broken leaf spring

[b411sac]

I JUST found out that I have a broken spring in my passenger side leaf pack, it's a '94 ranger XLT 2.3l 5 speed. I had no idea that it was broken, I was getting new tires put on and firestone did a free brake inspection for me and this is what they found, It doesn't act any different than when the spring was not broken, i thought i'd share with y'all. I'm going to pick up a set of explorer leaf packs tomorrow for $25, there are a few other problems and they quoted me $1,993.41, I, being mechnically inclined, am going to fix it all my self. My parts total = $178.93; their's = $1128.00; my labor = roughly $120 for 15 hours of lift bay time(if i need that much time); their labor = $722.68; my tax = nothing; their tax = 142.73; my total = 298.93; their total = $1,993.41.
Ridiculous.
here's some pics of the broken spring

I live in new york and haven't given the truck a bath since winter started, ignore the nastiness.

and the taped up line was the PO's doing, just havent gotten around to fixing it yet.

 

[pillen140]

they were going to charge that much???????"?

 

[pillen140]

and how many hours?????

 

[b411sac]

thats including wheel cylinders in the back and shocks all the way around

 

[b411sac]

I'm guessing that it will take me about 8 hours of good wrench time (rough guess, LOTS of rust)

 

[pillen140]

it doesnt even look that rusty under there, shocks probably take about 10mins each. and the spring should be at most a couple hours with only hand tools. the wheel cyclinders are the hardest part (theyre not even very hard) but that price is crazy.

 

[2813josh]

Holy shit....that is all

 

[Mark_88]

I drove my truck for a year with a busted secondary spring...only when the shackle broke (and I didn't know it) did I get it fixed...they charged me $120 Cdn...replaced the leaf and the shakle...

Shocks are easy...as are the brake cylinders...if you do it yourself it won't take more than four hours...that's the brakes and shocks...the springs...I'd have a shop do them...but that'sa my choice because I don't have an air bun...

The front bolts on mine would not come off...fortunately, they only had to replace one leaf that could be done without the front bolts being removed...I wouldn't replace both...unless you're really ambitious...

Don't fix what isn't broke...

 

[b411sac]

ill have air tools when i do this, so I don't mind doing it all myself. and fire stone quoted $700 to do it. thanks, but ill fight it myself.

 

[trail B2]

I like you roll up my sleeves attitude.Don't forget to start oiling those underneath bolts a couple of days ahead of time

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Your'e lucky you didn't cut the brake line!

Richard

 

[b411sac]

I like you roll up my sleeves attitude.Don't forget to start oiling those underneath bolts a couple of days ahead of time

thank you, I already planned on that, I'm going to pressure wash the areas that im working on tomorrow, so i can start lubing the bolts and nuts.

 

[martin]

Some heat might also help.

 

[b411sac]

Some heat might also help.

Care to explain?

Sent from my DINC2 using Tapatalk

 

[mp3deviant721]

Heat up the nuts that don't come loose with a torch. Heat helps loosen up stubborn fasteners.