Just got the springs done, heres some pics

[93fordturbo]

After quite a few hours of wrestling with these stubborn things, finally got everything buttoned up and back in working order. I was bored so i figured i would post some pics of my project. I have never done these before so it was a good experience.

Cant get the pics up, so you will have to check them out on photobucket. If you start from the last pic and go to the first, thats the order of progress on the springs. Took the old 2wd shocks off, then u bolts had to be cut off. After jacking the truck up with some hi jacks, the truck went sideways and left the axle and truck bed on the floor. That was fun getting it back up. No damage done. Got the new springs in and there is a pic of the old broken spring. After a long night and a good part of a day... and a 30 pack, my buddy and i got em in... Here is link
http://s1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee425/93fordturbo/

 

[kas83]

Wow, that whole pack was almost split in 2. Worse than even I had expected, good thing you got complete packs instead of just a main leaf.

As an aside, I hope that this serves as a good learning experience for you and others. I'm all for people learning n doing stuff themselves, but make sure you have all the correct tools and a good plan figured out up front. Hi-lift jacks are NOT proper equipment, I still can't believe the message or call when the truck fell. Glad no one was hurt, there was no extra damage, and everything worked out in the end.

Best of luck to anyone working on their trucks themselves, n be careful. Also, keep the beer intake to a minimum until the work is done.

 

[Brianedwardss]

Good thing nobody was hurt when the truck fell The old spring pack was just as scary. That thing was almost busted clear in half, crazy

 

[BigRigTech]

Looks like a D.O.T spring.........It's unreal how many springs we change in the run of a winter at work, 13 leaf Hendrickson walking beam springs that are sagged with the main eye's broken clean off....Probably has something to do with the 25-30 tons of sand/salt rolling over the greedy boards when they leave the sheds.....Waaaaaayyyyyy over weight when they leave the yard. We change a lot of steer axle springs too, even beefed up they brake with the weight of 2 wings and the main blade out front.

 

[93fordturbo]

I saw that the whole pack was broken almost, and thats when i really decided to get it done, who knows how long it would have held, but it served me good.

 

[93fordturbo]

oh, and kyle... we didnt hit er hard with the old mil until we found out we needed other parts. When the truck fell, it was just lack of good equipment, we later had the truck help up by the 4 tires. Good thing it was a dually

 

[Diesel_brad]

Let that be a lesson learned to NEVER use hi-lift jacks for anything other than lifting ONE corner of a vehicle

 

[rjjp]

That's the reason I cheat and just use the chainfall.

 

[93fordturbo]

yeah, lack of tools, our good tools were elswhere, but the job got done, and got done right. Just took a little longer. Hilift jacks are fine to use, just have to be blocked everywhere in case of them tipping. I have used them a lot for various things, i find them handy if you block everything right. The rear sway bar doesn't fit now, i heard that i dont need it, but i would like to have it hooked back up. Im assuming that because of the new springs that the truck sits higher. So i must just need longer hangers? How important is the sway bar to you guys?

 

[biggin92]

it all depends. does your truck have any body roll when you hit a nice curve? if so then yes , but i highly doubt you need it,if there is no body roll then i would not put it back on

 

[kas83]

Keep it off until you bring the truck up next time. I'll cut the swaybar links and extend them, you'll be good to go. Just make sure you give me notice to get the welder to the house.

Argument still stands on the hi-lift, no matter how its blocked, not a good idea. Floor jack or hoist is best.

 

[93fordturbo]

opinions are opinions. with it blocked good, and with every lift if you block it, very little chance that it will tip, if it does, it can only go about an inch or so and will be right on blocks.

 

[Diesel_brad]

HI LIFT JACKS ARE NOT MEANT TO JACK ONE END OF A VEHICLE.
PERIOD

I would of thought your almost disasterous incident would of proved that

 

[flareside_thun]

No form of lifting is foolproof....not a 2 post lift, not a chainfall, not a floorjack....hell not even jackstands. They all can slip, move or tip. I'm glad you see it fit to use Hilift jacks to do a job like that, maybe you'll think differently when you see the damage that can be done from ignorance. Is losing a life or appendage really worth it?

On the flipside, I'm glad you got the bad spring swapped out and without fatal incident.

 

[biggin92]

Good job guy! it is finally nice weather to do projects like this!! and i have no comment on the highlift jackdeal, as i do stupid crap just like that and i have had a few close ones and still do it cause i have no other way, and grew up doing it that way. So i use a come-along and a tree to do all my lifting