So there I am, 3.5 miles into the trail on the desert floor when ***BANG*** something gave way. I wasn't doing anything crazy but driving down a slightly bump trail at about 10mph. The bang was a giant snapping sound and I immediately knew it wasn't just the trucks usual moans and groans on the trail. I pulled over and climbed under to check things out. Nothing was dragging on the ground (been having 4x4 issues as of late), but when I glanced at the wheel well I saw it...a busted leaf! Front driver's side 2nd spring. Luckily it wasn't the main one or I would have been screwed. I limped it home with some 2x4's stacked between the spring pack (just behind the shackle) and the frame to help unload my last spring (the spring snapped about 8 inches behind the shackle).

Since it's my daily driver I don't have the convenience of letting it sit for long, so I need to get it into the shop in the next day or two (before people start getting tired of me mooching rides to work).

I think I have the 'V' code springs. I don't have the camper or plow package. I have the FX4 package. I have dual alternators, but I don't know if that's part of the ambulance prep or what (or if springs come in that prep package). The 'SPR' for my door sticker says VA. I am assuming that it's 'V' code up front and 'A' code in back??

Is it worth the money to go to 'X' code springs? Does that make the ride a lot harsher? Is that going to throw off my drivetrain geometry? Should I try to go to a spring shop and have them fix the pack or should I just bite the bullet and get a new pack from Ford? Is there an aftermarket company to get them from instead? I'm looking for a good long term fix since I plan to have this truck for at least another 15-20 years.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I need to get my rig back on the road by the end of this week! Unfortunately I don't have a 3rd car, so I have to balance best choice vs. repair time.

Also, is it worth trying to spend and evening/night doing it myself, or should I shell out $$$ to have it done?

Sorry for the questions, but springs are not my forte...but they will be when this is all done!

 

I spent 550.00 to have mine replaced, and added 2 more to the stack. I had to shop around though to do it..Good Luck

 

If you can get your truck onto a lift it will make it a lot easier to change out the springs. I used a floorjack, bottlejacks and jack stands and i had a heck of a time putting my leveling springs on. You should be alright though, I'm not the brightest person ever.

 

if you replace the leaf or the spring you'll probly have to do both sides or the truck won't sit level
I haven't changed a spring that small in quite a while but on big trucks it's a little over an hour to R&R the spring or about 2 hrs to replace the leaf

 

Regardless of what I end up doing, it will be symmetrical. Whatever I do to fix the driver's side is what I'll do to the passenger's.

I spoke to a local spring shop and they would just order the Ford spring pack and put it on. I think I'm going to see how much it is to get the packs from the dealer and put them on myself and save $400 in labor.

How hard is it to just change out the rear blocks to the 350 blocks? If I went X code I would probably be nose high and I HATE that. I might just keep the status quo (and the softer ride) and stick with the V code and deal with height another time. The truck is slightly raked and is level when I load the bed.

 

No help with the springs but I like the "raked" look also.

 

Sucks the spring shop couldn't make a set of springs, but honestly, when I got my replacement rears the dealer was the best deal. Then again, I know the parts guys pretty well. The thing I like about the spring shops is you can get a spring rate that is soft but have them set it to the height you want. I did this on my 97, ordered stock springs so it rode well, had them arched higher, installed them them sent them back to be arched the right amount. Later one side was a little low so they touched it up for me. But I had the convenience of working at a shop and having the spring shop pickup and drop off the springs.

My rear Ford springs are starting to sag though. They were ok at first, then sank enough that I installed f350 blocks, now they are seeming low again.

 

Ive got a set of 02 F350 stock front springs with less than 30k miles on them Ill sell off cheap.

 

I wish this would have come up last week.....I just chunked a set of V springs last Monday. They had been in the Garage for a year and I got tired of looking at them...Timing is everything.

Jim

 

Thanks for the replies. I went out yesterday and ordered new V code fronts. I found a dealership that sold them to me for almost what FTEPartsGuy would have sold them to me. Between the shipping cost and delivery time it just wasn't practical to order from him. I'll get him next time.

I also got new shackles and nuts. I'm considering getting new bolts for the frame mounts too.

I've read the write-ups from the Excursion guys and it seems pretty straight forward. The only issues seem to be getting the nuts off the frame bolts and getting the front bolts out. Has anybody swapped fronts for the SDs and what interference do I need to remove for the front bolts? I've read that the X guys remove different things from bumper supports to the radiator brackets to the whole front bumper. I'm just trying to get a feel for how long this will take as my time is limited. I'm planning on doing this on Thursday but I leave town on a trip on Friday and need it done by then (parts don't come in until tomorrow). Time is tight, but I would like to save the labor $$$ for my pockets if I can reasonably get this done in 1 day with minimal unanticipated delays. I'm fairly good with a wrench and haven't had to put my rig in the shop yet since I owned it and would like to keep it that way (and my $$$ in my own pocket too).

Should I go for it or just suck it up and pay a shop to do it (which would probably be the Ford dealer just down the street from me)?

 

I couldn't get the front bolts out. I had to undo the radiator supports. I took the front bumper off too.

 

Was it difficult to get the radiator supports and bumper off and back on?

 

No that part was easy.

 

Any problems with getting the nuts off of the bolts? Would you recommend just getting some new bolts/nuts for the frame mounts? Also, was it hard to line the new springs up with the frame mount holes?

Thanks for the info. These are the only questions I have left that would make it difficult.

 

I reused the bolts and the springs lined up well.