Front Leaf spring replacement tips.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Feb 2012
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Front Leaf spring replacement tips.
Good day. I just replaced the passenger side front leaf spring on my 1999 F-350 diesel. This was the first time I have done a spring so I have some tips for others who might attempt the job. There are a zillion YouTube videos which were helpful. I could see that getting the post to drop into the hole in the axle mount could be a problem. And on my first attempt to install the spring I hit that issue. So I ended up doing the following:
1. I had installed the front and rear bolts, started over, pulled the front and rear bolts.
2. I went for the harder part to align, the post. Position the spring on the mount while the spring is not bolted in.
3. Install the ubolts. I finger tightened them
4. Jacked up the axle until the front bolt hole was at the correct height of the front bolt holes.
5. Used my $20 Harbor Freight comealong and some rope anchored to a tree to pull the axle forward the 2 inches I needed. Worked like a charm. Got the front bolt in.
6. By adjusting the height of the axle I was able to get the rear bolt in.
7. Ta Da!!
I put the wheel back on and was amazed at the height of the truck front end. I now have to do the drivers side since there is a two inch disparity. And hey, who doesn't enjoy pouring dollars into an older rusty truck, right?
I wasted a bunch of time before I hit on the above, It is mentioned on all threads dealing with springs, but I'll mention that the front bolt will most likely not come out when removing the old spring. I used a 7 inch grinder and cut the bolt on each side of the spring. Takes maybe 10 minutes for each cut.
1. I had installed the front and rear bolts, started over, pulled the front and rear bolts.
2. I went for the harder part to align, the post. Position the spring on the mount while the spring is not bolted in.
3. Install the ubolts. I finger tightened them
4. Jacked up the axle until the front bolt hole was at the correct height of the front bolt holes.
5. Used my $20 Harbor Freight comealong and some rope anchored to a tree to pull the axle forward the 2 inches I needed. Worked like a charm. Got the front bolt in.
6. By adjusting the height of the axle I was able to get the rear bolt in.
7. Ta Da!!
I put the wheel back on and was amazed at the height of the truck front end. I now have to do the drivers side since there is a two inch disparity. And hey, who doesn't enjoy pouring dollars into an older rusty truck, right?
I wasted a bunch of time before I hit on the above, It is mentioned on all threads dealing with springs, but I'll mention that the front bolt will most likely not come out when removing the old spring. I used a 7 inch grinder and cut the bolt on each side of the spring. Takes maybe 10 minutes for each cut.
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