Rear uneven height after adjusting shackles?

[JJMaine]

I'm going to buy a short subscription to All Data or find a PDF manual to buy that isn't pirated so that I can find the correct install procedure

I just followed a Chris Fix video where when he installed the new leaf spring he torqued the u bolts down before putting in the rest of the bolts and loading the suspension before torquing.

Maybe when I tighted the u bolts the spring wasn't perfectly aligned though the front was in place and the rear shackles swung up into place nicely.

 

[JJMaine]

Did the axle get slightly shifted in the process because now I have roughly a 1/4” gap on passenger side, no gap on the driver side when I guess I use to have 1/8” on each side?

Just torque them down and drive it for awhile?

 

[bobbywalter]

get in the bed and bounce the crap out of it.


settle it up....and tq em up.


i usually final tq everything under load. which means i jack up the suspension on many models with the wheels off...

 

[Uncle Gump]

That bolt doesn't looked torqued...

Get the weight on the springs... torque the springs... go give it a test ride.

Bring it back and see where you're at then.

 

[JJMaine]

Thanks guys, they aren't torqued yet but the truck is sitting back on the ground.

I have to go out in the morning and drop the rear 1" in the shackles because it is way too high now that I have new leaf springs. But after that I'll torque everything up and test drive it

There was more corrosion on my u bolts then I originally thought. When you guys replace them what u bolts do you get? I'd prefer OEM but at $30 a piece and that doesn't even include nuts!

 

[bobbywalter]

Thanks guys, they aren't torqued yet but the truck is sitting back on the ground.

I have to go out in the morning and drop the rear 1" in the shackles because it is way too high now that I have new leaf springs. But after that I'll torque everything up and test drive it

There was more corrosion on my u bolts then I originally thought. When you guys replace them what u bolts do you get? I'd prefer OEM but at $30 a piece and that doesn't even include nuts!

get all my shit from downriver spring or michigan truck spring.

 

[JJMaine]

The Ford u bolts I looked up said they are 1/2” thread but mine are larger because a 1/2-20 lug nut wont fit on them? Should I get the 9/16x2 3/4” U bolts for an 8.8 axle?

Got it re adjusted and torqued now and will try it out later. I guess if that bolt head rubs a little, as long as it rides fine for now I’m okay with it. I’ll beat it around for a week and see if it fixes itself. I can take solace in the fact that if I had payed a shop to change my leaf springs, they would have left it like that and Id have never known the difference.

Drivers side looks to only be about 3/8” lower than the passenger side now no doubt from the 3/4 full gas tank.

 

[bobbywalter]

1/2 by 20 not going to fit that style. those are the course units. in that picture those bolts look pretty good to me....take a 1/2 in open end wrench and see how well it fits the shaft. here they get twisted trying to loosen and those look like they came right apart. i would do a retorque at 100 and 200 miles....if they stay put...leave em. though those i would probably not go over 100 ft lb. as long as it re tq and dont leak off your good.

pretty sure spec is 98# on 1/2 in bolts.

and if the 1/2 in wrench dont fit and is too small try the 13 mm and 14 mm or 9/16.....if its 9 / 16...your good. wouldnt waste money on new ones..

 

[JJMaine]

Awesome thanks! I only torqued them to 80lbs but when I recheck them I'll torque them a little more.

They did come right off easily as well as all of the other suspension bolts thankfully. My only concern is on the drivers side I had took them off and retorqued them a few times trying to get some clearance on the shackle.

 

[JJMaine]

So after 50-60 miles truck rides great. A bit stiffer with the new springs but I expected that. Drivers side shackle bolt is still touching the hitch so I think I’m just going to have to live with it unless anyone has any ideas. It must be the springs as thats the only thing thats changed….

 

[pjtoledo]

if the curved style hitch takes a hit it will straighten out some and become wider.
get the measuring tape out.

and put a level against the frame rails to verify they are vertical, or at least match.

 

[JJMaine]

Ok thanks! I’ll have to get more info on this for what I am measuring but I will check that.

 

[JJMaine]

The hitch is straight and after a few hundred miles I have clearance again between the hitch and shackle. Just needed a good beating to settle in I guess.