Rear leaf spring bolt
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 473
Likes: 1
From: Richmond, CA
Rear leaf spring bolt
Had one just break off yesterday.
Well, after waiting for the past 10 months for parts I finnally got my Bronco back on the road a couple of weeks ago. Had my 5.8L engine completely rebuilt back in January.
I was able to take my rig accually off-road yesterday and take my two dogs out into the woods of Tahoe area. Tough damn rig. Takes a beating and still keeps on kicken.
On my way back out and back into civilization. I heard this load snap then bang. Got out and checked to see, and couldn't find anything at first. So I thought it might have been a rock that was kicked up. It was just starting to get dark around 5:00pm. So I kept driving, started to hear that something was loose in the backend somewhere. Kind of, Like my rear-end was going to fall off. So I grabed flash light and crawled under and found that the rear of leaf spring on drivers side was all the way up to the cab. The bolt that holds it in place onto hanger had broke off and the spring had snaped upto the cab. So far I hav'nt seen any other damage. So I drove home. Very slow going, about 5mph, if that, until I got back onto the highway. Arrived home all in one piece minus one bolt & nut,(Story of my life though). Probably 150 to 200 miles with this bolt missing.
As the saying goes = 'If it aint broke, don't fix it'.
Well it be broke so I gotta fix it. Still drives though.
Just thought I would share this with all.
Well, after waiting for the past 10 months for parts I finnally got my Bronco back on the road a couple of weeks ago. Had my 5.8L engine completely rebuilt back in January.
I was able to take my rig accually off-road yesterday and take my two dogs out into the woods of Tahoe area. Tough damn rig. Takes a beating and still keeps on kicken.
On my way back out and back into civilization. I heard this load snap then bang. Got out and checked to see, and couldn't find anything at first. So I thought it might have been a rock that was kicked up. It was just starting to get dark around 5:00pm. So I kept driving, started to hear that something was loose in the backend somewhere. Kind of, Like my rear-end was going to fall off. So I grabed flash light and crawled under and found that the rear of leaf spring on drivers side was all the way up to the cab. The bolt that holds it in place onto hanger had broke off and the spring had snaped upto the cab. So far I hav'nt seen any other damage. So I drove home. Very slow going, about 5mph, if that, until I got back onto the highway. Arrived home all in one piece minus one bolt & nut,(Story of my life though). Probably 150 to 200 miles with this bolt missing.
As the saying goes = 'If it aint broke, don't fix it'.
Well it be broke so I gotta fix it. Still drives though.
Just thought I would share this with all.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
Rear leaf spring bolt
That's wierd - I've THRASHED my truck (towing WAAAAY too much; jerking stumps; off-roading too fast) and I've never had that happen. Is there a possibility that that leaf/bolt/hanger was overheated/torched/welded? If so, it might have changed the temper of the steel, making it more brittle. Anyway, springs & bolts are easy-to-find & cheap at junkyards. If you've added stuff to your rig, you might shop for a truck with a RGAWR (on the door sticker) slightly higher than your originals.
...and replace the springs as a pair. Polyurethane eye bushings would be a good idea while you have the springs out, too. Only about $30 from 4WPW.
...and replace the springs as a pair. Polyurethane eye bushings would be a good idea while you have the springs out, too. Only about $30 from 4WPW.
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