removing leaf springs..??

[hainzy]

Can anyone give me a reminder on the right order of things when removing the leaf springs. I did it once with a mate about 10 years ago and remember we had to do stuff in the right order..

Is it something like:

jack up the body
undo shocks
jack up diff/axle
undo u bolt nuts and other bits
undo shackle bolts....
remove springs...

Just cant remember if there was pressure on the support plates from the shocks etc. and what order we did it in.. Cheers.

[Blocker]

That sounds about right and it was only 6 months ago that I did mine.









Hope that helps?

[playwme]

Will the shocks fully extend and "hold" the springs up when the wheels are off the ground? I usually undo shocks before jacking the body up on leaf spring vehicles.

[AN5590]

I usually undo shocks before jacking the body up on leaf spring vehicles.

Agree - either that or jack-up the diff slightly to take the strain off the shocks and then remove them...

[hainzy]

Thanks guys. Prob gunna rip em out to get resprung in the next few weeks. Just had a new baby though so will get to it when the new mini boss allows... Cheers.

[adam perth]

when undoing or doing up the U bolts, ALWAYS do 3-4 turns on each one then stop and go onto the next one and torque them up / down evenly....

otherwise you will crossthread them and bend the U bolt thread....

[playwme]

Thanks guys. Prob gunna rip em out to get resprung in the next few weeks. Just had a new baby though so will get to it when the new mini boss allows... Cheers.

Congratulations. Mine just turned 1 yesterday. I never knew 12 months could go so quick.

[mr sinbin]

hey guys, just wondering if anyone knows an approximate cost on getting leaf springs resprung? been thinking about getting mine redone a bit lower...

cheers

[hainzy]

Thanks Adam that god advice.

And cheers playwme. Yep we have a 5 year old too, so i know this 3 day old one will eventually turn into a funner little human.

Sinbin theres a mob that do it here in Ballarat that have been doing it for ever apparently. Ive been told by them that its 200 for the pair if i bring them in and tell them how much lower, or $350 if i drive the car in and they do the whole thing. That doesnt include new shocks.

[wbute]

Will the shocks fully extend and "hold" the springs up when the wheels are off the ground? I usually undo shocks before jacking the body up on leaf spring vehicles.

I dont think the shocks should be able to reach full extension when the wheels are off the ground. If your springs were able to reach full extension of travel just under the weight of the diff and wheels they would hardly cary the weight of the vehicle when it was on the ground?
The hangers control the leaf spring travel and the shock is unrelated to the spring travel on leaf springs. If you look at a truck with stuffed springs the tell tale sign is the hangers going right over and touching the chassis. But they still can only travel to the limit of the hangers.

Make sure you replace the center bolts while the springs are out!