I didn't...my donor springs only had about 52k on the and they looked fine.

 

Very nice write up!!

I did this exact same thing to my '03 about 3 years ago. At the same time I did Bilstein shocks and a Helwig rear sway bar. I pull a 30' Travel Trailer with 900lbs. tongue weight. Two years ago I added the Firestone airbags because I was still getting more sag than I liked (even with the WD bars). I run 30psi in the bags and it pulls like a dream. Adding the bags made the truck feel like the trailer was less than half the weigh it actually is. To me the ride is on the stiff side when empty, but with the trailer hooked up, it's perfect. I couldn't ba happier with the V's, Modded B's, Bilsteins, rear sway bar, and bags. My .02.

 

Great write up robert! and Thank You to all that have gone thru this already to help the rest of us! I just got a set of "V" codes from a buddy; haven't located a set of "B" codes yet. But I'm hoping to tackle the front end Saturday.....this is LOOONNNGGGG over due! I do have firestone bags on the rear so I'm not in a hurry to find the springs for the rear as I only tow a heavy load maybe once a month and it's a short haul. Again....Thank you!

 

Nothing better to see than others benefiting from your thread...thanks for sharing!

 

The torque numbers according to the 2005 Ford Excursion service manual are as follows:

Front springs:
Stabilizer bar end link - 80lb-ft
U-bolts (tightened in a criss cross sequence) - 99lb-ft
Leaf spring rear retaining bolt - 185lb-ft
Leaf spring front retaining bolt - 203lb-ft

Rear springs:
Stabilizer bar end link - 52lb-ft
U-bolts - 148lb-ft
Leaf spring front retaining bolt - 277lb-ft
Leaf spring to rear shackle - 185lb-ft
Rear shackle to frame - 185lb-ft

Let me know if you want me to look up any of the other torque values.

 

...and THAT is why I have to replace my front U bolts this week...someone posted the wrong specs on one of the threads and I tightened mine to around 160+.

 

Question on the modified B's. Do you lose the overload leaf when putting them back together?

 

Yes, but keep it (the half leaf with bumper) as a cool paperweight.

 

Good, the set I'm picking up this week has it removed already. Thanks

 

Ok, hold on...

To be clear...

The stock springs have the anti-wrap bar - a half of a leaf with a rubber bumper on the end.

The B's SHOULD have a lower "flat" leaf that extends to both sides of the axle. You WANT that leaf...

 

IIRC, that was me, based on info provided to me by a bud who worked at Ford.

Speaking of which Robert, do you remember which thread that was in? I don't remember if I corrected the bad info.

Stewart

 

OK then. I'll have to source that then. Thanks

 

great write up! i've been contemplating this mod for awhile now.

 

Some pics.

Photo is of the factory spring that you take apart to make a Modded B.

The arrow on the bottom left is the anti-wrap bar - discard that.

The green arrows are the bottom two spring leaves that you will keep and add to the B codes.

The other yellow arrows are the upper stock leaves that you toss.


This pic shows the completed B code. The green arrow is the bottom (overload?) leaf from the B codes. The two red arrows are the two bottom leaves from your stock springs that you added. The yellow arrows are the leaves from your B codes.


Are you sure you are getting all of the parts you need?

 

Also, you need to keep and re-use the spacers from the stock springs - they are thicker than the ones that come on the B codes: