Anybody got some good ideas of leaf replacements for an '03 F-150 S-Crew FX4. I had the rear end looked at and was told they needed replacing. I found it hard to believe since I only haul a dirtbike in the back of my truck. Anyway, I am going to take it to a leaf spring specialist. In the mean time, if replacement is needed, what do you guys recommend for aftermarket leafs.

Thanks,

Skinner

 

Welcome to the forum!

I have a hard time believing your leafs are shot. They might need the bushings replaced but I haven't touched mine and I haul more then dirt bikes in my truck. Some have loaded their truck so that the leafs will curl down instead of up. Once unloaded everything was fine again.

 

Depends on whats wrong with the truck. I load the snot out of my truck. Still on stock springs although i did add one extra leaf about 5 years ago. I cant imagine that your springs are shot. With a screw, its seems like the bed isnt big enough to overload the truck.

Are you getting noise from the rear end when you accellerate from a stop? If thats the case the solution is as easy as pulling your driveshaft and adding a little grease to the splines of the shaft. Sometimes they bind up and pop and bang when your first accellerate from a stop.

 

One of my leafs failed at about 89k. It still "worked" OK but it had cracked in the center. It jumped out of the pack when I went around a turn one day. Bang! Maybe "shot" means cracked or badly corroded? I'm sure mine were damaged more by road salt than by anything I hauled.

 

I have hauled some heavy stuff in my truck, and before i had it was used as a work truck. Now with that said, im sure my springs have lost some of their "strength", and i have thought about adding a leaf, but just havent got around to it yet.
So unless your springs arent cracked or messed up bad i would leave them.

 

I am getting noise, but I dont think it is the slip yoke. I recently had the drive pulled and greased. Just a lot of creaking and popping, especially when I drive over uneven terrain. I can pull down on the back of the bed and hear the noise. I am going to a leaf spring specialty shop now and I will report back and tell you the outcome. Thanks for all the replies.

Skinner

 

I am getting noise, but I dont think it is the slip yoke. I recently had the drive pulled and greased. Just a lot of creaking and popping, especially when I drive over uneven terrain. I can pull down on the back of the bed and hear the noise. I am going to a leaf spring specialty shop now and I will report back and tell you the outcome. Thanks for all the replies.



Skinner

 

Joe Finn, there was a bultetin out about the 97's not having a strap around the leaf pack. If the leafs do shift or break while in the pack, they can spin sideways and pierce the fuel tank.
Rich

 

As far as I know, the recall had been done on my truck. The one that broke on mine was on the passengers side so the tank was never in danger. Made a BIG pop though!

 

Well, I bought an Energy Suspension Bushing replacement set and if anybody has some insight on how to get these bad boys installed..please let me know. Also, while I have the leafs off, should I replace the inserts between the leafs? It would give me a chance to clean them up and remove any problem debris. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Skinner