Replacing front leaf springs

[renjaminfrankln]

I have a 1985 F250 4x4 with the TTB front axle.

Front leafs are toally sacked out. The axle is basically resting against the bump stop. I need to either replace the leafs, or as a temp fix, I could bolt on a 2" lift shackle or something. Anyone have some instructions for replacing them? I have done leafs on rear axles but never the front. Wondering what steering needs to come out, etc...

I havent seen anything in the Tech threads on this subject, so I thought i'd ask here. If there is not one already, whenever I fix this I will be happy to take some pics and do a short write-up for the tech section.

Thanks

 

[DaveBen]

They should go like a solid axle. Not hard, but they take time. My mind is burning thinking of this...

 

[The_Josh_Bear]

I don't have a line on new springs, I've heard they are out there, though.

When my springs were very saggy I went with an add-a-leaf and the darn things worked perfectly! Camber was back to normal, stock ride height enabled!
That was after doing the leaf spring bushings, which are a pain. But they wear out and make the springs look worse than they are.

 

[riphip]

D44 front axle on the 250 (as manufactured), I put the 3486# springs under mine & new pads, shackles, u-bolts, HD monroe coil-over shocks, etc. Ride improved greatly but not a lot more height. Cut out old u-bolts and installed. Not a bad job for 1 day. Do the pivots while you have it apart. 2 guys are better than 1. Wish I had help on mine but I was a lot younger then.

Got mine at RockAuto.com

 

[renjaminfrankln]

D44 front axle on the 250 (as manufactured), I put the 3486# springs under mine & new pads, shackles, u-bolts, HD monroe coil-over shocks, etc. Ride improved greatly but not a lot more height. Cut out old u-bolts and installed. Not a bad job for 1 day. Do the pivots while you have it apart. 2 guys are better than 1. Wish I had help on mine but I was a lot younger then.

Got mine at RockAuto.com

I just ordered new 3486 springs, U-bolts, eye bolts, monroe gas-magnum shocks, from rock auto. And the pivot bushings, mine are coming apart.

Any tips on pressing out the old pivot bushings. Is there a special ford tool etc?

 

[The_Josh_Bear]

As for the write up, there isn't much to them. Two bolts to drop the spring and 4 more to separate it from the axle. Get a sturdy impact wrench.

Use jack stands on the frame. A floor jack under the axle helps a ton to lower/raise as needed. Loosen the U bolts but dont take all the way off, this will release the torsion on the spring.

The only way to press the bushings out is with commercial grade equipment. Like a 20 ton jack and a building to press down against it, lol. Most of us end up burning the rubber out or drilling lots of holes until the inner sleeve can come out, then the rest of the rubber, then the outer sleeve can be bent inwards and removed. It's a pain.

You might consider Bilstien HD shocks instead, they are great on these pickups. I was just reading of a guy that returned 2 sets of monroes and ended up with the HDs and loves them. I went with HDs on all four corners 6 or 7 years ago and love them.

 

[towcat]

easy to do. just need big air if you live in the rust belt.
do one side at a time.

 

[riphip]

I just ordered new 3486 springs, U-bolts, eye bolts, monroe gas-magnum shocks, from rock auto. And the pivot bushings, mine are coming apart.

Any tips on pressing out the old pivot bushings. Is there a special ford tool etc?

I used a ball joint press kit that I own. It is handy for lots of repairs. Could also drill out around rubber, inset right size bolt & washer to knock out. I used a bushing plate & ball joint press to install. Was not hard to do.
I am tool purchase poor.

 

[renjaminfrankln]

Yeah pressing the bushings out is going to be the hard part. I ordered all the parts last night. I dropped the truck off today to get some exhaust work done and I asked the guy to give me an estimate on this job. Honestly getting that bushing is the only reason I wouldn't just do it myself. If the estimate is less than $400 for labor i'm gonna pay the man.

I love bilstein shocks but I have a bunch of other stuff I got to fix on this truck, so i'm saving that money for something else. I think i'll be happy just to get some shocks on there period. The current ones look original, I doubt they are doing much of anything.

 

[TahoeTom]

The shackle has a bushing that is probably clapped out. I drilled out the rubber then cut the sleeve with a Sawzall and bent it in to remove. I did the same with pivot bushings. I pressed them in with a large bolt and washers. A ball joint press would be handy.