Are these leaf springs worn out?

[Ahirtz]

Hello everyone,
I'm refreshing the suspension on my 2003 FX4, and while the shocks are totally gone (replacing with Bilstein 4600s), I am unsure about the leaf springs. These look a little flat to me, but the truck does have a tall fiberglass bed cap on and I have hauled a few heavy loads before that may have loaded the truck to the max. As it sits, the front is about 1in lower than the rear on the worn out shocks and just the bed cap. Reading about AALs, they seem like a band-aid and will stiffen the ride up, but my FIL who is an old-school mechanic said I should go this route albeit without seeing any pics. If these are shot, I was thinking about finding a set at the junkyard, but might just bite the bullet and buy a new set from rockauto or general spring. Thoughts?

 

[JoshT]

I'd have to say that yes those are worn out. Looks to me like they are moving beyond flat and starting to bow the other way. Could be a trick of the camera or my bad eyes though.

I wouldn't bother with junkyard springs, they are likely to be just as bad. Either new set, bandaid it with add-a-leafs, or find some place to get those rearched.

 

[Brain75]

I'd argue that junkyard springs can be perfectly fine from where you are (dry ole UT), but be choosy and think it through - if there is no bed (no weight), no axle, etc someone has taken all the weight off then you don't get to see how the springs sit (or sitting up on wheel stands supported on the frame)... so find one where the wheel stands are supporting the axle that look good, then do all the work of hoisting it off the axle.... but then again getting the springs off is a fair pain in the butt in the yard and might be worth the $$$ to just get a re-arch if you have a 2nd set of wheels and can let it sit while the work is done.

 

[Ahirtz]

I'd have to say that yes those are worn out. Looks to me like they are moving beyond flat and starting to bow the other way. Could be a trick of the camera or my bad eyes though.

I wouldn't bother with junkyard springs, they are likely to be just as bad. Either new set, bandaid it with add-a-leafs, or find some place to get those rearched.

Thank you! Its nice to finally put this to rest

 

[Ahirtz]

I'd argue that junkyard springs can be perfectly fine from where you are (dry ole UT), but be choosy and think it through - if there is no bed (no weight), no axle, etc someone has taken all the weight off then you don't get to see how the springs sit (or sitting up on wheel stands supported on the frame)... so find one where the wheel stands are supporting the axle that look good, then do all the work of hoisting it off the axle.... but then again getting the springs off is a fair pain in the butt in the yard and might be worth the $$$ to just get a re-arch if you have a 2nd set of wheels and can let it sit while the work is done.

Makes sense, I'll likely have a look around the local yard and see what options they have. Are most of the 4 leaf springs going to have roughly the same load rating? I know there are 1250lb and 1350lb springs but I assume most of the 4 leafs are likely the 1250lb as I can't find much on the 1350lb springs. My door code is K which I think corresponds to 1250.

 

[Brain75]

Everything you wanted to know about leaf springs stock specs:

Ford Ranger, Explorer & Bronco Rear Leaf Spring Specs - The Ranger Station

Rear Leaf Spring Specs: The chart below lists the leaf spring specs for the Ford Explorer, Ranger, Bronco, and Bronco II. Leaf Spring Eye Bolts: 9/16″ Grade 8 The 1991-2002 Ford Explorer and Explorer Sport uses 9/16″ x 4-1/2″ Grade … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Those springs definitely look like they are taking a W shape which means they’re shot. Re-arch is a band-aid at best on springs that worn. Junkyard springs are iffy. I’ve also combined multiple packs several times before. If you can afford it though, I’d say just get a set of 1,750# springs and call it a day. If you haul stuff and/or have a fiberglass cap on all the time, that’s what you want. They will last a long time, usually longer than the stock springs. If you use it like a truck, might as well do the “buy once, cry once” route.

 

[Curious Hound]

"Wore slap out" is my official evaluation. I recommend find new or gently used springs somewhere.

 

[Jazzer]

I second the recommendation to use 1750# springs. I had a fiberglass topper on a longbed once and the body roll in corners was annoying on 1250# leaf springs.

 

[Ahirtz]

Those springs definitely look like they are taking a W shape which means they’re shot. Re-arch is a band-aid at best on springs that worn. Junkyard springs are iffy. I’ve also combined multiple packs several times before. If you can afford it though, I’d say just get a set of 1,750# springs and call it a day. If you haul stuff and/or have a fiberglass cap on all the time, that’s what you want. They will last a long time, usually longer than the stock springs. If you use it like a truck, might as well do the “buy once, cry once” route.

I second the recommendation to use 1750# springs. I had a fiberglass topper on a longbed once and the body roll in corners was annoying on 1250# leaf springs.

Appreciate the recommendation guys, I think this is exactly what I'll do! Buy once cry once is where I'm at in life haha

 

[Uncle Gump]

Appreciate the recommendation guys, I think this is exactly what I'll do! Buy once cry once is where I'm at in life haha

I ended up buying my 1750lb springs locally. It ended up costing a couple bucks more... but you never know what will get delivered from the internet. It also opened the door for a really fair price for new hardware needed to do it right.