Do modern trucks still use leaf springs?
Yes. Leaf springs remain common in the rear suspension of heavy-duty and commercial trucks, offering durability and strong load-carrying capability. In contrast, many modern light-duty pickups favor coil-sprung rear setups for a smoother ride and improved handling.
Leaf springs today: where they endure
Leaf springs are valued for simple packaging, reliability under heavy payloads, and predictable load performance. They continue to appear in the heaviest-duty trucks and in fleets that require rugged, low-maintenance suspensions.
- Heavy-duty pickups and chassis-cab trucks: rear leaf springs are standard on many 2500/3500-class models to maximize payload, axle stability under load, and durability.
- Commercial and fleet trucks: many work trucks, dump trucks, flatbeds, and service vehicles use rear leaf springs for long-term durability and predictable towing characteristics.
- Specialized configurations: some dual-rear-wheel or high-load variants retain leaf-spring suspensions to maintain weight distribution and ground clearance under heavy use.
In short, leaf springs persist where payload, durability, and simple maintenance are priorities, especially in the heavy-duty and commercial segments.
Light-duty pickups: a shift toward coils
Most modern light-duty pickups have moved toward coil-sprung rear suspensions or independent rear suspensions to improve ride quality, noise, vibration, and harshness, while still delivering strong towing and payload performance.
- Coil-sprung rear suspensions: common in mainstream pickups to smooth out road irregularities and provide a more comfortable ride for daily driving.
- Independent rear suspension (IRS) and multi-link designs: help reduce axle constraints, improve handling, and enhance steering feel on uneven pavement.
- Payload considerations and exceptions: while coil systems are prevalent, certain trims or configurations designed for maximum payload may still use leaf springs or hybrid setups to balance strength and cost.
Overall, the industry trend in the light-duty segment favors coil or independent suspensions, with leaf springs largely confined to the heavy-duty and commercial end of the market.
Why leaf springs continue to matter
Leaf springs offer straightforward manufacturing, robust durability under heavy loads, and effective axle alignment when a vehicle carries substantial weight. They remain economical to repair or replace and are well-suited to work applications where reliability is critical and payload expectations are high.
Takeaways for buyers and drivers
For everyday driving and regular towing, most buyers will encounter coil-sprung rear suspensions in new light-duty trucks, delivering a smoother ride. If payload, durability, and straightforward maintenance are the priorities—especially in commercial use or heavy-duty towing—leaf springs remain a strong, time-tested choice.
Summary
Leaf springs are not a relic of the past. They continue to underpin the most demanding work and fleet trucks, while the majority of modern light-duty pickups favor coil or independent rear suspensions for better ride and handling. The right choice depends on how the vehicle will be used: heavy payload and durable towing point toward leaf springs; everyday driving and comfort favor coil-based designs.
Does the F150 still use leaf springs?
The F-150 Has Three Very Different Suspensions All In One Basic Truck Architecture. Three very different rear suspension designs — a solid axle held by leaf springs that do everything, a solid axle held by five links and sprung by coil springs, and a fully independent suspension — for three different purposes.
Why don't cars use leaf springs anymore?
It's mostly for packaging and cost reasons. Coils are cheap and compact, but transfer load to a single point. Leaf springs take up more room, cost more, but transfer load to a wider area. That's why you still see leaf springs in larger vehicles designed to carry big payloads.
Do modern trucks have leaf springs?
In modern vehicles, leaf springs are becoming rare. Still, they remain an integral part of the suspension system in many classic off-road vehicles, especially pickup trucks.
Are leaf springs still used?
Yes, leaf springs are still used today, particularly in heavy-duty trucks, commercial vehicles, and some SUVs and classic cars, because they are durable, reliable, and cost-effective for carrying heavy loads. Their use is declining in newer passenger cars as coil springs and other, more complex suspensions have become popular for their smoother ride, but leaf springs remain a practical choice for many applications, especially for their simplicity and strength.
Where leaf springs are still used
- Heavy-duty and commercial trucks: Leaf springs are common in the rear suspension of many pickup trucks because they are robust and can handle heavy payloads and towing without sagging.
- Commercial and utility vehicles: They are found on many commercial vehicles, such as cargo vans, where they provide the necessary strength and durability.
- Classic and off-road vehicles: They are a staple in the suspension of many classic vehicles and are still used in some modern off-road vehicles for their ruggedness and simplicity.
- Certain SUVs: Some modern SUVs, such as the Volvo XC90, have featured leaf springs, although manufacturers are increasingly moving toward other suspension types for these models.
Why leaf springs are still used
- Durability: Their simple design and strong construction make them very durable.
- Cost-effectiveness: Leaf springs are often a cheaper and simpler solution for suspension compared to more complex systems.
- Load capacity: They are excellent at supporting heavy weights and maintaining axle alignment when loaded.
- Integrated function: In a leaf spring setup, the springs themselves provide both the spring function and the necessary linkages to hold the axle in place, eliminating the need for additional components.
