Hey All,
Just stopped at the dealer and picked up my leaf spring insulator kit. Now for the next problem...how to install them. There are 4 pcs. for each leaf spring...2 insulators for the front and two insulators for the back of the leaf spring. Do the plastic pads rub together or not? I talked to the mechanic and he explained it to me...sort of. There are holes on my leafs where the one plastic insulator will drop into, the other insulator is supposed to go around the part of the spring where the bolt goes through, but I'm not sure where exactly they go? Anyone know how?

 

If you can get it up on a lift you will see exactly where they go. They are inbetween the leafs to prevent squeeking, toward the tips of the leafs. To install them you need to lift the vehicle by the frame and allow the axles to hang from the leafs. This will make some room to get inbetween the springs with the plastic pieces. You will have to pry the springs open wider with a crow bar or pound a thick screw driver between the springs. In the back it is necessary to grind some of the nub off two of the isolators, they are on the rear leafs on the end closer to the front of the truck. I just did this so if you have any more questions let me know.

 

Mizzitch,
Do the 2 plastic insulators rub with one-another? I have 2 insulators for the front of the spring and 2 insulators for the back. Does the one insulator go in between the leaf(where it curls around the bushing and bolts onto the truck) and the insulator with the nub?

 

If the insulators are like mine on my 1999 F-250 4x4 Super Duty, on the front leafs there is one insulator at each end of each spring on the front leafs, so a total of four. The isolators do not rub each other, they just go inbetween the leafs and press into the holes in the bottom leaf. I did not have to replace the isolators on the front of my truck yet b/c I bought the snow plow leafs at 30,000 miles and discarded the originals, so I am not sure if replacing the isolators is as easy in the front as it was in the back, but it should be do'able.

 

Okay, that's how my leafs are too. I have one insulator at each end. The reason I had questioned the installation is b/c the kit I bought had 8 pcs. in it. Two insulators to an end equalling four insulators per leaf spring...2 front, 2 back. The insulators rub together. I think I know how they go. We'll see. Ill let you know how it goes after I install them on Saturday. Thanks for the help!!!

 

They don't rub against one another ,just pop it in the bottom leaf to rub on the leaf above it!

Rich

 

The arched pads go on front end of leaf pack and flat one on the rear of the leaf pack. Yes you have 8 pieces because Ford knows they wont last long and you will have to do it again later.