W350's I have seen have had "helpers". The brackets will be riveted to the frame if they are factory.


You didn't look at mine then. :lol: Don't have the overloads or mounts for them. Both of my 2nd gen 3500's did though. If the springs are hitting the frame mounted brackets, you need to replace the springs. Should NOT hit empty (aside from a severe landing).

These trucks ride like a lumber wagon. No cheap way around that and not lose load capacity. Kelderman setup makes it ride better than a 1/2 ton. :D Can be found used, but can take a while to locate, if you can't afford a brand new one.
.
NEW- '82 CREW cab dually. Cummins, NV5600, 205, D60/D80. :D Work in progress......

'93 W350, CTD, ext cab, 5spd., HTT modded H1C, 4" exhaust, Kelderman single bag. 537k and counting!

SOLD- '92 W250, CTD, ext cab, 5spd

SOLD- '99 3500, SO CTD, 5spd

Traded off- '97 3500 CTD, 416hp/892tq.

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