I've got an 89 F250 with leaf's on front.I'd love to find some info on how to install and the difficulty level.

 

i suggest searching through a google page... Put something like "ford-trucks.com add a leaf" it will bring up threads from this site. As for how difficult... easy if you have an impact, floor jack, and a socket set... if you don't have a impact the socket set will do... just take a little more work. There should be instructions with the kit you buy.

Oh and just a suggestion... Get yourself a jar of antiseeze and a couple cans of PB Blaster! You'll need them both with a 20+yo truck TRUST ME! Use that antiseeze on everything you take apart and put back together. It will make it easier on your and/or the next owner... LOL...

 

A torch would be handy to heat up & loosen the nuts for the u-bolts, and for the spring bolt and the rivet holding the spring clamp on, but you could use a grinder for them, and a punch. You'll need some c clamps to clamp the spring.

basically, support the axle with a jack, (on the knuckle is good), remove the u bolts and nuts, then torch, grind & drive the bolt out that holds the springs together, a longer one should come in the kit.

Grind off the rivet head and remove the nut & long bolt off the spring clamp, & remove the clamp.

Put your add a leaf under the original springs & get the new spring bolt & nut started. Use c clamps to help compress them together, or you'll strip the bolt I would think. Cut off the excess bolt, put on the new spring clamp, then comes the hard part, getting the spring bolt head located in your axle hole, the lower u-bolt bracket also must fit into a hole, and getting the upper bracket which is also the shock mount all lined up and starting & tightening the u bolts & nuts up. The axle will not be laying flat against the springs, but at an angle, a helper would be good here.

Then do the other side the same way.

 

Basically... if you want this to go smoother... get some PB Blaster and start applying it to all your bolts today... then in a week or two when the kit gets to your house and you have sprayed all the bolts 5-6 times a day or two apart... Well let's just say everything will come apart a TON easier.

 

Actually the easy way to do this is to just go by new u-bolts and cut the old ones off.

 

X2^^^ You're totally right Paul... that's what i'd usually suggest, but I have been finding that a good portion of FTE members don't have the same power/air tools like i do... So i find myself suggesting the manual route...

 

I put add a leafs all the way around my 96 F350, they are right, spray the bolts ahead of time. Most mfr's recommend replacing the u bolts when you install the lift. Check Summit Racing, they usually have a link to the installation instructions for their products.