Before Ex leaf spring swap

[Lpannell25]

Successful leaf spring swap!

First the driver side...
Cut all the bolts out... had the worries with the nut and all but the guy at napa sold me 2 metric bolts so i cut just a little off with a sawzall and once i got them started on the nut they threaded right on! the first nut i pulled out i messed with it so much i had to put 3 tac welds on it to make sure it would hold... the passenger side was fine.... (took the driver side off and did all my bolt running) for the rear bolts i used grade 8 9/16 by i think 4 inches maybe 4 1/2. put a washer and nut on them. since the shackle had twisted backwards i put that side of the leaf in first then jacked the axle up enough to where i could push the center pin into place then it was just a matter or lining up the front bolt getting it pushed in and getting the nut started after that i torqued the front and rear down put the ubolts in place tightened them down and she was ready to go...

Passenger side
Which i did in a little over an hour by the way was a whole lot easier considering i had done it and knew what to expect... only difference with this side was didnt cut the front bolt and unbolted the shock at the bottom and tied it off to the frame... cut the rear bolt as expected but the front bolt spun out... with the pictures i will post in a few you will see half of round part on the leaf had broke so the leaf came out now i had the bolt the metal part of the bushing and 2 rubber bushing (2 halfs of a bushing) cut the bushings out and used a screw driver to pry the rusted metal sleeve off and the bolt came right out! it was rusted all to shit and i bought a new one any way so back together with the passenger side the same as the driver side...

Now its all back together took it for a ride down the street and even in the dark i can tell its sitting a lot better than it was the old leafs were definitely shot (considering both had the broken piece of the leaf on the front ends) and the bushings were gone...

doing the ex leaf swap definitely lifted my ride 2-3 inches but keep in mind as i said the old springs were shot any way... i will be uploading pics shortly and probably get some better day time pics as well...

 

[Lpannell25]

test

 

[Lpannell25]

How do i type something then post a picture then type something else then post a picture? i used the manage attachments to attach all these photos i wont to put a comment before each on though...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Good job.
I use photobucket. Upload to photobucket, copy img file, paste into your thread where you want. Once you have a link to your photos, do NOT move or delete them as that will break any links that you have made.

Richard

 

[shadow88]

What size tires are u running in the pictures?

 

[Lpannell25]

245/____/16 cant remember the middle number..

 

[shadow88]

My BII sits about the same as yours "did" , I got 235/75R15's , I guessing my leafs are shot as well, looks like I'll be the next to do that swap, my tires completely fill the rear wheel wells as it sits, thanks for the pics, they've motivated me to swap mine out!

 

[Lpannell25]

yeh i am definitely happy about how the swap turned out for me... back bolt is 21mm front is 22mm atleast thats what i used... didnt go into to much detail on the springs as far as a wire brush or anything just pressure washed them on the way home then a little primer and a little black paint... hope you get lucky like i did and dont have to swap out the bushings! i would have hated to had to do that!!! as far as the 235s how much did you pay? i found some goodyear wrangler ats for 75 thinking about getting those... just dont want to feel like im settling for a price thats too high or anything

 

[shadow88]

I was at the pick and pay and found them there, they have about 90% and I got them for $120 for the set, only reason I got them, I got lucky finding that nice of tire for that cheap,

 

[4x4troy]

wow...lifts it that much.....well guess what mine is getting...lol