broken rear leaf on 87

[87fleetsidedude]

the right rea leaf spring on my truck is broken, this is how my truck sits [IMG][/IMG]

this is a picture of the broken spring, as you can see only like 10 inches of the middle 3 springs are broken [IMG][/IMG]

and this is a picture of the left side spring [IMG][/IMG]


after looking at the pictures, does anybody have any easy temporary fixes for this to make my truck sit level, and is there a better way than buying a new one for 280 bucks, will a auto repair shop repair this for cheap?

thanks for your insight, justin

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by 87fleetsidedude

the right rea leaf spring on my truck is broken, does anybody have any easy temporary fixes for this to make my truck sit level, and is there a better way than buying a new one for 280 bucks, will a auto repair shop repair this for cheap?

A new spring will not fix your problem, it will just show you how much the other side has sagged over the years. Junkyard springs are your best bet. Get both from the same truck and swap them in.
Cheap?.....not likely. This is a rusty wrestling match. Many times it is simply easier to cut the U-bolts and maybe even the spring-eye mounting bolts and just replace them.

[87fleetsidedude]

any ideas on how pricey this will be, i only have 300 to my name and that has to last till summer, for gas...if its too pricey ill just wait till summer to do it...thanks for the reply

[onlyifihadachevy]

There is no way to fix that to sit level. You could to get a new one which could make that side higher.
These would make it sit level.
Could take out the broken ones, would sit very low, and take the same amount of leaves out of the other side. Would ride very very soft and have a lot of sway. And may cause a ton of axle wrap. But could get you by.

Or go to pick-n-pull. And get the leafs both sides from the same truck but I wouldn't know the price for your area.

And if you have someone put it for you expect at least an hour labor.

[87fleetsidedude]

is there anyway that i could replace the broken leafs with 3 pieces of steel the same length and thickness as the original? and would it work well? or i could just cut pieces of steel to fit in the part of the leaf that broke off..any ideas?, i don't know if i want to take the leafs out because that would only leave me with 2 leafs on the back springs, if it comes to it i guess that would work

[powerdriver 1958]

I'm gunna get torched for this,but in a poorer day with springs like that I went to the junk pile out back and snagged a few leaves close to the right length and use a ground grade 8 bolt for a tie bolt to get by until both rear springs could be replaced.

Regular steel is not an option and you really have a safety problem more that anything. Nothing you do as a temp fix is going to maintain the right ride height.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by onlyifihadachevy

And if you have someone put it for you expect at least an hour labor.

Anyone who would touch that for an hour is completely lost.....

[87fleetsidedude]

thanks powerdriver, if i can make it by till summer i can fix them properly, i just want to get it close to level so i dont break a shock, i just replace all four and if i have to replace another one ill kill someone. i'll try up at wrench and go to see if they have some springs for cheap and if i can't afford them, i steal some off something else for now

[onlyifihadachevy]

Longhair I meant that side and only swapping it out.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by onlyifihadachevy

Longhair I meant that side and only swapping it out.

Even at that.....it's a 24 year old truck, the chances of the front hanger bolt coming out are very slim. This can be a wrestling match that eats time.

[bikes&bowties]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

Even at that.....it's a 24 year old truck, the chances of the front hanger bolt coming out are very slim. This can be a wrestling match that eats time.

BFH+ Lube+ Anger= Job completed

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by bikes&bowties

BFH+ Lube+ Anger= Job completed

I have seen them so rusted into the steel sleeve of the bushing that I had to cut the head off of the bolt.

I didn't say that it was impossible, just that an hour is not gonna cut it.