HOW TO SPOT WORN LEAF SPRINGS

The rear of a truck can also have problems if a leveling kit has not been put into place. As such, a truck that sits flat on the pavement can actually have problems, even if there's no apparent slouch when either empty or partially loaded. Ideally, an empty truck should raise up at the rear by anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 inches and point downward in front.

Though it might not be easy to spot in most settings, an empty truck observed at a distance along a flat parking space should have a slight elevation in back. The reason for this slight elevation is to compensate for the weight that would otherwise cause the truck to slouch in the rear while fully loaded. This way, instead of being weighted down in back, the truck is merely weighted flat thanks to the enhanced elevation along the rear axles.

The enhanced elevation of a truck also makes driving conditions safer for drivers in general because it prevents headlights from beaming straight into the windshields of oncoming motorists. Without this elevation, the headlights of your truck could have a momentarily blinding effect on any driver in an opposite lane, particularly at stoplights. Drivers in smaller vehicles, such as compact cars, could be particularly vulnerable to the blinding impact of headlights beamed from any truck that lacks sufficient elevation at the rear.

Ultimately, a lack of elevation at the rear of your vehicle could be an indicator that your leaf springs lack sufficient strength. The problem could be due to wear, which can often be spotted with an inspection of the underside. If no signs of wear are apparent, there's a possibility that the springs simply need the enhancement of an add a leaf lift kit.

Then again, even if there are no visually obvious signs of wear, it doesn't mean that the leaf springs are in optimal condition. While a helper spring or add a leaf kit can be installed to rectify the back of a vehicle that slouches due to worn leaf springs, this would only serve as a temporary fix to a long-term problem. After all, if the springs fail to support the truck's payload capacity as a result of fatigue, the added leafs will sooner give way from lack of mutual support within the pre-existing leaf springs.