Rear Suspension Problem
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 151
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From: Central NJ
Rear Suspension Problem
Hi guys
my 1981 ford f150 half-ton inline 6 2WD has a broken leaf spring on the rear right side. Here's my intact left side from underneath the vehicle: imgur: the simple image sharer and here's the broken right side from the wheel well: imgur: the simple image sharer
you can see that one of the leafs broke out from the middle and is probably out on the highway somewhere
I was going to go by a junk yard looking for replacements or just buy a new after market set because i need to fix this quick to get to work next week. it's come to my attention that there are 2 different types for the 2wd though this one aftermarket site says theres the 2x4 main and the 2x4 aux. what's that mean? i took a photo of the door code, i can't decipher it myself: imgur: the simple image sharer
My first question is can i still safely drive this vehicle for an hour a day until this weekend. Next what kind of springs do i need? does it matter? should i replace both sides? and i can't tell but it looks like i should replace the rusty u-bolts and maybe their plates on the axle as well as the rear shackle and the spring eye bushings too. can i buy the spring eye bushings ready to use or do i need a hydraulic press? Is there a good place where i can buy all of this stuff in one shipment? I know it's a simple system but i've got a billion questions and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
my 1981 ford f150 half-ton inline 6 2WD has a broken leaf spring on the rear right side. Here's my intact left side from underneath the vehicle: imgur: the simple image sharer and here's the broken right side from the wheel well: imgur: the simple image sharer
you can see that one of the leafs broke out from the middle and is probably out on the highway somewhere
I was going to go by a junk yard looking for replacements or just buy a new after market set because i need to fix this quick to get to work next week. it's come to my attention that there are 2 different types for the 2wd though this one aftermarket site says theres the 2x4 main and the 2x4 aux. what's that mean? i took a photo of the door code, i can't decipher it myself: imgur: the simple image sharer
My first question is can i still safely drive this vehicle for an hour a day until this weekend. Next what kind of springs do i need? does it matter? should i replace both sides? and i can't tell but it looks like i should replace the rusty u-bolts and maybe their plates on the axle as well as the rear shackle and the spring eye bushings too. can i buy the spring eye bushings ready to use or do i need a hydraulic press? Is there a good place where i can buy all of this stuff in one shipment? I know it's a simple system but i've got a billion questions and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,005
Likes: 2,750
From: Virginia
New springs will usually come with new bushings. The old ones are very very difficult to remove. The best way is to eat out the rubber, either by a smaller drill bit going all away around drilling the rubber out, or a hole saw to eat the rubber out. I have tried burning it out with a torch and don't recommend it, what a stinky mess that makes. Once the rubber is out of the way, the center will fall out and then you can take a hammer and chisel and drive the outer shell out.
When I had one break, I just went to the junkyard and got a used one. One of my center leaves was broken. I took the junkyard one apart, took the leaf out I needed, and then took mine apart and put that leaf back in, replacing the broken leaf. It worked fine for me.
You can get the u-bolts at the store if you need them. I don't know about the plates, I made my own out of 1/2inch thick plate. The Ford dealer may have these or if you go to the junkyard, they may give the plate to you when they torch the spring off the vehicle.
When I had one break, I just went to the junkyard and got a used one. One of my center leaves was broken. I took the junkyard one apart, took the leaf out I needed, and then took mine apart and put that leaf back in, replacing the broken leaf. It worked fine for me.
You can get the u-bolts at the store if you need them. I don't know about the plates, I made my own out of 1/2inch thick plate. The Ford dealer may have these or if you go to the junkyard, they may give the plate to you when they torch the spring off the vehicle.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
If you should need plates, hit me up, I have extras.
If the bushings in the used springs are good, just re-use them. There are two trains of thought with it, replace the one with used and be happy, or get a pair. They can be a real challenge to do sometimes. If you want to increase your capacity, you change them both. main thing is to make sure you get the same number of leaves on both sides.
If the bushings in the used springs are good, just re-use them. There are two trains of thought with it, replace the one with used and be happy, or get a pair. They can be a real challenge to do sometimes. If you want to increase your capacity, you change them both. main thing is to make sure you get the same number of leaves on both sides.
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