metric vs sae ?

[brinker88]

Wait....HOW bad is your frame?!?!?

 

[racsan]

well, thats a tough question to answer, like i said with good springs on the back now & both 2" factory lift blocks in, the right side of the truck was about 3" higher than the left, with just the drivers side 2" block in, the right side is now only about 1" higher than the left. i wish i had access to some individual wheel scales, i beilive there is more weight being put to the drivers side rear tire than the passenger side, the right side rear tire will easily break traction on dry pavement, will spin like your on ice if its raining. under hard braking the right tire wants to lock up & slide. whats odd is i cant see any signs of frame deformity, and the body lines match up. its weird. truck went diagonally through a ditch (left front corner hit first) about 2 months ago, bent the drivers side ttb enough that it was toed oput about 4" and the front diff leaked oil afterwards. still running same front diff, so it was the alxe beam deflection not a cracked diff housing. drivers side leaf spring had negative arch at the front mounting eye & was pretty flat when vehicle was sitting still & level. i do think its trailer towing days are over, it drives ok & i was able to get it aligned myself. and no, i havent let my daughter drive it since that day.

 

[ZMan]

When I replaced a leafspring bolt I found 9/16" at Home Depot, thats the only place I can find it other than Fastenal. Last time I bought a factory one they were around $10 from Ford, probably more by now.

 

[Mark_88]

Well, it MAY be OK...but spring bolts are subjected to eXtreme sheer forces...just hitting a bump can put enough stress on the shaft to sheer it in half...add a little bit of play in there and you've got an interesting combination...

Not that I want to try to scare you or anything...considering my spring bracket rusted itself away to the point that it didn't take much weight to snap it...of course, there were those spring pot holes that sort of jump out at me wherever I go...

I'd be interested in knowing what it takes to snap a bolt...never seen a spring bolt break...but I don't spend as much time as the guys who repair them all day long...might give them a call and see what they have to say...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Well, it MAY be OK...but spring bolts are subjected to eXtreme sheer forces...just hitting a bump can put enough stress on the shaft to sheer it in half...add a little bit of play in there and you've got an interesting combination...

Not that I want to try to scare you or anything...considering my spring bracket rusted itself away to the point that it didn't take much weight to snap it...of course, there were those spring pot holes that sort of jump out at me wherever I go...

I'd be interested in knowing what it takes to snap a bolt...never seen a spring bolt break...but I don't spend as much time as the guys who repair them all day long...might give them a call and see what they have to say...

I bet it is still better than many stock ones running around that are half eaten away and nobody knows/cares.

 

[shane96ranger]

I'm too lazy to go out and look (it's dark and stuff), but if my memory serves me correctly.... aren't they grade 5 from the factory?

Sent from a Commodore 64 using a 300 baud modem

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'm too lazy to go out and look (it's dark and stuff), but if my memory serves me correctly.... aren't they grade 5 from the factory?

Sent from a Commodore 64 using a 300 baud modem

I am not too lazy and had to look, mine are 9.8. A little harder than grade 5 but not as brittle as grade 8.

 

[shane96ranger]

I became unlazy and looked at my F150. They are the same 9.8 as you've got 85.

Sent from a Commodore 64 using a 300 baud modem