Why did Ram stop using leaf springs?
Ram stopped using leaf springs on its light‑duty pickups around the 2009 redesign of the Ram 1500, switching to a coil-sprung rear suspension. This change was driven by a need for a smoother ride and better on-road handling, while heavy‑duty Ram trucks largely kept leaf springs to preserve payload and durability.
In detail, Ram’s move away from leaf springs represented a shift toward modern independent rear suspension for the light‑duty line, complemented by an optional air suspension in higher trims. The heavy‑duty lineup, which prioritizes payload and towing reliability, continued to rely on leaf springs. The result is a Ram lineup that aims to deliver everyday comfort for most buyers without sacrificing the core work capability demanded by haulers and contractors.
What changed in the Ram lineup
Below are the primary reasons Ram moved away from leaf springs on its light‑duty pickups.
- Ride quality: Coil springs paired with an independent rear suspension dampen road irregularities more smoothly than traditional leaf springs, producing a more comfortable daily ride for passengers and drivers.
- Handling and stability: The multi‑link coil rear setup reduces axle hop and improves steering feel, especially during cornering, braking, and light towing scenarios.
- Packaging and options: A coil layout frees up space and better accommodates modern features, sensors, and optional air suspension that can adjust ride height and leveling for payload.
- Adaptability for premium features: The coil system works well with contemporary electronics and comfort features, aligning the Ram 1500 with rivals offering refined ride experiences in the segment.
The shift away from leaf springs brought a more refined overall feel to daily driving and light towing, while Ram preserved capability through careful tuning of the coil arrangement and available air-suspension options.
Where leaf springs remain: the heavy‑duty line
Ram’s heavy‑duty trucks stay rooted in leaf-spring suspension to maximize payload and rugged durability. The Ram 2500 and 3500 models continue to rely on a robust leaf‑spring rear setup to handle heavy workloads, including high towing and payload demands. This choice reflects the fundamental trade‑off in pickup design: leaf springs offer proven strength and simple maintenance for extreme duty, at the expense of some ride comfort in everyday driving.
Even as Ram introduced advanced coil-spring options for light‑duty models, the HD lineup has remained focused on reliability under load. The brand has kept refining other aspects of the HD chassis and drivetrain, while preserving the leaf‑spring backbone that customers in trades and heavy hauling rely on.
Historical timeline of the suspension shift
Key milestones in Ram’s suspension evolution help illustrate how the company moved away from leaf springs for light duty and kept them for heavy duty.
- 2009: All‑new Ram 1500 debuts with a coil‑sprung rear suspension (multi‑link) replacing the previous leaf‑spring setup, marking the start of Ram’s shift for light‑duty models.
- Early 2010s: Optional air suspension appears on higher trims of the Ram 1500, offering adjustable ride height and improved leveling under load.
- 2019: Generational refresh introduces a more refined coil‑spring rear suspension with enhanced ride quality and efficiency, solidifying the coil approach for light duty.
- Present: Ram’s light‑duty lineup remains coil‑sprung, while the heavy‑duty Ram 2500/3500 continues to rely on leaf springs to maximize payload and durability.
These milestones show how Ram balanced improved ride and modern features for everyday driving with the proven, rugged capability required by its HD customers.
Summary
Ram’s departure from leaf springs in its light‑duty pickups was driven by a goal to improve ride quality, handling, and packaging through a coil‑sprung rear suspension and optional air suspension on higher trims. While the Ram 1500 and related light‑duty models embraced this evolution, the heavy‑duty Ram 2500/3500 line kept leaf springs to preserve maximum payload and durability. The result is a split strategy that emphasizes comfort for everyday use in the light‑duty segment while maintaining the rugged capability demanded by heavy workloads.
