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#1 |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Muncie Indiana
Posts: 173
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Leaf Spring Removal
I got a lump of money burning a hole in my pocket and I want to do a little bit of a drop on my truck, just cut a coil maybe and remove some leafs. So the question is what all will I need to remove the axle from the leaf springs? Also I'm going to pick up some u-bolts, what else will probably break from the 30+ years of rust?
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#2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Arlington WA
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
the bottem leaf has clamps rivited to it, the bolt of top of that clamp will most likely be frozen. i did this the other nightm i saved time by just cutting them off
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Muncie Indiana
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
What if I just want to remove the overload?
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#4 |
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
Don't forget 2 new center pins.
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
Get a set of 4in drop shackles and hangers($140) along with the one coil cut in the front for 2in it will be the most bang for your buck.
Removing the overload will only drop it the thickness of the overload leaf itself, less than 3/4in.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: houston, texas
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
X2
check your bushings too, they are probably dry rotted
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#7 |
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
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#8 |
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Location: Arlington WA
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
i removed the 2nd and 3rd shortest ones and i gave me an inch or two. they hold allot of arch. if you have drop shackle too then you shouldnt need the overload. it will most likely hit te bump stop before the overload even does anything
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Muncie Indiana
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
How difficult to install?
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Chevy runs in my blood ![]() Last edited by zirk; 11-15-2012 at 11:23 PM. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
Just cut the rivits to remove stock hangers then bolt new ones on, then just bolt on the new shackles. Might have to notch a bed brace for the shackles if you have the shorter leafs.
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#11 | |
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
Quote:
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#12 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: San Antonio, Tx
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
how many leafs do you have?
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San Antonio, TEXAS -Frog -I'm a valet and well I've driven BMWs, Mercedes, Porsche,Bentlys, fiats, Hondas, etc and well even do I like a few features, I love my shortbed, it dosent bore me out, just press on the gas and you'll remember why you love it. |
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#13 |
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I know many say it’s not hard and they are correct when it comes to know-how, you don’t need too much of mechanic background but when it comes to labor intensive, it is. Lots of small steps that sometimes we take for granted i.e. if you don’t remove the bed and try to do the hanger/shackle you will have to figure out what tool you will use to remove the rivets. If you plan on cutting of the head with a cutting wheel, then is that grinder going to fit in awkward positions specially on the side of the gas tank, it is well on the way of the rivets. Also if you plan on using an air hammer/punch, well is it going to be possible that it will fit in the tight spaces to punch the rivets out?
now if you remove the bed, which is not too hard, but more cumbersome if you don’t have access to lift or bodies to help lift it off (and yes there are other ways to accomplished the bed removal maybe even on your own), well that makes it easier in removing the rivets and punching them out but it takes a bit more time in the overall task. Either way it will be a give and take depending on the route you want to go. bed removal is easy, remove tail lights (eight screws X2), pull tail light wiring harness from the bed, remove differential overfill tube (one screw), gas tank ground wire to frame (one screw), three screws to remove fuel filler tube and the eight bolts that hold the bed to frame. things to keep in mind: the bushings from the hanger might need to grinded a bit if they don’t fit in the rear hanger (if you try to hammer them in you will probably ruin them, ask me how i know...) don’t tighten the new hangers or anything completely until everything is fitted into position or you might have to loosen something up over again and again... this not to discourage but just to give you an idea that you might want to account for more time in the task then you might anticipate. Then again it might have been just my inexperience that thought me the hard way but if I was able to do it, anyone can. Just mho. Mando. Last edited by Lost81c10; 11-16-2012 at 12:08 AM. |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
You can get close to 2in by removing the shorts leafs.
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#15 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: San Antonio, Tx
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
Quote:
My name Is Armando too lol, sorry to side track
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San Antonio, TEXAS -Frog -I'm a valet and well I've driven BMWs, Mercedes, Porsche,Bentlys, fiats, Hondas, etc and well even do I like a few features, I love my shortbed, it dosent bore me out, just press on the gas and you'll remember why you love it. |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Muncie Indiana
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
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#17 |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Muncie Indiana
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
O'rielly had these on the shelf, last set. Snatched em up.
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#18 |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: houston, texas
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Re: Leaf Spring Removal
belltech is the best IMO....congrats
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