Need to throw it out there...

[cfordwin]

HELP!
after reading some of your post about rear shackels and brakets rotten out(ie rust'n out) The truck was a PA mountain truck. Can anyone give me pointers on what to execpt/look for in doing this job on your own. AND..... Are there parts avble in the aftermaket? All I'm look for replacement,not lifting. Mild upgrades are fine too. ( yea I know-boring) This is my daily driver to work.

Do the bushing in the spring wear out? I'm chasing a metal to metal sweek back there. I would consider complete re-hap of rear suspension.


Thanks for anyone input....
Mike

 

[railman]

mine were rusted out really bad...in fact the pass. side was riding on the bed....

i ordered mine off Ebay...was around $90 for both driver and pass. side brackets, shackles, and hardware....

to get the factory brackets off you will need a 4 1/2" grinder or a die grinder to get the rivet heads ground off....then just punch them out once the head is ground smooth to the bracket...

where i had the most trouble was with the leaf spring to shackle bolt.....was a bear to get out....

and my bushings were still "tight" so i didn't change them....

hope this helps...


l8r, John

 

[Nhaz]

The shackle bolt was also the hardest part for me. I ended up torching off the nut end of the bolt and melting the bushing. pounded out the bushing with the bolt still in it and put it in a vise to finish the job.

It didn't occur to me when I bought the parts for replacement that I would be buggering up the bushing so I had to reuse the old bushing.

Oh and take the bed of the truck off. Its about the only way to work on this.

 

[cfordwin]

More questions..

The shackle bolt was also the hardest part for me. I ended up torching off the nut end of the bolt and melting the bushing. pounded out the bushing with the bolt still in it and put it in a vise to finish the job.

It didn't occur to me when I bought the parts for replacement that I would be buggering up the bushing so I had to reuse the old bushing.

Oh and take the bed of the truck off. Its about the only way to work on this.

I thought I saw new leafs with bushing in them. I'm look to re-du it all,leafs also.
If you had to replace leafs( ie stock) who you go with? OE or aftermaket.
again,thanks to all.

 

[RangerSVT]

Aftermarket, absolutely. IMO I'd go with skyjacker's or Pro Comp's, personally go with the 4" lift, this way you will gain about 1.5 to 2" and delete the factory lift block
SVT

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Oh and take the bed of the truck off. Its about the only way to work on this.

Completely unnecessary.

 

[RangerSVT]

Completely unnecessary.

+2, When we did railman's hangers, the bed stayed on
SVT

 

[cfordwin]

replys

Thanks to all for the info. Hope to get started soon.

 

[cfordwin]

more questions....

Aftermarket, absolutely. IMO I'd go with skyjacker's or Pro Comp's, personally go with the 4" lift, this way you will gain about 1.5 to 2" and delete the factory lift block

Sound great but question here....... Would this just pump up the rear end? Then this opens up to front? Don't want the truck look like a dragster.

If I did not say this- This is my daily driver,got to get me to work. But in the summer the wife and I want take it on the beach. So I'm not out "mudding it",blazing a trail in the woods.
Just want the truck to have a good "stance" Mild upgrade yes,OE look/stance- Ok.
Does anyone have these skyjacker's or Pro Comp's to show- show the finshed job,how it looks? Anyone have taken pic's of job doing this upgrade?

THANK 2 ALL!

 

[Beefy'sB2300]

Just hope if any replacing needs to be done its the passenger!! Replaced my drivers side front mount and it sucked!!! Gas tanks in the way