Bad Leaf Springs or Bad Installation?

[Basilius]

I bought brand new 3/1 leaf springs in August 2021 and I just got around to installing them today after refurbishing the frame and doing other repairs. With the bed removed, I set the springs on the perches, attached the U-bolts to the plates, attached the front leaf spring bolt to the front hanger, and then attached the rear shackle (lower bolt) to the rear leaf spring bushing. I then jacked up the rear end of the vehicle from the bumper and attached the rear shackle upper bolt to the rear hanger. I then lowered the vehicle down so that all four wheels were flat on the ground. I also made sure that the long ends of the springs were towards the rear of the vehicle, and all of the nuts and bolts were only installed finger-tight (not torqued) until all of the weight (bed, gear, cap) was resting on the suspension.

I then put the bed back on the frame, put my daily gear in the bed (~100lbs), and put the fiberglass cap (~200lbs) on the bed. However the leaf springs went into a negative arch (W shape) and were completely flattened when I lowered the vehicle to the ground from the (rear) raised position.

Did I make a mistake in the installation, or is there something wrong with the leaf springs? These are the 3/1 springs that I bought (which replaced the original 2/1 springs). Thanks
43-781 3/1 1,250lb Leaf Springs

 

[ericbphoto]

Seems like bad springs or wrong springs

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

^^^
I agree.
I looked up the numbers on the tag and they come back as 1,250# ranger springs.

 

[Basilius]

Could I have made a mistake during the installation? Should I try something different before deciding that the leaf springs are bad?

 

[ericbphoto]

Could I have made a mistake during the installation? Should I try something different before deciding that the leaf springs are bad?

I can't think of anything you could have done to cause that. It's simply a matter if spring rate and vehicle weight.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Not much you can do wrong...

Hate to say it but probably just poor quality replacements.