I had a leaf spring break and i am picking up a brand new set rated for 2073 pounds. is this close to what the stocks leaf springs are rated for? if i replace just the one side will it give my truck a lean one way or the other or should i just rebuild the old spring?

 

Leaf springs should always be replaced in pairs. Otherwise, the bed will tip to one side.

 

Have you ever replaced a leaf spring? It's usually not too easy to replace the whole thing. The bolts are VERY difficult to remove, and most likely won't be re-usable when you do get them out. Almost guaranteed you are gonna have to torch them out.

I just replaced one set in my truck with a used set of leaves.

As long as the main spring is not broke, I would suggest picking up a used set from the junk yard. All that needs to be done is to remove the two U-bolts from the axle and put the new leaves on the main spring.

Used springs are usually $40 bucks. New U-bolts are about $12 a piece.

Just make sure you get the correct width and number of leaves. They do vary from truck to truck.

 

I got lucky at pick and pull once and pulled a set of 89 F250 leaves with 2 6'' crescent wrenches! But when I tried to pull the spring on my 91 they were seized solid. Ended up cutting both rear bolts and one of the front ones out with a grinder.

 

I havent done one personally but plan on having a friend thats a mechanic help me. I think im going to just replace the broken one and not do the whole thing.. although my front hangers are going to need replace as well ( i hear thats not a fun job) so it may be easier to do it all in one shot. thanks for the help

 

I have been considering a leaf spring replacement, after I had a load of dirt almost put the truck on the ground. I was dissapointed that my old 150 couldn't hang. I was thinking of new springs rated for a F250, but not sure if the heavier springs would just bolt in. Would the front coils would then need to be upgraded to a 250 as well or If I could leave it with the 150 coils and just have the 250 springs in the rear?

 

The rivets holding the brackets to the frame are under pressure. to get them out easy torch (chisel or grind) off the head then torch out (or drill) the center of the rivet. the outer part of the rivet will then come out with a punch fairly easy leaving an unmolested hole for your bolt. But drill those holes out and use a bigger bolt than the rivet size.
cutting the spring bolts and installing new springs and bolts is soooooo easy and almost as cheap as buying used springs. 79 bronco springs I bought new 10 yrs ago were 150 for the pair with bolts and it took me 6 hours to do both.
Don't bother trying to saw the bolts, will take forever use a cutoff grinder or torch them and pickup a new set of u-bolts while your at it. There is nothing better than new springs

 

Just a note on safety, I like to have a large C clamp on the spring packs for removal and install. The spring pack center bolt is not there to pull them together either! When I added a leaf to the rear of my trucks existing packs, I put the clamps on before getting a wrench on anything. after removal of spring pack and center bolt then the clamps were backed off, there can be a lot of tension in those springs. Even if you attempt and get the pack unbolted (or cut) from the truck the center pin can let loose at any time due to corrosion or fatigue (and honestly that bolt aint that big either). It was also the only way to install the add a leaf into the pack and reassemble. Like said already, rear springs should be done in pairs, its also recomended to never reuse U bolts. I know not everyone does these things and may seem overkill to some, but its something I was taught years ago in trade school and follow, as I have seen some incedents that could have ended up fatal.