Does the F150 have coil springs?
Yes. In its current generation, the Ford F-150 uses coil springs in the suspension on most trims, with a coil-sprung rear suspension replacing the older leaf-spring layout that dominated earlier models. The shift to coil-sprung, independent rear suspension began with the 2015 redesign and continues through today, including high-performance variants like the Raptor and Tremor.
Suspension layout: how the F-150 uses coil springs
Here are the key points about how the F-150's suspension uses coil springs.
- Front suspension: independent layout that uses coil springs to smooth wheel movement and improve ride quality.
- Rear suspension: independent five-link design with coil springs on modern F-150s; older generations used leaf springs for the rear axle, especially when carrying payloads.
- High-performance variants (Raptor, Tremor) employ reinforced coil-spring setups and long-travel shocks to maximize off-road capability.
In practice, the coil-sprung approach provides a smoother ride, improved handling, and better ride quality under load compared with older leaf-sprung rear suspensions.
Historical context: the evolution from leaf springs to coil springs
The F-150's suspension has evolved considerably. Early and many mid-to-late 20th-century F-series trucks relied on leaf springs, particularly on the rear axle, which offered durability for heavy payloads but a stiffer ride. Starting with the 2015 model-year refresh, Ford redesigned the F-150 with an independent rear suspension that uses coil springs. That change, along with an independent front suspension, contributed to noticeably improved ride comfort and road manners across the lineup. The approach has been retained and refined in the current generation, including in off-road-focused variants.
Raptor and Tremor: suspension specifics
The F-150 Raptor and the off-road-oriented Tremor build on the coil-sprung foundation with upgrades like longer-travel front and rear suspension, reinforced control arms, and performance shocks to handle rough terrain without sacrificing on-road stability.
These variants illustrate how Ford uses coil-spring technology across the lineup, with engineering tweaks to meet purpose-built performance needs.
Current state and takeaway
As of 2025, the Ford F-150's mainstream models rely on a coil-sprung suspension in both the front and rear, with independent suspension configuration designed to improve ride quality and handling while supporting towing and payload. The shift away from rear leaf springs began in 2015 and has persisted through today’s models, including the latest generation introduced in 2021 and carried forward in 2025 updates.
Summary
The Ford F-150 uses coil springs in its suspension system, in both front and rear in modern, independent-suspension trucks. The rear coil-spring design replaced the older leaf-sprung setup in 2015, and high-performance variants such as the Raptor employ additional suspension refinements. For most buyers, this translates to a smoother, more controlled ride and improved on-road behavior, alongside capable off-road performance in the appropriate variants.
