Forestina

Hi,
'95 2wd F150 with an add-a-leaf.
Drivers side, rear most leaf spring shackle/bracket rusted to pieces. Leaf spring is rubbing through the bed. . .

Going to try to get some dimensions off the passenger side and fabricate a new one.

Wondering if anyone else has been down this path and have any tips/ tricks or even dimensional drawings!

tia


Added picture, a very bad bracket:

fordka

You can get new ones for around $40. If it was 4wd i would have a couple for ya

Forestina

Got the bracket at NAPA for $24.
Ground down the rivets, drilled and punched them out.
Now heading back to work to get a cut off wheel for that f&!?n lower shackle bolt.

I'll teach it a thing or two!

Forestina

Well . . .
Cut off both ends of the lower shackle bolt.
It appears the bolt runs through a steel sleeve which is inside a rubber sleeve.

I went at it with a punch and the booger isn't moving!

Sprayed up some penetrating oil and will let her sit over night.
Any ideas o how to persuade it out?

Thanks!

Andrew95

remove the shackle from the truck to make it easier. You might end up replacing the shackle and bolt, assuming it comes off the leaf easily.

Forestina

Not sure the upper shackle bolt will be cooperative (just like the lower)
Will try to loosen the bolt. (It was soaking in penetrating oil also)

Really really reluctant to cut the top one off, fear that it will be stubborn like the lower . . .
Thinking if I had a small enough gear puller, that maybe I could press the lower bolt out.

Forestina

Upper bolt did NOT want to budge either.
Got a puller made up at work - gonna go back at the lower bolt.

In the meantime I stuck a piece of wood between the leaf spring and bed so that it wouldn't rub through anymore - the current setup squeals like a stuck pig when I go over bumps!!!! Oh the looks that I get - :-D

hedimitrius

When I did mine I heated up the rivets with an oxy/acetylene torch and pounded them out with a thick punch and bfh. The new brackets come with all hardware and the shackles come with new bushings. The bushings require a press to remove and replace and if there is any rust it can take quite a bit of time, or money, if you are paying a shop.

Forestina

Alot of rust - tried the puller trick attempting to push the bolt out of the steel sleeve. Bent 1/4" thick plate steel on the puller. Even added heat and started to burn the rubber sleeve.
Made up a new puller (3/8" steel) with a larger hole to press both the sleeve and bolt out.
Probably add heat in the process and will sacrifice the rubber sleeve at the same time. Probably make up a sleeve of GSM/ Delron to replace the rubber . . . advantage of working in a machine shop.

Probably won't get back to it until this weekend, using the motorcycle as long as it doesn't rain . . .

Mathew Reid

I have a leaf spring to install tomorrow, looking forward to the challenge! But it appears I should source out some replacement bolts first, LOL