89 F250 4x4 IDI with dana 44hd axle. On the front pass side, the shackle hits the frame, just sitting still, spring isn't bottomed out. I can hear it make noise when it goes over bumps, or brakes hard. new shackle and eye bushings, new hardware. drivers side doesn't touch, has a good 1/4-1/2" before the shackle hits the frame. only like maybe an 1/8-1/4" difference in ride height (top of fender wheel arch) from one side to the other. Is this a bad spring, bent spring mount, or something else?

 

Mine was the exact same way and I never could come to a solid conclusion on why. It seems to be a problem exclusive to the 87-91 vintage trucks. 92 and up are designed slightly different in that area, the frame is boxed in and the shackle hangs down a little bit lower, so that eliminates the problem of the shackle bumping the frame. I fixed mine by putting a D60 under it!

 

Bushing problem?

 

Wow, sharp truck, time capsule! Can you post a detail pic of each side? A visual might point out something out of place.

^^^^+1 above; how are the spring eye bushings?

 

I dont offroad, and I dont plow, so a 60 would be overkill. I'll get pics of the hangers, springs and shackles when I get home It has been hit on the pass side front, hence the new bumper, hood, fender and door. pivot bushings seem tight when I tried moving the axle with the leave eye out of the shackle. also redid the pass. side ball joints back in january. I'm willing to buy new springs, but I'd rather find out the issue before blowing money. Looks like the Dayton 43-498 would do the trick if thats it.

 

Thank you, the rest aint so pretty, but I love it.

 

You've already put new bushings in the shackles and the spring eyes, right?

 

pass side front axle rear hanger (old bushings seemed tight)




front shackle pass side (new bushings, new hardware) One that hits the frame.




front driver side shackle, never been touched.




driverside front hanger, never been touched.




bumpstop clearance driverside




pass side bumpstop clearance (idk what the deal is with the brake hose, its not twisted)

 

It looks like your bushings are bad....I'd start there.

it is quite possible your springs are simply worn out and the sag is causing your issue.

 

I thought that meant you did them all. Yes, I agree with 89F2urd. Replace all of the spring and shackle bushings and you will be fixed. Most likely the bushing in the rear of the spring is worn letting it shift forward pushing the shackle into the frame.

 

i would have to agree with worn springs and bad bushings don't forget to change the bushings in the shackles INSIDE THE FRAME.
everyone forgets there are bushings up inside the frame, they replace the ones down bottom in the springs but never do the upper bushings.

 

Ok, I'll finish what I started , I already did the shackle bushing (in the frame) and the Eye bushing, used tons of polyurethane lube.
Thanks y'all.

 

replaced that rear bushing on wednesday, rides and steers so much nicer. The outer wrap on the spring was hitting the spring hanger, that bushing was shot. Thought about this. If the spring was shot, and was sagging too much, it shouldn't be hitting the hanger, it should have pulled it back some from the end of the frame, being the straight eye to eye distance being shorter. A flatter spring (spring eye to spring eye distance being greater)would push the shackle closer to the frame.