Leave Spring Bracket Replacement

[colinrmitchell]

I put 9/16"x4" grade 8 bolts through my leaf eyes, and I also used 1/2" grade 8 for the brackets. It's a LOT easier with the bed off, takes ten minutes to grind the rivets off and get the new brackets on there. I would also grease the leaf spring bolts in an attempt to make them easier to remove should you need to again.

Also, you don't have to take the tail-lights off when removing the bed. There is an electrical connector behind the bumper, a little on the driver's side, that you can disconnect by hand, which is sufficient to remove the bed.

 

[funkingonutz]

very good write up dude....i keep "undercoating" my bad ones because i dreaded the day id have to do this..but you made it look so easy, and thier cheap too (reasonably)

 

[colinrmitchell]

I just replaced my front hangers yesterday, and I found that I had to drop the gas tank a little bit to get bolts in the frame. That was a pain, but still the job wasn't too bad.

 

[funkingonutz]

[/IMG]
doing mine today....bed took literally 20 min. to take off, used a whole can of PB Blaster but hey it worked, and no bolts or clips broke
O just FYI it helps (if you have mudflaps) to remove them and the brackets...when me and a friend lifted the bed off it got "hung up" on the frame because of the mudflaps

 

[funkingonutz]

can you elaborate on those bolt sizes???
im a retard and need some special help can you give it to me like this....
length:xxx in
thickness: xxx in
grade: i know that one!!! at least i know something

 

[funkingonutz]

never mind...i bought a bolt kit from FORD

 

[koda6966]

never mind...i bought a bolt kit from FORD

I hope you didn't spend much. I only spent 4 bucks for the bolt on the spring and four to hold the hangar to the frame. Along with nuts/washers.

 

[funkingonutz]

yeah they f#cked me real bad.....i think it was 40.00 for the "kit"...but oh well i get paid 2morrow so its whatever!!lol

 

[koda6966]

yeah they f#cked me real bad.....i think it was 40.00 for the "kit"...but oh well i get paid 2morrow so its whatever!!lol

Shit man. That's gotta suck. Were they at least grade eight?

 

[funkingonutz]

yes they where grade 8

 

[427ford]

Can two people lift the bed off or is it heavier than that? Where's a good place to get the polyurethane bushings for the springs?

 

[koda6966]

I'm using grade three.. they seem to be holding up. Grade 8 were only a dollar more for me.

 

[kunar]

I'm using grade three.. they seem to be holding up. Grade 8 were only a dollar more for me.

no such thing as a grade 3. there's a grade 2 which had no markings, grade 5 which has 3 markings, or grade 8 which has 6 markings. i bet youve got grade 5 bolts and dont even know it. btw, when i did mine, i used grade 5 hardware with no problems.

 

[koda6966]

no such thing as a grade 3. there's a grade 2 which had no markings, grade 5 which has 3 markings, or grade 8 which has 6 markings. i bet youve got grade 5 bolts and dont even know it. btw, when i did mine, i used grade 5 hardware with no problems.

Then they would be grade 5. I don't know my bolts.

 

[Sunk]

Can two people lift the bed off or is it heavier than that? Where's a good place to get the polyurethane bushings for the springs?

Depends, I don't the bed is very heavy, just big awkward. Two people could probably manage.