So...How hard and expensive will this be...

[DeputyDipShizz]

Pulled out of a parking lot on the way to work and heard a big bang...Got to work and the rear looked funny...Crawled underneath and...



Yup, that's a broken leaf spring...What the hell...

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[sullivan]

Damn homie, they look pretty rusted out to me and we both have same 2006 year trucks.

Guess its time for some new ones

 

[DeputyDipShizz]

This truck is a ****** rust bucket...Barely anything showed about a year ago when I bought it, now its showing at the pinch weld, bed sides, and underneath as well...Ugh

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[quietpeen]

you live in pa where the heavily salt the roads with snow, its gonna happen

 

[DOAX]

you live in pa where the heavily salt the roads with snow, its gonna happen

agreed my ram is all roted out form the guy i bough it from never doing any winter prevention to it. lots of wd40 and spray paint is how to keep a truck nice when you live in pa

 

[Stangshcky12]

If you really want to take care of the rust use POR15 on it an make sure you follow the directions
As for the leaf spring it's not such a bad job, hopefully you can find a used one. Start spraying bolts now with penetratin oil

 

[DeputyDipShizz]

My truck would be covered in POR15...I have an even better idea...trade it in on a new Express...

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[DOAX]

i use a lot of the really cheap bedliner/undercoat form advance auto. its veary oily and dose not look good if you where to spray it any where that can be seen but works great for the underside of the truck just dont get any in your hair its really hard to get out

 

[WhiteExpress]

My truck would be covered in POR15...I have an even better idea...trade it in on a new Express...

I'm a fan of this idea. Getting a leaf from the Junkyard and swapping it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[DeputyDipShizz]

Back to the topic at hand...Found leaf pack at a local heap yard for $75. Is the task itself that difficult? Doesn't seem it, but then again other things I have attempted did too lol

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[05singlecabHEMI]

Just jack it up from the axle get it nice and high to where you can put jack stands on the body and the axle still be up in the air. Remove the old leaf, then put the new on on! Shouldnt be hard.

 

[DeputyDipShizz]

Leaf is ordered. There was a screwup at the yard...that price was for a radio, it was actually $115...Still not to bad, should be done tomorrow...

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[DOAX]

as long as he bolts come out of the bushings you should be fine

 

[DeputyDipShizz]

Can anyone tell me what the bolts should be torqued to...The U-bolts as well as the spring eye bolts

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[DOAX]

also be careful how you jack up the truck you dont want the leaf compressed at all when you undo the u-bolts bad things can happen

 

[AKA HITMAN]

Tighten till it strips, then back it off 1/2 a turn. Seriously, I impact mine on completion, no issues.

 

[DeputyDipShizz]

also be careful how you jack up the truck you dont want the leaf compressed at all when you undo the u-bolts bad things can happen

I was going to just jack it up by the axle itself to remove those...Figure the axle won't move then. . Gonna put it up on jack stands via the frame and let the axle sag all the way down using the jack as a safety with some jack stands under the end (shocks and sway disconnected of course) then remove/install from there...sound about right?

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[DOAX]

i did the leafs on my s10 last year and made the mistake of forgetting the axel was being help up with the jack and when i got the last nut off the u bolt i almost lost my hand form the leaf shooting down

 

[Stangshcky12]

Are 1500 over or under the axle? I'm guessing it above the spring, I would jack up the frame and get the entire rear end off the ground. Support the axle on the broken side with the wheel off. Unbolt the old and remove, install the new spring and drop the axle and bolt it to the leaf
I've only ever done ten on jeeps but having an extra set of hands or two helps to muscle the axle. Luckily one sides still attached so it shouldn't be too bad

 

[DeputyDipShizz]

Had it done in about 3 hours. Went smooth as all hell. Normally I run into all kinds of issues. With the rust issues I have I figured something would break, it did, but it was just the clip retainer on the rear hanger nut. Wife ran for a new one for me. Also lost my T55 so I had to run for one midway. All in all a nice and smooth swap. Very proud of myself for that. Now it needs an alignment. A few weeks back it was pulling to the right, now, it pulls to the left. I have a feeling this was broke longer than I think and the axle was out of alignment, now its back strait but the alignment I had done had made up for the axle being out of wack, making it out of alignment again...if ya get that haha...Buddy is taking it next week to work to get it done...Off to bed ladies and gents, big interview tomorrow in MontCo MD for a paid Fire gig!!! Thanks for the help!!!

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