Ok,

I just received my rear 2" add-a-leaf from Tuff Country (www.samsoffroad.com) . For those that don't know I am trying to counteract the effects of the X spring upfront. SQUATTING!

I have the springs and centering pins in the box.

Can someone describe the install a bit? No instructions with it.

Where in the stack do I put this spring?

I noticed the holes in the springs are offset from center quite a bit. I am guessing the long end (not the physically long end) of the leaf towards the bumper of the truck?

There seems to be a retaining clip of some sort on the existing spring pack. Do I re-use this?

Yeti gave me torgue settings already so I am all set there. I will also get new u-bolts from the dealer.

thanks

Tom

 

anyone out there with info?

 

You have to jack the truck up by the axle and place jackstands or cribbing under the frame of the rear of the truck.Next remove the rear tires. with the jack still under the axle (one side at a time) remove the u-bolts, lower the axle enough to remove the factory block, open the factory spring clamps (around the spring) then place two C-clamps on each end of the springs without clamping the thick factory spring on the bottom and remove the center bolt, most I have done break.Then release your c-clamps and take apart the spring pac (you may have to lower the axle more) and then put your add a leaf in the location where it will follow the factory pattern of short to long. you will see once you start. begin reinstall by putting the new center bolt through the pac dont tighten it other than by hand yet reclamp your c clamps good and tight now tighten the center bolt dont over tighten or the soft nut will strip. put your block back on the axle jack it back up to the springs put u bolts on torque to spec and you should be done one side repeat for other side. You should be able to bend the spring clamp back around the springs. remember to retorque after 100 miles. It is a pretty easy installation especially with an air impact and an assistant to put the spring pac back together. I have done each side before alone in about 25 minutes.

 

Hey Labwillow,

Thanks so much for the very descriptive installation. I can envision the process now.

One more question. The hole for the center bolt. I notice the hole is offset on the new springs. Is it going to be pretty obvious which way to lay the spring in there?

Thanks for help.

Tom

 

Yes it will be obvious, I believe that the longer portion of the spring goes on the back towards the bumper.

 

UPDATE!!

I completed the installation of the 2" Tuff Country add-a-leaf per Labwiliiows and Yeti's instructions and it went great. I did not even have to remove the c-clamps because the spring is offset and misses the clamp completely. I also installed Rancho 9000 shocks.

I can't recommend this solution enough for those of you with X springs (plow package) and extended cab trucks. The 2" Tuff-Country add-a-leaf is the perfect solution to the squatting problem. It dramatically impacted my load capability and the ride is actually much better. No more wheel hop or lean on turns. I will post pics as soon as I can.

Thanks

Tom

 

Hey Tom, did you happen to take a measurement of the height to the rear fender before and after the add-a-leaf? I see that you have an F250 with 265/75/16 tires... same as me. However, I have the v code springs up front (5200# spring rating) and was thinking of swapping them out for the x code springs, and then raising the rear via either the 4" block from the F350 or the Tuff Country add-a-leaf. Anyway, did the add-a-leaf actually raise your rear 2 inches? Also, with the x springs up front and the add-a-leaf in the rear, how does the truck sit (nose up, nose down, or level)?

 

Sorry Tom, I just now noticed that you have an extended cab with the 5.4L engine. So I realize that your truck will be lighter than mine (crew cab with v10), but at least I'll have a rough idea of my truck's stance if I decide to make these changes. Thanks for any info you can provide - Eck.

 

Hey V10,

The add-a-leaf did raise the level of the truck exactly 2" in the rearend. Something to keep in mind if you do the xcode springs swap is the steering stabilizer. My truck came with it stock. I'd recommend it if you do go to the xcode springs. Rancho makes a nice one. With the V10 you may ride a little better than I do with the V8 because of the added weight. It isn't much but I think it will actually help you a bit. Less wheel hop. The xcode springs on my truck leaned the truck backwards a very slight amount (nose high).

I went with the add-a-leaf because I tend to carry lots of wood with my truck and it was outright pitiful looking and driving with a load. I was down on the bump stops all the time. The truck swayed a little in the backend while driving. It wasn't a comfortable feeling.

Because the xcodes (for gassers not diesels I would suspect) push the weight backwards I feel the truck has a load in the backend without anything in the bed.

That is why I went with the 2" add-a-leafs. Not the 4" block. I don't think the block fixes the problem for people who really fill the bed from time to time. The add-aleaf fixes the height problem, adds capacity, and stops the sway action from a heavy load. Add to that a price of $52.00 and I don't think it can be beat. The truck actually rides better now unloaded and loaded. Not harder at all.

In summary it sits very very slightly nose down. It is about an inch or inch 1/2 from back to front down. It looks great. I will post a photo later so you can see for yourself.

Sorry I wanted to cover alot of stuff!!

Any questions let me know.

Tom

 

Awesome, thanks for your reply. I have the FX4 package and the camper package, which includes the stock steering stabilizer (not sure which package includes it, but I have it). So I'm good there. I too haul some weight in the bed frequently, but not nearly as much weight as you. My load is around 600 lbs., which doesn't sag much, but I would love to stiffen up the suspension a little since I know over time the load will soften and sag my suspension. Besides, I would like the extra two inches of lift. I assume that if I swap out my v code springs with the x code springs that I won't need to make any steering component adjustments or need a new adjustable trac bar since the x code springs are a stock option, but perhaps the snow plow prep package includes different steering components than a truck without this package. I'll have to look into that one a bit more. But I'm thinking all I need is the x code springs up front with new u bolts, add-a-leaf in the rear with new u bolts, and maybe a new adjustable trac bar. Thanks again for your info - Eck.

 

I have the X springs with a 2.5" leveling kit in front and a n add a leaf in the rear. I was just wondering if it would be cheaper V10commandments to get an add a leaf for the front with your stock 5200lb springs rather than swaping in a set of X spring? Although if you look in the right places I bet you could find a set of X springs that somebody might have removed to put a 4"+ lift in there truck?

 

Good to hear all went well....Get some pics!!!!

 

Thanks for the tip labwillow. I keep going back and forth between x springs and 2" add-a-leafs for the front. Can't make up my mind. And actually, 2" add-a-leafs will give me a taller lift in the front than upgrading my v springs for x springs (which I believe will give me only an inch of lift since it's only an 800# spring rate increase). I just need to read up a bit more on the performance of add-a-leafs in the front (want to make sure I don't find anything bad about doing this versus replacing springs or using hangers). Seems that replacing springs or using hangers are a safer way of doing a front end lift than using add-a-leafs.

Eck

 

V10,
What kind of 2" add-a-leafs were you thinking about using ?(brand, where from)

 

I don't know which is technically the "safest" way to do it but I acn tell you that by adding a leaf it will give you a higher spring rate thus stiffing them some. If I didn't use my truck to plow snow I think I would have gone with a hanger upgrade for lift because it would keep the original spring rate since you would just be relocating the factory leafs. With my plow I appreciate the stiffness of the 2.5" tuff country add-a-leaf spring pak that I have.