Hello
The rear leaf springs on my 96 F150 extended cab, 302 auto 3.55 rear are sagging. I am wanting to change them so I went to JC Whitney and they list 2 springs 1) 4 leaf 1390 lbs capacity for 89.99 each 2) a heavy duty 5 leaf 1654 Lbs capacity for 99.99 each. What I am wondering is what should I buy . I must let you know that I do pull my 67 Fairlane to shows and there is some good tongue weight at times... Or is the springs from this place not very good quality and if you know of better ones please let me know....
My other question is what hardware do I need to replace with them. I know when I done my Fairlane there was a bunch of rubber pads , bushings shackles etc... Can anyone tell me what other parts I should buy or is it a direct bolt on? I took a quick look under my truck and decided it looks alot different than my Fairlane..LOL.. So I came here for help once again...

Any help greatly appreciated
Luke

 

I just went and took a close look under the truck... All I can say is I am very lucky. I looked at where the shackle hooks to the frame mounted mount. Well just below where the bolt slides through the rear leaf spting the mount to the frame is rusted through. It is at leats a rust hole the size of a silver dollar.. I cant believe I pulled my car with this last summer. I really dont remember seeing the hole last summer. I did look but there is a plastic type coating on the mount that has fallen off revealing the bad news... This is rivetted to the truck and will be fun to change but where do I get it or is the dealer my only option?.. Also I better check the others closely... Man this is really stressing me out. Has this happenned to anyone else.. Please help anyone..

 

You need spring/shackle bushings, may as well get new hanger bolts an U-bolts if you have rust.

Here are the spring hangers.
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...ing_hanger.htm

Here are the springs I would use.
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...ock__pair_.htm

 

very common on these trucks.

wheni do these i go to ford and use orig parts.

do a search on shackles you will get many hits.

you need a grinder to do this job.

not hard, but dirty and aggravating to do

 

I actually just got the JCW 5 leaf HD springs. I have been told they are just as good. Don't know for sure. A freind of mines has a pair from JCW on his 85 and they are about 6 years old with no problems. I got new polyurethane bushings too. The 4 leaf setup is just too wimpy. That is what I have right now and anything you put back there (trailer or in the bed) squats it too much. Where can I get bolts cheap. Ford wants over 90 dollars for the 6 of them. I was going to get the ones johnsonswamp pointed out at bronco graveyard but they only come in 3 inch wide. 2WD trucks need 2.5 inch wide. The 3 inch wide springs are for 4WD and F250 etc.

 

Hello
I was wondering adout the bolts also they coct so much. I have to replace my rear spring hander for sure. The dealer told me I gotta grind off the rivets then go to hardware store and replace rivets with Grade 8 bolts.. I am wondering if I can use regular Grade 8 bolts on the shackles and front bushing eye bolt. I am leaning on doing that. I feel that if the bracket holds with Grade 8 why wouldnt they work on the rest of the bolts... Anyone think they would be ok to use?

 

they are a little tapered and even though not cheap i recommend going with the ford bolts.

they are the right diameter, smooth where they should be, the right length and the time you spend trying to match them is a waste of time imho.

i also buy the ford self locking nuts.

 

Does anybody know if bronco graveyard has them? I cant see spending 100 dollars on bolts. I do agree that it probably is they way to go, but maybe someone else carries them besides the dealership.

 

national part depot also has them, go to column on right and you can download pdf catalog.

also lmc.com has them.

by the time they mail them i do not know if you save anything.

 

I had to question spending $48 on a single hanger, so I surfed for many hours until I found one for $16.85 + free shipping. Here's the link to the hangers below:

www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getLocator&siteid=213787&chapter= DR2MA92&appSectionid=2788&groupid=2523&subgroupid= 6118&componentid=51950&make=10&model=F-150%20pickup&year=1994&graphicID=MA92436&callout=8 &catalogid=2

Some of the stuff is cheaper than the graveyard, some not.

 

Fair 96. I just replaced the rear shackle mount on my 93 F-150. I bought 2 of these and you are welcome to the other one FREE. You pay the shipping. This is for a 3" spring. Also I had to replace the spring and shackle bushings. If you want any pointers on that let me know. Good weekend project.

 

Boy I really appreciate the offer but my truck has the 2 1/2 spring... I could also use all the help I can get pointer wise...
For all of you who are looking for parts believe it or not my local dealer is cheapest or close to it. (the 16.85 is hard to beat though) The bolts are crazy in price too. However I called the dealer and he gave me a quote for 1 rear shackle bracket for 22.85 list price. So I went there and just before I paid I asked him if they give discounts for local Firefighters? ( I am a firefighter) He looked and paused then said sure I can do that and the price ended up being 16.20.. The shackle is about the same price.. So I am very glad I asked..
I am planning on doing both rear brackets and shackles.. I am thinking strongly about replacing the springs also. They are 150.00 each from the dealer(list is 184.00) So I am thinking about Bronco Graveyard with 1 extra leaf it would be about the same price..
The bad thing is the bolts that are 9.08 and the stinking nut is 4.24 more. Of course I would need 6....
Anyway I have to get my fairlane out of my garage so I can work on the truck. My other half the Garage has my other 67 with the motor out of it.. A buddy will let me put the other one in his garage as soon as I get it started.
I do have 1 question do I have to drop the gas tank and spare tire or can I get the bolts to the bracket on with it in place. Or will my grinder sparks blow me up...
Thank you all for the help I appreciate all the offers and help..

 

be careful of the tanks, especially on the fill side, but you do not have to remove it.

i used rug pieces, slightly damp.

i always keep a fire extinquisher by me when by gas tanks though.

wear leather gloves and long sleeves and googles.

after the fist timei did this i wrap a bandana around my forhead. the sparks irritated my skin.

just take your time.

also those new style bolts have an extension on them that get in the way sometimes, just grind them off.

it helps to have to shop jacks and maube a scissors or bottle jack when positioning the spring at the end lining things up.

put bolts back in the way they came out.

should be 5 hours of work if you wanted to know.

also this is a dirty, rust, dusty job.

and do not hit your head on the bumper like i did the last time.

 

Treading, since Fair 96 can't use it, if you're still willing to part with it I'd be happy to take that rear shackle mount off you hands! I've basically got the same problems with my 95 Bronco, a big hole in one of my rear shackle mounts and probably, if I peeled off the layers of rust in the other one, a hole in it as well. I'm planning to replace both rear mounts and the shackles as well, and was considering replacing the front ones as well as they don't look too hot, either. I'm thinking the springs should clean up alright, though.

 

only 250 and above use that wider spring i think but i am not sure.