Helper springs

These are helper springs right? Not stock? If they are will my ride improve if I remove them?

 

Is your truck a 6-lug or 5-lug? 6-lugs have the springs above the axle tube, but with how zoomed your picture is, I'm guessing yours is a 5-lug with springs under the axle (which I think was how they came factory, I'm not familiar with 5-lug trucks at all). If I'm right, those are your only leafs and you need to keep them if you want your rear end attached to the truck

Can you take more pics that show what's above that axle tube?

 

5 lug 2wd axle on top. I'm pretty sure I have to keep the factory springs, but I think this thick leaf is a helper spring.

 

No, that’s what is commonly referred to as the overload leaf. That’s likely as soft as you can go, dunno if anyone makes leaf springs with less wait rating than stock. Put some weight in the bed and see if that helps

You could likely get a custom pack made I guess

 

Ok, so that's stock. Thank you it's just a very rough ride.

 

Rough, bouncy, or both?

Shocks and tire pressure can both make big differences.

But as @545 suggests, put a couple hundred lbs over the axle and see if that helps.

My 5 lug (low mile 2nd gen with Michelins) rides about like a car.

 

Rough, not bouncy. Has 138k on the clock, front shocks were recently replaced. Perhaps I'll change the rears and see if it helps.

 

When my 5 lug was riding rough, new shocks helped a little bit since the old ones were shot, but mostly it was all the rubber bushings in the control arms, sway bar, strut rods, and cab mounts. Everything is shot after 20 years.

 

That makes sense, I've got a lot of those parts already to replace.