Busted leaf spring

[86_4x4_longbed]

Recently while under mu truck a friend noticed that the center leaf in my driver side spring had broken. So I jumped on here and found a couple forums where people have had the sameproblem. I thought maybe I should post to give those less mechanically inclined a tip on what to do. I found a forum where the guy said he used velcrow an zip ties to correct this problem. This is deffinately not the correct way to go. The easiest solution is to call your local junk yard and find another set of springs. Since the springs on my 95 were getting weak I opted to get a matching pair so my truck wouldn't lean. From the factory my truck was equiped with a 3 leaf pack. I foulnd a pair of springs off of a 2001 which came with a four leaf pack. The results were amazing. These springs lifted the back of my truck 5 to 6 inches and now I can carry more weight the my poor little 2.3l can handle. The installation process was easy. I jacked up the truck and put the axle on jack stands. Then removed the rear wheels and started breaking loose U bolts. Definately use some kind of penetrating oil on all bolts, but if they are extremely rusted go ahead and have the parts on hand to replace if needed. After taking the u bolts off (and breaking one) I lifted the truck off the axle. Be very careful that your jack stands don't tip. Once I finally got the truck lifted and stabilized using jackstands an cement blocks. I took he bolts out of the shackle and the front spring hanger. Inspect your shackles for cracks now is the perfect time to replace them if they need done. After that I wiggled the spring out, then the new one back in and reversed the order. Then repeat for the other side. The next project will be the front coil springs to bring the front back up.

 

[Derek The Great]

...recently, my truck started to lean to the left, I check all four corners and nothing seems to be broken, but it does squeak going over bumps and if jump up and down on the bed. If its not the springs, what else could cause this lean? I've noticed this is a problem for lots of rangers...

 

[86_4x4_longbed]

Sounds like it has to be either a shackle or hanger issue, but inspect the center leaf in your left srping it may have a crack. I had a squeak in mine too.

 

[Derek The Great]

I think I'm just gonna replace it, the lean is driving me nuts..

 

[86_4x4_longbed]

I recommend trying to find a pair off of a neweer truck so you can get the four leaf pack

 

[RangerRyan88]

I recommend trying to find a pair off of a neweer truck so you can get the four leaf pack

Or for rear lift you can grab a leaf pack from an Exploder, they're spring-under from the factory so the pack is a lot taller. And Derek, don't worry too much about the squeaking.. Every suspension squeaks and creaks, if you build a set-up that doesn't you're a god among men

 

[Sprag-O]

Late 80's - early 90's 2wd F150 leafs work out fine

 

[RangerRyan88]

Late 80's - early 90's 2wd F150 leafs work out fine

Those aren't ungodly stiff!?

 

[Sprag-O]

Sorry to get back to this so late.

They aren't horribly stiff... I normally have 4-500lbs of sand in the bed at all times anyway.

It's hard to wheel when you're 2wd

 

[RangerRyan88]

Sorry to get back to this so late.

They aren't horribly stiff... I normally have 4-500lbs of sand in the bed at all times anyway.

It's hard to wheel when you're 2wd

Hahaha you carry the sand for traction?!

 

[Sprag-O]

Hahaha you carry the sand for traction?!

Ya man... I'm 2wd.

With sand in the back, SS Ltb's, and the re-packed trac-loc, I can get the truck in some gnarly places.

You should see me crawl ledges and crap... I have to do it in reverse

 

[RangerRyan88]

Ya man... I'm 2wd.

With sand in the back, SS Ltb's, and the re-packed trac-loc, I can get the truck in some gnarly places.

You should see me crawl ledges and crap... I have to do it in reverse

LOL that's genius, I wouldn't have thought to do that! Reverse is usually when I get stuck but hell, if it works