What is with all these washers?
 

Seriously, can I remove all these or is there a reason why they'd be stacked up like that? I understand maybe needing one washer for each stud, but not stacks of them. Only thing I can think of is maybe the threads don't go down that far and the washers are used to take up the gap between the nut and base?

Passenger side
http://i59.tinypic.com/2pr6xz7.jpg
Driver side
http://i61.tinypic.com/5nlk40.jpg

Re: What is with all these washers?
 

previous owner must have liked long bolts
you should get new proper length ones, & maybe smaller bolts for your leaf pack as well, then you wont have to hatchet job your new plates either.

Re: What is with all these washers?
 

I'm guessing a p.o. just didn't feel like having to turn those nuts all the way back down to the plate.

Re: What is with all these washers?
 

if it aint broke...

Re: What is with all these washers?
 

Looks like someone removed a leaf or two, the unthreaded part was rusted bad and they used washers to make sure the nut was on good threads.

Re: What is with all these washers?
 

The one nut in the top pic isn't tight. Time for new u bolts and centering bolts

Re: What is with all these washers?
 

I agree that someone pulled a few leafs out of that pack. While you're fixing that I'd throw a new set of leaf springs under it and lower it the right way. You run the risk of wrapping the spring up under acceleration and pulling the driveshaft out of the transmission with that setup. You could probably salvage yard springs, ubolts and plates cheaper than you could buy quality ubolts and center pins.

Re: What is with all these washers?
 

Or the deep socket wasn't deep enough.

Re: What is with all these washers?
 

Your shock needs a little tweaking with a screwdriver blade too. I bet that thing squeaks sometimes.

Re: What is with all these washers?
 

Yeah the rear of this truck is pretty bad. Everything needs to be replaced really, i know a few leafs have been taken out already and the shocks are just terrible. I plan on re doing everything when i'm ready to lower it more. The front needs some fixing too I would imagine. But it doesn't look as hacked up as the rear. I plan of getting a flip kit and fixing it all then.

Re: What is with all these washers?
 

unless I,m looking at that wrong it does not appear to have any spring perches at all to me. If thats the case and the springs are just squeezed between the the pad and the axle tube then thats why the bolts are to long JMO