OK, all of my stuff came in so I decided to start installing my add-a-leafs. First off, they are rough country leafs that go on the bottom of the existing spring pack. My directions say that I have to remove the springs from the truck, but others on here have said that this is not true. Also, how do you remove/adjust the bend clips on the rear of the spring pack to allow the add-a-leaf to be inserted? Got the truck tore down last night, three hours later ran into these problems, and was forced to put it back togeather so I could go to work today ! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

yes the spring goes on the bottom of the pack, the spring don't have to be removed fromt he truck and the clips need to be removed if your add aleaf will hit them. i think the kit you have is one long spring for each side. if that is the case then the clips need to be removed.

 

Did you new springs come with the bracket attatched to it? My Tuff Country came with the rear bracket already attatched with a rivet. You don't need to remove the springs, just do one side at a time. Here is how I did mine....
1) remove sway bar to allow axle to move freely.
2) Put a jack under frame and a jack under axle and remove wheel.
3)Remove u bolts from axle and position shock out of the way- I left it attatched at the top and pushed it out of the way so I could work.
4)Undo center bolt and C clamp springs together and cut rear bracket that holds springs together.
5)Lower axle jack and raise frame jack until springs separate from the axle.
6) release C clamp and potition new leaf underneath spring pack and insert new center bolt. If new bolt is long enough you can tighten up to pull springs togethter, if not use C clamp to get bolt and nut together.
7) Raise axle up toward spring pack-if not lined up, use a come along to pull axle ahead until center bolt lines up with alignment hole in axle bracket and postion shock back in place and put U bolts back in and tighten making sure everthing is lined up
8)Install new bolt in rear bracket and put wheel back.
9) repeat on other side and reattatch sway bar
10) retighten U bolts after about 50 miles.

 

If I remove the clips, do I need to replace them, or do I just go without. If I need to replace them, can I pick them up at any automotive store or do I need to go to the stealership? Thanks for the help guys!

 

I have the same rough country set, now on that spring you should see a replacement for that clip. It is already mounted on that add a leaf and it requires a bolt on top. Its hard to explain but I can't find a picture of it right now.

 

I didn't recieve a replacement clip al all, just the springs and bolts.

 

OK, called rough country when we tried to install the add-a-leafs, and they said that I needed to ground off the rivet-like bolt on the bottom of the clip, knock it out, and heat to bend the clips. They said I could purchase new clips at an automotive store, but we couldn't find any. I am figuring at this point on using the same clips but welding a shortened bolt back on the clips and making my own rivet-like structure to keep the add-a-leafs straight. Does this sound like it would work?

 

That sounds like it should work. The rear clip is to keep the springs in line and to keep them from separating too far with axle travel which coukd let them twist out of line.

 

I am thinking of ordering this also. Do you need longer shocks?

 

You can use stock shocks with the add a leaf kit.

 

the u-bolts get torqued to 99 lb-ft, and the front shocks get both top and bottom mounts at 76 lb-ft. just torqued my nuts yesterday...

 

quick update. I have not had time to install the spring yet. just got a second job and am also taking 20 credits at college. Going to try to do it this week.

 

You don't need to heat the retainers. You can pry them out far enough to clear the spring pack before you grind off the rivits. They bend back into shape pretty easily and stay in place just fine without the rivits.

 

one thing I haven't been able to figure out is how is the clip attached to the bottom spring? The only way I can think of is that there is a tiny spot-weld holding them togeather. The factory told me I need to grind off the rivet and knock it loose. So I really don't need to reinstall a rivet-like object back into the clips? I can just bent them enough so they will stay secure? THANKS! going to try to do it tonight, as my dad won't be driving his ford tomorrow so I can!

 

Yep. I ground off the rivit head and removed the clips. When I put the clips back on the spring pack I just bent them back into shape with a big pair of slip joint pliers. They have not moved at all.