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My F-150 lost a leaf spring today.

Rockaholic555

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May 7, 2009
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133
Location
Overland Park, KS
So I lost a section of my left side leaf spring on my 1994 F-150 and in looking at everything it looks like the hangers and bushings are rusted through. Is it worth trying to jack with getting the hangers off the frame using the hardware or will drilling out the old bolts damage the frame? I'm no frame expert and haven't messed with leaf springs so I'm just wondering.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
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wreckercologist

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May 17, 2009
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cyber-tool hell
Your 1994 failed in 2010.

My 1995 failed in 2003. Mine was faster!:lol:

Seriously, The rear spring hanger failed on my 1995 Bronco. It completely rotted out and allowed the shackle to pull out of it. I ended up buying a shackle and hanger online and the hardware locally. Wasn't too bad really. The worse part was fishing the new hardware up behind the fuel tank. There was no freaking way I was gonna drop the tank on that job.

The rear spring hangers are most likely riveted on. At least I haven't seen a truck of that era otherwise. Grind the heads of the rivets off, then try to drive them out. I'm guessing they won't.........so on to the next step and drill them out starting with 1/8", then 1/4", then 3/8". Don't drill all the way through. There's no need for that. You just need to drill deep enough to get the rivet to collapse in the frame rail, plus when you go to drive them out you need a "bottom" to hammer against. Otherwise, your punch will become lodged in the rivet.

I would recommend using grade 8 hardware when you put it back together. It won't cost that much more.

IIRC, the whole deal was less than $100.00.

Here's LMC's page: http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fd/full.aspx?Page=127

This is an excellent opportunity to buy tools.:D
 

e-tek

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Dec 19, 2007
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10,690
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Saskatoon, SK
It would just have a pipe-hole though the frame. Get the ****** off any way you have to (wrench, hammer, Impact Chisel, Torch, whatever). If you DO damage anything, it's an easy fix. Just install another pivot and eye bolt. You can use a small lenth of pipe, or order the correct pivot eye parts.

PS - USE Anti-seize when putting ANYTHING back together. And while you're under there - piant it all with POR15!
 

GTO

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May 8, 2009
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3,931
Location
NJ,FL
My front shock/spring towers rusted out on me in 2008 on my '94 F-150.Those babies were riveted in @ the factory,talk about labor intensive.
I'm waiting for my rear suspension to go next.

ETA:What special tool do you need to repair rear leaf springs ? The shackles mainly.
 
OP
R

Rockaholic555

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May 7, 2009
Messages
133
Location
Overland Park, KS
I do have another question though. Since I don't need this truck up and running really soon I was going to pull the bed off to give myself more space to work and allow me a better vantage point to inspect/clean/paint everything. However, the first carriage bolt I went to remove spun in the bed. What are the options here? Another cutoff and replace? I bet Ford charges a kidney for new ones.
 
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metal1313

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Apr 28, 2009
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clinton NJ
its not that bad of a job. much easier if you pull the tanks and heat the rivits red hot and then chisle the heads off. on my 94 bronco i replaced the badly rusted hangers before they failed and i drilled out the rivits some then busted them off with a cold chisel. you may be able to find a set of springs cheap on fsb, where another member has posted links to. again its not that bad of a job, i did it when i was 17 and really had no experience
 

dellwas

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Sep 16, 2009
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Chester Grant, Nova Scotia, Canada
Why go to the trouble of heating the rivet heads and chiselling? Much quicker to grind then punch them out. Besides, not everyone is going to have acces to O/A.

On finding springs:

www.car-part.com

Actually, a great resource for finding parts.

its not that bad of a job. much easier if you pull the tanks and heat the rivits red hot and then chisle the heads off. on my 94 bronco i replaced the badly rusted hangers before they failed and i drilled out the rivits some then busted them off with a cold chisel. you may be able to find a set of springs cheap on fsb, where another member has posted links to. again its not that bad of a job, i did it when i was 17 and really had no experience
 

metal1313

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Apr 28, 2009
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3,416
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clinton NJ
thats why i said in the past i drilled them out then smacked the heads off. its also not the easiest spot to weild a grinder. now drilling out isnt bad at all the rivits arent very hard metal
 
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