I have a friend with a '05 F350, and he does a lot of wood hauling off road. He hates the leaned back "prerunner" look when his truck is loaded down, plus it makes it harder to get back down the trail. He has the hook up on a set of 550 leaf springs with all hardware, and would like to know if anyone has done this swap before. This guy claims they are a bolt it swap, but he wants to know for sure. Any help would be appreciated.

Anyone out there have a similar problem and want to share their solution? He isn't set on anything and is really open to suggestions.

:idea: air bags:flipoff2:

I have a friend with a '05 F350, and he does a lot of wood hauling off road. He hates the leaned back "prerunner" look when his truck is loaded down, plus it makes it harder to get back down the trail. He has the hook up on a set of 550 leaf springs with all hardware, and would like to know if anyone has done this swap before. This guy claims they are a bolt it swap, but he wants to know for sure. Any help would be appreciated.

Anyone out there have a similar problem and want to share their solution? He isn't set on anything and is really open to suggestions.

Well, I do know that the frame rails are different (thicker) from F350 to F550, so I would have to imagine the mounting would have to be different, however slightly it maybe, but I would think something would have to be different.

And yes, I too vote for bags.:D

The F-550 also uses a Dana 135 rear axle. The F-350 uses a Sterling 10.50 (SRW) or a Dana 80 (DRW).

If the guy claims they are a bolt in swap...get something in writing that says your friend will get a full refund if they dont work...

ive got air bags on two of my trucks , both f350 definatly the way to go.

ive got air bags on two of my trucks , both f350 definatly the way to go.

No shit, I wouldn't want to drive around town with an empty bed with 550 springs on it.

The F-550 also uses a Dana 135 rear axle. The F-350 uses a Sterling 10.50 (SRW) or a Dana 80 (DRW).

If the guy claims they are a bolt in swap...get something in writing that says your friend will get a full refund if they dont work...


I thought Ford stepped away from Sterling on the SRW? (question, not comment) :confused:

I thought Ford stepped away from Sterling on the SRW? (question, not comment) :confused:

Nope, SRW still gets the Sterling. Confusion does rise as it goes by a whole shitload of names though: Ford/Sterling/Visteon 10.5"

They won't work without relocating the rear hanger. The F250/350 measures 25-1/2 x 33-1/4 while the F550 measures 25 x 30-3/4. The front eye has a different bushing but the rear eye has the same bushing so I guess that's something similar. Now if your friend had the chassis cab which would have either 9 or 11 leaves on the rear then he could make those work because they're a lot closer on the measurements but if he has the standard F350 then without some mods he's out of luck.

PM sillyfab on here, he just installed a 4link, air bag on a new 450, the 450 springs look just like the 350, except with a bigger overload, i also theink they are longer - search in the towing section.

Nope, SRW still gets the Sterling. Confusion does rise as it goes by a whole shitload of names though: Ford/Sterling/Visteon 10.5"


Cool, thanks. Hell, I drive a Dodge anyway:laughing: what am I doing in the Ford section? I guess trying to get my counter up so I don't look like a newb:eek::laughing::D

Thanks for the info...He changed his mind now because it won't be a bolt-in swap....:shaking::laughing: