Leaf Spring Spacers
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 476
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From: Hickory, North Carolina
Leaf Spring Spacers
I have a squeak in the front end. I found the problem. It's the white nylon "spacers" that go between the leaf springs on the front and rear in various places and they are worn out. I went to the dealership (man I hate going there) with my vin # in hand. I explained to them what I needed and where it was located. They had no idea what I was talking about (there's a shocker). Even the exploded view she printed off for me didn't show them. Don't know where to turn now. Any suggestions?
David
David
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Do you mean you have plenty of the 8 piece white nylon kit from Ford? Where the top pieces cup around the spring eyelet to the top leaf, and the bottom piece has anti rotation flanges, so that the frictional contact is nylon to nylon at both ends, not nylon to spring steel?
Or do you mean you have plenty of generic flat black disks?
Or do you mean you have plenty of generic flat black disks?
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Tuned
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From: Hickory, North Carolina
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From: Souderton
Do you mean you have plenty of the 8 piece white nylon kit from Ford? Where the top pieces cup around the spring eyelet to the top leaf, and the bottom piece has anti rotation flanges, so that the frictional contact is nylon to nylon at both ends, not nylon to spring steel?
Or do you mean you have plenty of generic flat black disks?
Or do you mean you have plenty of generic flat black disks?
You lost me at Do
They are the round black disc ones with the correct size nibs for them to fit securely within the punched hole in the spring. Not the Ford ones.
-Junior
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That's what I suspected... ATS Junior has generic round plastic discs. I think those wear out much faster than Ford's 8 piece nylon kit, because they rub against steel, versus the nylon on nylon contact with the Ford kit. But the 8 piece nylon kit is not appropriate for all Ford front leaf springs. In fact most Ford front 4x4 front leaf springs I've seen cannot use the 8 piece kit. It depends on if the springs are sandwiched or separated at the shackle.
When I installed Ford's kit 14 years ago, I took advantage of the cup design of the upper isolator, which engages the leaf curl via curved structural ribs, rather than a flat smooth curved plane. I filled the space between these ribs with something like SylGlyde, a non petroleum based viscous lubricant that will not harm nylon or plastic, and this captured lubricant slowly, over the years and miles, bleed out of tiny holes in the bottom of the cup which is in contact with the lower isolator. This extra measure may have extended the life of my isolators... I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm still using the same Ford isolators I installed back in 2001, per the TSB. Prior to installing these isolators, the front of my less than a year old truck squeaked like an ancient hay wagon. It hasn't squeaked since.
When I installed Ford's kit 14 years ago, I took advantage of the cup design of the upper isolator, which engages the leaf curl via curved structural ribs, rather than a flat smooth curved plane. I filled the space between these ribs with something like SylGlyde, a non petroleum based viscous lubricant that will not harm nylon or plastic, and this captured lubricant slowly, over the years and miles, bleed out of tiny holes in the bottom of the cup which is in contact with the lower isolator. This extra measure may have extended the life of my isolators... I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm still using the same Ford isolators I installed back in 2001, per the TSB. Prior to installing these isolators, the front of my less than a year old truck squeaked like an ancient hay wagon. It hasn't squeaked since.
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 476
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From: Hickory, North Carolina
Here is another thread with part numbers
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...t-install.html
1C3Z-5B302-AA
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...t-install.html
1C3Z-5B302-AA
That's what I suspected... ATS Junior has generic round plastic discs. I think those wear out much faster than Ford's 8 piece nylon kit, because they rub against steel, versus the nylon on nylon contact with the Ford kit. But the 8 piece nylon kit is not appropriate for all Ford front leaf springs. In fact most Ford front 4x4 front leaf springs I've seen cannot use the 8 piece kit. It depends on if the springs are sandwiched or separated at the shackle.
When I installed Ford's kit 14 years ago, I took advantage of the cup design of the upper isolator, which engages the leaf curl via curved structural ribs, rather than a flat smooth curved plane. I filled the space between these ribs with something like SylGlyde, a non petroleum based viscous lubricant that will not harm nylon or plastic, and this captured lubricant slowly, over the years and miles, bleed out of tiny holes in the bottom of the cup which is in contact with the lower isolator. This extra measure may have extended the life of my isolators... I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm still using the same Ford isolators I installed back in 2001, per the TSB. Prior to installing these isolators, the front of my less than a year old truck squeaked like an ancient hay wagon. It hasn't squeaked since.
When I installed Ford's kit 14 years ago, I took advantage of the cup design of the upper isolator, which engages the leaf curl via curved structural ribs, rather than a flat smooth curved plane. I filled the space between these ribs with something like SylGlyde, a non petroleum based viscous lubricant that will not harm nylon or plastic, and this captured lubricant slowly, over the years and miles, bleed out of tiny holes in the bottom of the cup which is in contact with the lower isolator. This extra measure may have extended the life of my isolators... I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm still using the same Ford isolators I installed back in 2001, per the TSB. Prior to installing these isolators, the front of my less than a year old truck squeaked like an ancient hay wagon. It hasn't squeaked since.
I want to be sure I'm ordering the right kit. So with mine being a 4x4 is this kit # good?
1C3Z-5B302-AA
BTW I really appreciate you guys helping me out.
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From: Souderton
That's what I suspected... ATS Junior has generic round plastic discs. I think those wear out much faster than Ford's 8 piece nylon kit, because they rub against steel, versus the nylon on nylon contact with the Ford kit. But the 8 piece nylon kit is not appropriate for all Ford front leaf springs. In fact most Ford front 4x4 front leaf springs I've seen cannot use the 8 piece kit. It depends on if the springs are sandwiched or separated at the shackle.
When I installed Ford's kit 14 years ago, I took advantage of the cup design of the upper isolator, which engages the leaf curl via curved structural ribs, rather than a flat smooth curved plane. I filled the space between these ribs with something like SylGlyde, a non petroleum based viscous lubricant that will not harm nylon or plastic, and this captured lubricant slowly, over the years and miles, bleed out of tiny holes in the bottom of the cup which is in contact with the lower isolator. This extra measure may have extended the life of my isolators... I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm still using the same Ford isolators I installed back in 2001, per the TSB. Prior to installing these isolators, the front of my less than a year old truck squeaked like an ancient hay wagon. It hasn't squeaked since.
When I installed Ford's kit 14 years ago, I took advantage of the cup design of the upper isolator, which engages the leaf curl via curved structural ribs, rather than a flat smooth curved plane. I filled the space between these ribs with something like SylGlyde, a non petroleum based viscous lubricant that will not harm nylon or plastic, and this captured lubricant slowly, over the years and miles, bleed out of tiny holes in the bottom of the cup which is in contact with the lower isolator. This extra measure may have extended the life of my isolators... I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm still using the same Ford isolators I installed back in 2001, per the TSB. Prior to installing these isolators, the front of my less than a year old truck squeaked like an ancient hay wagon. It hasn't squeaked since.
Hmm interesting. Never had an issue on our end with them. Interesting info about the lubricant though. Will definitely keep that in mind if we ever run across an issue.
Good luck with finding them, Dave. Feel free to send me a message if you would like pricing on anything.
-Junior
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Bend Oregon
That looks like the right kit Dave.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2011
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I desperately need the spacers for front and rear leafers...those bad boys are clanking something fierce. What I didnt realize is that according the manual, in thecase of the front leaf springs "CAUTION: Never reuse U-bolts. The U-bolts are a torque-to-yield design and cannot be retightened. Failure to use a new U-bolt can result in loose or broken springs and suspension components."
Did you boys reuse?
Did you boys reuse?