Help with Leaf springs

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Jul 27, 2005 | 12:20 PM

vochy

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Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 226

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From: IA

Help with Leaf springs

I am going to be doing a lot of work to the rear half of my truck and one of the things i am going to do is change the rear leafs. I was wondering how do you compress the springs to get them into the shackeles?
Another thing is I am considering getting the 1/2 ton HD springs over the standard springs out of JCW. Is it worth it to put those on a half ton truck.

Jul 27, 2005 | 06:25 PM

RC Dan

Tuned

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 436

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From: MI

Some leaf packs shouldn't have to be compressed. But if you need to, I've always heard to use c-clamps. Can't really say about the HD leafs. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but HD leafs will keep the truck up a little higher when it is loaded down but don't increase load capacity. My truck used to have HD leafs on it, but they were rotted apart when I got the truck. I just bought some used standard leafs to replace them.

Jul 27, 2005 | 07:06 PM

quicklook2

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Joined: May 2004

Posts: 11,289

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From: Lakewood, Ohio

the springs come with a bolt thru the leaves, used for centering on axle. as for shackles, you do front, position axle and start the u bolts, use c clamp if you have to, on rear, sometimes a bottle jack helps. changing springs is no big deal, the hard part is removing old ones.

Last edited by quicklook2; Jul 27, 2005 at 07:26 PM.

Jul 27, 2005 | 11:51 PM

chrono4

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Joined: Jan 2004

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From: Elkhart IN

a word of advice, a blue tipped wrench, aka the cuttin torch. if you got one or can borrow one its a big help

Jul 28, 2005 | 12:34 AM

KansasJoe

Mountain Pass

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 151

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I manage a spring shop so here goes....leaf springs never need to be compressed because as stated earlier there's a centerbolt which holds them together and also clips around the springs. The spring stacks are up to you...a standard set for a F150 4wd is 1389lbs and a HD which has one extra leaf in it is 2320lbs so yes it will increase your hauling and towing capabilities. Don't know what JC charges but I charge 10 bucks more for the HD so you may as well go with the HD and then if you don't like it simply take the extra leaf out. You're gonna need luck on your side to get those end bolts out and if you're gonna do it then you may as well get some new shackles while you're at it so you know all of your bushings are good...you can buy these from ford for somewhere around 27 bucks. Be prepared to replace all of the end bolts and u bolts while you're at it....good luck and have fun

Jul 28, 2005 | 01:12 AM

Ponyracer

Posting Guru

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 1,942

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From: Willamette Valley, Oregon

If you have the towing package then you will have 3" wide leaf springs. I would do what I did and find some F250-F350 rear springs and mount them right up. They are a direct replacement. When looking for your springs, get the F350 with the factory overloads and get the overload brackets off of the frame. The increase of height I am not sure of because I lifted my truck at the same time.

Just a note: Even though you will be raising the spring carring capacity, remember you still have a 1/2 ton rearend still installed!

On the removal: remove and support the axle assembly, remove the front leaf spring bolt first, then remove the nut for the rear bolt and as you remove the bolt twist the spring to aid in bolt removal. In most cases this will work with some persuasion.

Last edited by Ponyracer; Jul 28, 2005 at 01:20 AM.

Jul 28, 2005 | 09:33 AM

ivanribic

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Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 11,945

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From: Spokane, WA

Be sure to loosen the shackle bolt that actually holds it into the hanger. If you only take the bolt out of the spring the shackle will not want to move. Loosen the other bolt and it'll swing easily so you can line it up with the new spring. Just be sure you tighten it all back up when you're done.

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Sep 24, 2021 | 05:58 PM

Bob Swett

Trailering

Joined: Jun 2020

Posts: 19

Likes: 1

I feel bad for anybody who is going to change the rear springs on a "40's" pickup based on what I went through. Three short top leaves were broken and all pretty rust pitted on one side. I was lucky enough to find an excellent pair of replacements almost like NOS, they were that good. I had to take off the bed to get those miserable front pins out of the hangers, nasty job even then using a fire wrench ! separated the leaves on the replacements and sand blasted all, painted, and a light coat of grease between all, long center bolt and c clamps pulled them together just fine. I did keep the old ones if any body wanted to own them but shipping would probably kill ya ! Install new pins and bushings at the same time, you will not regret it, money well spent.