I posted last week about how my passenger side rear leaf lost 2 leafs going down the road I made it home but noticed she was leaning a little more than I liked so I called the local salvage yard and they had a set of rear leafs off a 89 F250 in good shape with the brackets for $50 couldnt beat the price so I jumped on them. Trying to remove the old springs was going smooth until I had to unbolt the front... Ended up grinding the bolt head off and pounding on it now she don't want to move. Rear and u bolts came off without a fight. I would really like to keep the stock brackets with rivets on since they are in nice shape but I'm starting to think Mr torch is going to have to come out and play. Any suggestions to get that bolt out or am I fighting a loosing battle?

 

Take a sawsall to the inboard side of the bolt and cut it off completely, you should then be able to pry the leaf out of the hanger.

 

Hit it with a good penetrating oil and let stand for a bit. Hit it with an air chisel if you have one. Should push it out a good portion of the way. Some can be pretty stubborn.

 

Definitely this!^^^^^^^ it can be a real pain getting it but that will probably be your best bet.

 

Yea don't waste your time trying to drive that bolt through the bushing--it isn't going to move in a Minnesota truck! You need to cut the bolt inboard of the bracket; sawzall, cut off wheel, whatever. Hopefully you're replacing the rear spring hangers & shackles too.. Use lot's of anti-seize during assembly!

 

And now you know why they gave your the brackets with the springs

 

Well got my new springs waiting on bushings and shackles to come in. The guy at the pull yard was full retard and cut the eyes off the first set but luckily the owner was there and knew he had a set of F250HD springs in a shed so he have them both to me for $50! But these are 6 pack springs vs the old 3 and they are a lot heavier duty. I'll be interested to see how the thing looks all put back together.

 

Do you know what year it came out of?

 

He wasnt 100 precent sure he though early 90's they look damn near like what they were pulling off the 89 F250 but with one more leaf. Already moch fitted one and it seems to fit right in but the body has to jacked up 3" higher for them to fit.

 

I'd toss about 10 bags of sand in your bed. Those springs are going to ride like a solid bar with the bed empty.

 

Got a 6" cut off wheel and that worked amazing to remove that front bolt, Got my bushings had to have them pressed at the local machine shop cost me $62.50. Went to install and found that O'Riley's gave me the wrong shackle... Moch fit the springs and found that it is going to sit almost retardedly high, axle is on the ground and springs are not even compressed. I do not recommend 6 leaf springs in a half ton haha.

 

That's the "new" spring on the bottom? Looks pretty rough, is that a crack I see in the second leaf up?

 

geez those look like the ones i have in my 85 that had the big slide in camper special the last owner put in it, rides horrible unless the bed is full of firewood.

 

We tried to tell you

 

It won't bother me much, its not my DD just for around the farm once and a blue moon drive it to work. These springs will work good with the flatbed so I can actually haul stuff.