Does Ford use leaf springs?
Yes. Ford uses leaf springs in some of its trucks, notably the Super Duty lineup. Other Ford models, such as the light-duty F-150, rely on coil-sprung rear suspensions in their current configurations.
Across Ford's lineup, suspension choices reflect different priorities: heavy payload and towing capability on work-focused models versus ride comfort and handling on consumer-oriented pickups. This article breaks down where leaf springs appear today, how the F-150’s suspension differs, and what it means for buyers evaluating Ford vehicles.
Leaf springs in Ford's lineup today
The following points summarize the current use of leaf-spring rear suspensions within Ford’s production lineup, with emphasis on weight of duty and payload needs.
- Ford Super Duty pickups (F-250, F-350, F-450 and heavier) use a traditional live rear axle with multi-leaf springs designed to maximize payload and towing capacity.
- Leaf-spring rear suspensions are not the standard for Ford’s modern light-duty lineup; they remain a hallmark of heavier-duty applications and historical configurations rather than the current F-150 family.
In short, leaf springs continue to be associated most strongly with Ford’s heavy-duty trucks, where payload and durability are the top priorities, rather than with the brand’s light-duty everyday pickup.
The light-duty F-150 and coil-sprung rear suspension
Ford’s light-duty pickup line, the F-150, employs a different rear-suspension philosophy in its recent generations, prioritizing ride quality and handling with coil springs and independent geometry.
- The F-150 features an independent rear suspension (IRS) with a five-link arrangement and coil springs across most trims, a design introduced with the 2015 redesign and continued in current models. This setup improves ride comfort and handling, while towing/payload characteristics are maintained through modern engineering and configurations.
While the F-150’s rear suspension uses coil springs, Ford continues to offer variations and options across its truck lineup that optimize for specific use cases, but leaf-spring setups are not the default on the latest light-duty F-150 models.
What this means for buyers
For buyers, the choice between leaf springs and coil springs often comes down to payload versus ride comfort. Heavier-duty buyers who need maximum towing and payload typically encounter leaf-spring rear suspensions on the Super Duty, while lighter-duty and consumer-focused configurations favor coil-sprung rear suspensions for smoother on-road feel and better ride quality.
Summary
Ford currently uses leaf springs primarily on its heavy-duty trucks (the Super Duty lineup), where payload and durability are paramount. The light-duty F-150, by contrast, uses a coil-sprung, independent rear suspension to deliver a smoother ride and improved handling, with payload and towing tuned by other design features. Understanding this distinction helps buyers align their choice with their needs for capability versus comfort.
Does Ford still use leaf springs?
Popular models like the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, Volkswagen Amarok, Ford F150, Isuzu D-Max, Toyota Tundra, and Toyota Tacoma still rely on leaf springs.
How to tell if leaf springs are bad on a Ford?
Signs and Symptoms of Bad Leaf Springs
- Sagging ride height – When leaf springs are worn out or damaged, the vehicle may appear lower on one side or overall.
- Excessive bouncing – You might feel an abnormally bouncy ride quality, especially going over bumps or uneven road surfaces.
Does the Ford Ranger use leaf springs?
It's clear that the Ford Ranger Leaf Spring is a key component in your truck's suspension system, ensuring safety, comfort, and the capability to handle a variety of driving conditions. Paying attention to signs like sagging, strange noises, or excessive bouncing can help you catch problems before they worsen.
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.
