Rear leaf spring question
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 135
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The leaf springs effect the way the truck handles and hauls. Best not to mess around with them and get them all replaced at once. Any shop is going to charge you the same labor rate to change one or all 4 (or 5). Most likely you are looking at about $300 per side for labor, but as was mentioned, they will probably have to cut everythiong loose and you should plan on replacing the hangers, bolts, bushings, etc. Same thing happened to mine, 1 broken on each side. You can't imagine the difference in the ride with a new set. If you plan on hauling or carrying anything, spring for the Add-a-Leaf. Kind of pricey, but worth it in the long run.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,499
Likes: 2
From: Liberty, MO
I think the hard part is rust... Those 20 year old bolts have more than likely never been touched. I saw the cracked leaf when changing shocks - the factory ones were still on there. Took a week of daily PB Blaster, a big cheater bar, several beers, a muscle spasm, and a lot of colorful vocabulary to break them loose.
Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
I have a cracked spring too and some of my bolts are pretty rusted on as well. I might just get a hacksaw and cut them if I can't get them off.
I'm just deciding if I want to go with 4 spring and my add a leaf helper get with a total of 7 springs. Or just drop my old leaf helper and use a 5 spring kit. I haul some heavy stuff from time to time so the extra springs help.
I'm just deciding if I want to go with 4 spring and my add a leaf helper get with a total of 7 springs. Or just drop my old leaf helper and use a 5 spring kit. I haul some heavy stuff from time to time so the extra springs help.
I had no problem taking off any bolts when I changed my rear end, twice. I may live in Florida but the truck came from Jersey. It's rusty enough to have had to change some steel brake lines. Maybe I'm just lucky.
No Pain, No Pain!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,825
Likes: 12
From: Baltimore, Maryland
The leaf springs effect the way the truck handles and hauls. Best not to mess around with them and get them all replaced at once. Any shop is going to charge you the same labor rate to change one or all 4 (or 5). Most likely you are looking at about $300 per side for labor, but as was mentioned, they will probably have to cut everythiong loose and you should plan on replacing the hangers, bolts, bushings, etc. Same thing happened to mine, 1 broken on each side. You can't imagine the difference in the ride with a new set. If you plan on hauling or carrying anything, spring for the Add-a-Leaf. Kind of pricey, but worth it in the long run.
No Pain, No Pain!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,825
Likes: 12
From: Baltimore, Maryland
The leaf springs effect the way the truck handles and hauls. Best not to mess around with them and get them all replaced at once. Any shop is going to charge you the same labor rate to change one or all 4 (or 5). Most likely you are looking at about $300 per side for labor, but as was mentioned, they will probably have to cut everythiong loose and you should plan on replacing the hangers, bolts, bushings, etc. Same thing happened to mine, 1 broken on each side. You can't imagine the difference in the ride with a new set. If you plan on hauling or carrying anything, spring for the Add-a-Leaf. Kind of pricey, but worth it in the long run.
Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
From: Lowell, Ma
The biggest issue with theses trucks isn't the U bolts. It's the shackles and hangers. The bolts will sieze in the spring eyes and need to be cut. I've had to do this on every 9th gen f150 I've worked on. Might just be the new england winters, but they actually sell after market hanger replacement kits with all the hardware. It must be a common issue.