Rotten leaf mount

[sploosh369]

My leaf spring is sitting against the bottom of my bed. I have all the parts to fix it. Got the mount and shackle from the junkyard actually almost brand new for 10$. Ford wanted 116$!!! Problem is i don't have a grinder. any good tips? also when i try to remove the bolt from the leaf it just flexes from me pulling down on it.

 

[surffishin07]

alot of PB blaster and maybe some good choice words

 

[koda6966]

That's going to be hell to get out, I just cut mine and replaced the bolt.

Also, I purchased my spring hangar from LMC Truck, they had it for about 40. Beefy looking thing about twice the size of the rusted out one, I guess that's what they're SUPPOSED to look like. Haha.

Anyway, do you have like.. a three to four foot piece of pipe? Put it on the end of the wrench and use it for leverage if you have room. Also, to keep the spring from flexing just block it up, or stick a jack under it.

Just noticed, it looks like the PO replaced the rivets on the right side of your spring hangar. Maybe they cut them to replace it and decided to sell the truck instead?

 

[Derek The Great]

looks like cut off wheel time, just be careful not to cut into too much else hehe

 

[dennis461]

My leaf spring is sitting against the bottom of my bed. I have all the parts to fix it. Got the mount and shackle from the junkyard actually almost brand new for 10$. Ford wanted 116$!!! Problem is i don't have a grinder. any good tips? also when i try to remove the bolt from the leaf it just flexes from me pulling down on it.

QUOTE]
No grinder?
Center punch the bolts and use a drill to drill through the bolts.
Start with a 1/8 inch bit, get centered real good and then move up to larger bit till the bolt is almost gone.
Drill as deep as the frame.
Then a sharp chisel and hammer to finish up.
I've done this lots of time.

Option two,
Do you have a portable circular saw for cutting wood?
You can put a metal cutoff wheel in it and use in place of the hammer and chisel.

WEAR EYE PROTECTION

 

[rangerrager]

i honestly dude..if there is a harbor freight around you,or just order it online.get a grinder from them for like 15 bucks..just get a plug in one..truct me.this will make getting that bolt out a thousand times easier

 

[Explorin94]

Try getting it out first.....you might be surprised. You can still get the frame mount from Ford.

 

[ejholmgren]

Buy a $50 angle grinder and be done with it. You have no business dealing with riveted parts if you're not willing to do that simple task.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20421

 

[sloue]

[Option two,
Do you have a portable circular saw for cutting wood?
You can put a metal cutoff wheel in it and use in place of the hammer and chisel.

WEAR EYE PROTECTION [/QUOTE]

i have been a carpenter for 23 years ,and this is such a bad idea! a circular saw is designed to cut off a solid base as soon as you try holding it upside down in the air in a tight spot that saw will bind and the blade will come apart i have seen it happen and to take a piece of that disk at speed isn't going to be good eye protection wont help! circular saw are for wood! when i fliped my shackels i used a air chisel it took a bit but it works good better than grinder i think . put some heat to the spring bolt if that mount is that fd than im sure the bushing hooped also

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

Sploosh

First: Remove the bed - yes it is a PITA, but it looks like you have more issues than just that hanger. Check all of the hangers and the bed mounts and your frame and - hell anything made of steel. Looks like ya got a southern truck in a northern climate.

Fix all and undercoat my rusty ranger friend, then you will have no worries, otherwise, a fix here, a fix there, another fix here - get my drift. Can be never-ending if not done right the first time....

 

[OilPatch197]

Sploosh

First: Remove the bed - yes it is a PITA, but it looks like you have more issues than just that hanger. Check all of the hangers and the bed mounts and your frame and - hell anything made of steel. Looks like ya got a southern truck in a northern climate.

Fix all and undercoat my rusty ranger friend, then you will have no worries, otherwise, a fix here, a fix there, another fix here - get my drift. Can be never-ending if not done right the first time....

Agree man - REMOVE THE BED

It makes things SO MUCH EASIER, well worth it man. IMO it's no fun working on your back! Been there done that!

 

[PlumCrazy]

When mine went out I took the spring all all the way off, then used 20 ton press to press out busing and bolt together, they were rusted into one peice. ended up dooing both shackles, front and back hangers and all new bushings. I bought all the hangers and shackles from Ford for like 100 total.

I used an angle grinder, air chisel, torch, and a hammer and punch. (all on my back might I add). Then about two weeks later ended up taking off the bed anyway to put new crossmembers in and uncoat the frame.
And while you are under there you might want to check the cab mounts and gas tank straps, mine all went about the same time.

Good Luck

 

[Christian29]

Mine did the say not to long ago. The bracket from ford garage was only $28.00, but the bolt to go through the leaf springs was 15 dollars. i know how bad it sucks but i had to use a grinder and and air wrench.

 

[koda6966]

Mine did the say not to long ago. The bracket from ford garage was only $28.00, but the bolt to go through the leaf springs was 15 dollars. i know how bad it sucks but i had to use a grinder and and air wrench.

I just took the old bolt to a local surplus bolt store. Got one just like it for about 50 cents.