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I was changing my Diff. fluid and was looking around under my truck and noticed a bolt hanging by a couple of threads, ready to fall out. It mounts the right rear leaf spring to the frame, forward of the axle. Took the bolt out and it's all buggered up. Got a new one, but I'm asking ya'll how to proceed in getting the bolt back in. The spring needs to be pulled down about a half an inch to line up the mounting hole for the spring bushing to the frame mount. I tried jacking the rear up, just about to where the rear tire was off the ground but it didn't take any tension off the spring so I could get it lined up. Couldn't jack it up any higher. I thinking I need to take it to a garage that has a lift, but I hate taking it to anybody for work I could do myself.
Uh. Sounds like you need to put the jack under the frame to take some load off the spring (which is now attached only at the rear). Jacking under the rear end (axle) just aggravates your current pickle. Jackstands under the frame before you put your head back in the wheel well. And don't put a finger through the holes to check lineup---use a wooden dowel.
The Jack was under the frame and the rear wheel was just clearing the ground and I was hammering a prybar with a 4lb hammer and I still couldn't get the spring to come down. What about unbolting the shock or anti-sway bar to get the axel to pull the spring down more? Maybe I just didn't use a big enough hammer. The spring is up in the shackle about a half an inch in a little pocket.
Mr. Wizard, I tried that too. I had the frame jacked up with a floor jack and used a bottle jack between the spring and the bed! Couldn't put much pressure on this because it just pushed the bed up, and I didn't want to ruin the bed. Couldn't see how I would be able to get the jack between the spring and the frame. hmmmm. Maybe down closer to the axle I could. Maybe I'll try a scissor jack. I'll try it again. Thanx for the thought.
Try unbolting the rear of the leaf. A decent pry bar should break them free. You'll have to bolt the front on first, then the rear. To line up the rear, keep the bar inbetween the eye and the mount. Then Have BUBBA sit in the bed, or lay down and take a nap..zzzz. Good luck....
Well, I fixed it. Put a jack under the frame and jacked up the frame, and tried a scissor jack to get the spring to come down, a no go. Scatched my head and looked at it and said, "this is nothing a 3 ft. pry bar wouldn't fix." Stuck the prybar between the frame and spring and levered the spring down. Then. with the other hand, had to feather the jack down so the bolt holes lined up.
The shim inside the rubber grommet was broken and I had to remove the broken piece, about 1/2 in. x 3/4 in. broken piece. But there seemed to be enough left to hold it together for now, couple of years I hope. Would've come back here to FTE sooner but took the truck for a road trip. California, Oregon and Washington for 2 weeks. No problems. 86 F150 with 302 and AOD. Half a quart low on oil after about 2500 miles. (20/50 oil). There are alot of older Ford trucks out there, more than older chevs. I now proclaim this truck...."ROADWORTHY"!