Two months ago I broke my passenger side leaf spring. The middle spring broke about an inch forward of the u- bolts. I replaced the spring and today the driver's side one broke in the exact same spot. Is just from use or something else? How long can I drive with like this before the spring gives?

 

Shouldn't break on a '98 that soon. I had a 92 Mazda B2600i and never had any probs with the leaf springs. Have you overloaded the truck, if so that may have cause a hairline crack that progressed until it cracked. I wouldn't drive long with it like that, if the leaf spring snaps while your traveling at even a low speed you're gonna have trouble. That's the main component that holds your axel on.

 

heh, I had a 1957 Ford Fairlane that had the original leaf's in the back. I've never really heard of them breaking. My dad still has his originals on his '46 pickup.

 

My friend has an 1886 wooden carriage in their front yard. The leaf springs are original and still in great shape. I too have never heard of leaf springs breaking.

 

As the saying goes, they don't make things like they used to.

 

Sorry for the newbie-ness but that's what I am. What's a leaf spring? Is it those metal bar looking things above the rear axles?

 

imsorope - to bad you don't live close. I have a set of brand new springs off my '99 taking up space in my garage.

 

This is interesting. I have a 65 Mustang with stock springs that have never broke.

 

Well, having replaced a few sets, and getting ready to replace my own as soon as I get the ambition to grab the replacements out of the donor exploder...

They suck, they break, alot. That's the short story.

Long story, or how I've come to rationalize it, anyway....
They use a centering clip to keep the leafs from sliding between eachother. Then, they bolt them down, and squeeze the pee out of that spot, with the clip between them. This creates a pressure point, and ends up causing a crack, and eventually a broken center leaf. After replacing only one leaf, and removing this silly thing from a few trucks, the problem has yet to return.

I've seen it on Rangers of nearly every generation, the only thing they tend to share is the fact that they all were extended cabs.

Makes sense, too much weight on an already weak factory suspension, adding stress..... We're talking about a truck that, when brand new, sags the same amount with a loaf of bread in the bed as it does with a ton of brick... Lousy springs, IMO.
Softened up too much to improve ride quality.

My solution, replace the entire stinking spring pack with one out of a similar year explorer 4wd. Going this route should give you about 2" of lift on a 2wd Ranger, along with a noticeably stiffer ride (a good thing, as far as I'm concerned).
Only modification necessary is removing the centering stud and flipping it over, to compensate for the fact that the spring pack/axle is flipped between the Ranger and Exploder.

Ok, I'll shut up now.

 

Interesting story re springs. When I received my new rear springs to lower my truck, I was a little disappointed to see "Made in Mexico" stamped on them. Then, when I removed the stock springs, there was the exact same stamp on them.

 

i removed my stock lift blocks and run coil helpers between frame and axle housing, truck is now "leveled out" and doesnt sag much with 200 pd winter sand weight. it does jar me a little going over speed bumps with nothing in the bed.