Um, is that bad?

[RastaRobb]

I just had the bed off my '84 3/4 ton, so it was a good time to add a 2" lift. I added these two leafs to the bottom of the stack, and got longer U-bolts. Torqued it 175 pounds, and everything looked good. Less than a week, and 40 miles, and I was underneath it when I noticed the crack.

[RastaRobb]

I didn't even put a load in it before it went. Here is a pic of the other side.

[RastaRobb]

So what do I need to do to remedy this? Think I can just fill-weld it? Don't worry about it? Or am I taking that thing out? What happened anyway? Anyone seen that before?

[RastaRobb]

How dangerous is this to keep running it as is?

[nekkidhillbilly]

make the other leafs weak poss crack them. id take apart and replace that one leaf.

[BigBlocksRule]

Can't weld a leaf spring.
Well, you probably can, but it's junk.
That looks like an overload - it doesn't go all the way to the end, does it?

[79Betty]

Don't weld it. It will just crack through the weld again. I'd pull both and just put in a 2" block. Lift and factory ride in one.

[TheBlueBomber]

It'll buff out... I would replace the one

[bdiamond]

You added 2 overload leaves? All your lift was out of that one broken leaf. I'd say either start over and go with a block or order an actual add-a-leaf. Remove both of the added leaves and reinstall your original overload at least.

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by bdiamond

You added 2 overload leaves? Remove both of the added leaves and reinstall your original overload at least.

Ditto.

[Sodell]

Blocks are cheap, and work well...

[RastaRobb]

Originally Posted by bdiamond

You added 2 overload leaves?

I got the leafs from a friend (I know, always trouble). They were two leafs, both only 2 1/2 feet long, with a stud pin connecting them, and extending long enough out the top for the other leafs to feed through.

[RastaRobb]

Originally Posted by Sodell

Blocks are cheap, and work well...

Do the blocks give you any extra strength? I load this thing up with gravel/ sand / firewood a lot. I was getting pretty squatty.

[RastaRobb]

Originally Posted by BigBlocksRule

Can't weld a leaf spring.
Well, you probably can, but it's junk.
That looks like an overload - it doesn't go all the way to the end, does it?

No, they are much shorter than the other leafs. Apx. 2 1/2 feet.

[Desert1957]

You cannot add a "Curved" over leaf to the bottom of a spring pack. This is why it cracked.

You basically put all the spring load at the edges of the arch, looks like wrong parts in the right location.

If you were just going for lift, Run a spacer block or double up on the othe flat style spring you installed.



Desert

[Dead Parrot]

Just looked at my 1/2 ton springs. They look similar to your originals except they have the short overload leaf. (7 leaves + the overload). Did yours have an OEM overload that you replaced with those two?

Note the gap between the originals and your new ones? Looks like your originals have a bit of sag in them. My guess is the unbroken side will soon break as well.

Before you spend much more time with these mis-matched springs, I suggest you visit a pull-a-part or other salvage yard and see if you can find a heavier pair of spring sets.

If that isn't an option, pull out the top new spring on both sides and just run the overload. But if there is still that gap in the middle between the old and new, you could still break another leaf.

[RastaRobb]

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

Just looked at my 1/2 ton springs. They look similar to your originals except they have the short overload leaf. (7 leaves + the overload). Did yours have an OEM overload that you replaced with those two?

It did not have an OEM overload. I am wondering if I could take out the curved one of the two I added (the one that broke) and leave the bottom, non curved one in. ?

[RastaRobb]

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

Note the gap between the originals and your new ones? Looks like your originals have a bit of sag in them.

They are sagging, and I work them a lot. I don't care as much about lift as I do making them stiffer under a heavy load.

[RastaRobb]

I am not familiar with the "Add a Leafs" but that sounds like it might be the way to go.

[bdiamond]

Originally Posted by RastaRobb

I am not familiar with the "Add a Leafs" but that sounds like it might be the way to go.

They are a full length leaf 3/8" thick or so. They will add 1.5 inches of arch and cost about 100 bucks. You should keep the flatter overload still though.

[dieseldawg142]

if your haulin heavy loads RastaRobb, stay away from add a leafs. i put some in my 1/2 ton stepper 'bout 5 or 6 yrs ago, truck only see's light loads, add a leafs have worn grooves in my main leafs- good starting point for a crack one day. my K30 crew i have 3" blocks, hauls HEAVY loads, my camper, my quad trailer, no problems, just make sure you get steel blocks & your good to go

[RastaRobb]

Originally Posted by dieseldawg142

if your haulin heavy loads RastaRobb, stay away from add a leafs. i put some in my 1/2 ton stepper 'bout 5 or 6 yrs ago, truck only see's light loads, add a leafs have worn grooves in my main leafs- good starting point for a crack one day. my K30 crew i have 3" blocks, hauls HEAVY loads, my camper, my quad trailer, no problems, just make sure you get steel blocks & your good to go

Wow, that is very helpful. Alright, I'm going in. I will loosen everything up, drop the bottom two leafs, cut out the curved one, and put the flat overload leaf in. So much for the weekend. Thanks guys.