Broken and drivable but not safely..

[koda6966]

I hate "hidden" speedbumps. Especially when the speed limits 30 and you need to go about 10 not to kill your truck. I hit one the other day and broke a spring mount. I've been driving the truck around but today I finally realized it was broken.

It's the front mount for the passenger side leaf spring. Its broke into three pieces, two still attached to the frame and one still attached to the spring. Right now its pushing up on the bed, thank god. Otherwise my axle might be FUBAR.

Anyway, I was thinking about two ways to fix it.

1) Weld the pieces back together.

2) Cut the bolts on it, find a replacement from a yard, bolt it back on. (Probably with grade 8 bolts right?)

Which one should I do? I don't know if I could trust it welded together.. and I might have to remove the bed to do either option. I'm open to any other ideas. As of right now.. I only have about 40 dollars to work with. Yay being a poor teen.

If anyone wants pictures.. I can get them.

 

[kevinsranger]

you can get this http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/pts/730267218.html

 

[koda6966]

you can get this http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/pts/730267218.html

That wouldn't work. I need a leaf spring mount. That's a cab mount.

--Edit--

I just went to jack it up and my floor jack got stuck. Thanks dad for tightening the valve as much as you can!
I had to take a regular jack and lift it up so I could pull the stuck one out. Now I have to go find plyers to try to open the valve some.

 

[KELLY88]

Find a good replacement. This is a piece that should be cheap and easy to find, don't bother trying to weld and risk breaking it again.

 

[kevinsranger]

That wouldn't work. I need a leaf spring mount. That's a cab mount.

--Edit--

I just went to jack it up and my floor jack got stuck. Thanks dad for tightening the valve as much as you can!
I had to take a regular jack and lift it up so I could pull the stuck one out. Now I have to go find plyers to try to open the valve some.

im a lil slow, sorry

 

[koda6966]

im a lil slow, sorry

No problem. I might get a few of those too just to replace the bed/cab mounts and slap on a pipe body lift while I'm at it. Haha.

Anyway, the thing is.. I would have to drive 40 miles to pick up a spring mount at the nearest U-Pull-It. And with no vehicle... I can't. Anyone know of where I can order one of these online? I've checked my usual parts stores.. but they don't sell them.

 

[kevinsranger]

i cant believe how many peoples spring hangers are rusted and broken, mine are in pretty good shape, but my body mounts are rusted and the bushing is starting to fall into the hole.

 

[koda6966]

i cant believe how many peoples spring hangers are rusted and broken, mine are in pretty good shape, but my body mounts are rusted and the bushing is starting to fall into the hole.

Blame it on road salt. That stuffs horrible for anything metal.

 

[kevinsranger]

Blame it on road salt. That stuffs horrible for anything metal.

yea i guess you guys have it alot worse up there then i do in jersey. i mean we have alot of rusty cars, but for some reason mine isnt that bad, but then again my friend i bought it off of was portugese and his dad used to spray the undercarraige of all his cars with diesel and old oil mixed together lol, his driveway was a mess

 

[koda6966]

So what is exactly is this art called so that I don't feel like an idiot at the auto parts store tomorrow?

 

[Dusty_Ranger]

to get a new replacement you'll have to go to a ford dealer

 

[wahlstrom1]

I thought mine were good, but after removing them to move forward to do the chevy spring swap it looks like I'll be making some from 1/4" plate in the future...I was quoted $38 Can. a piece from ford to replace mine, but they had to be ordered in.

-andrew

 

[koda6966]

to get a new replacement you'll have to go to a ford dealer

LMC truck has them for 27 dollars plus shipping.. it's on page 111 of the '08 winter catalog. I believe it's part number 50-5601. Listed as the "Front Spring Hangar."
I'm going to call up Advance Auto tomorrow and see if they have them for the same or less than 27+shipping, since I have to go right by there to pick up the bolts anyway.

 

[Loanranger]

I would order one through Ford, or get the LMC one, I highly doubt any auto parts store is going to carry one, though I could be wrong. Definately replace it though, welding it would not be safe, once something like that cracks, the steel has deteriorated enough that if you weld it, it's just going to crack again, most likely right next to the weld. Not to mention, that by welding it, you are changing the properties of the metal by heating it.

 

[koda6966]

I would order one through Ford, or get the LMC one, I highly doubt any auto parts store is going to carry one, though I could be wrong. Definately replace it though, welding it would not be safe, once something like that cracks, the steel has deteriorated enough that if you weld it, it's just going to crack again, most likely right next to the weld. Not to mention, that by welding it, you are changing the properties of the metal by heating it.

I've decided not to weld it, that was before I knew the extent of the damage.

And I doubt the store will have it stocked either, but they can order it like they do for 40% of the stuff I buy from them.