Squeak in front right leaf spring.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
OK guys I need a little more help.
First, The shim kit is not wide enough for my leaf springs. Mine are 3 inches wide and the curved shim is only 2. The piece with the stud is square and my original ones are round. I managed to get the first piece with the stud in on one spring but it does not fit very well. There is also a "clamp" that wraps around my springs to prevent you from seperating them.
What am I doing wrong? My truck is in the air so any quick help is appreciated. Thanks Guys.
David
PS earlybirds, what year is your truck and is it a 4 x 4?
First, The shim kit is not wide enough for my leaf springs. Mine are 3 inches wide and the curved shim is only 2. The piece with the stud is square and my original ones are round. I managed to get the first piece with the stud in on one spring but it does not fit very well. There is also a "clamp" that wraps around my springs to prevent you from seperating them.
What am I doing wrong? My truck is in the air so any quick help is appreciated. Thanks Guys.
David
PS earlybirds, what year is your truck and is it a 4 x 4?
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 465
Likes: 13
From: Hickory, North Carolina
A little more info.
As I mentioned earlier their is no way to use the curved pieces. I could possibly make the flat pieces work but I would have to grind off the two 1/8 inch lips from each side as these would be completely between the two leafs as opposed to the lips wrapping around the side as I think is was intended to do. I may not have to grind the lips off the ones for the rear leafs because these leafs have a tapered end. Also the nipples on the flat pieces are about 1/2 the length of the original shims.
David
As I mentioned earlier their is no way to use the curved pieces. I could possibly make the flat pieces work but I would have to grind off the two 1/8 inch lips from each side as these would be completely between the two leafs as opposed to the lips wrapping around the side as I think is was intended to do. I may not have to grind the lips off the ones for the rear leafs because these leafs have a tapered end. Also the nipples on the flat pieces are about 1/2 the length of the original shims.
David
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
A little more info.
As I mentioned earlier their is no way to use the curved pieces. I could possibly make the flat pieces work but I would have to grind off the two 1/8 inch lips from each side as these would be completely between the two leafs as opposed to the lips wrapping around the side as I think is was intended to do. I may not have to grind the lips off the ones for the rear leafs because these leafs have a tapered end. Also the nipples on the flat pieces are about 1/2 the length of the original shims.
David
As I mentioned earlier their is no way to use the curved pieces. I could possibly make the flat pieces work but I would have to grind off the two 1/8 inch lips from each side as these would be completely between the two leafs as opposed to the lips wrapping around the side as I think is was intended to do. I may not have to grind the lips off the ones for the rear leafs because these leafs have a tapered end. Also the nipples on the flat pieces are about 1/2 the length of the original shims.
David
here is the front shim installed.
here is the rear shim installed.
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 465
Likes: 13
From: Hickory, North Carolina
Silver, thanks for taking the time to post pics!
Now I understand that our leaf spring set-up is different. I only had 4 shims on my truck. All of them were round and badly worn I might add as you can see in the pic.
I made the new ones work though at least for now. As I mentioned before the ones on the rear of the leafs fit ok because of the taper at the end of the leaf. The way I made the front fit was to cut away the 1/8 lip. Hopefully you can see what I did in the pics.
There were no curved pieces on my leafs at all. I guess this was a change made from 2002 to 2002.
I would like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks very much, David
Front of leaf
Back of leaf
Old shims
Now I understand that our leaf spring set-up is different. I only had 4 shims on my truck. All of them were round and badly worn I might add as you can see in the pic.
I made the new ones work though at least for now. As I mentioned before the ones on the rear of the leafs fit ok because of the taper at the end of the leaf. The way I made the front fit was to cut away the 1/8 lip. Hopefully you can see what I did in the pics.
There were no curved pieces on my leafs at all. I guess this was a change made from 2002 to 2002.
I would like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks very much, David
Front of leaf
Back of leaf
Old shims
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
SC Dave-my truck is a '99 4x4. It has the snow plow package(heavy duty front leaf springs) so maybe the WIDTH of the springs is different from yours. The shim kit from Ford fit perfectly on my truck.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
DarrellinCeres
Brakes, Steering, Suspension, Tires, & Wheels
2
Oct 6, 2016 03:19 PM
