im installing my leafs right now and i got the u-bolts off, the shocks off, and now im onto the center alignment screw thing and its stripped....what do i do? drill it out?do i have to un bolt the end of the leaf pack to add in the AAL?

 

i thought the same thing when i did mine. It's not stripped, it's actually not boxed or squared at the bottom where it is in the lift block.
I just removed the lift block, grinded a side down, and put a pair of vise grips on it, then hit it with my air gun. If it keeps popping off the end, just zip-tie/hose clamp the vise grips to the leafs.
If you are adding a short leaf, no you don't need to undo the end bolts, as the lead will slide between the flat leaf, and the longer leaf pack. It isn't long enough to reach the end bolt.
Good luck

 

i dont know what ur talking about grinding a side down and putting the vise grips on what?

 

ok so i got the center bolt nut off and now im wondering how to seperate and take off the leafs??? the bolt is still in the middle keeping them together? how to i get them apart to get the new block and leaf in?

 

Just tap on it gently and it should come out.

I take it you have NO tension on the springs now and the axles out of the way? It should just tap out. It's just a bolt with a funky round head -- nothing too special about it.

 

ok im onto the other side cuz i finished the other but this side is giving me trouble....THe center aligment bolt isnt coming loose all the way...its semi-loose and turning but it isnt getting easier as i crank the wrench....it seems to be endless cranking.....any idea how to get it off and out?

 

Someone may have some better info, but I bought new center bolts in advance and got a grinder and just cut the head off the center bolts.

You may be able to lock a vise grip on the head to hold it?

 

id just torch em out and get new hardware. ur supposed to run new u-bolts whenever u take the pack apart.

 

If you have a torch, just heat the nut and it should come off easier.

 

its all done and it looks sweet...thanks for your help guys....oh i ended up using a small vise grip to hold the bottom and a wrench to unscrew....

 

I won!

HaHa.

 

as far as the torching comments, a blow torch may help loosen a stuck nut. a CUTTING torch is a bad idea to get the bolt out, you dont want that much heat near the leaves.

typically the bolt can be removed with vice grips. but your new add a leaf should have come with a longer bolt, a MUCH longer one. so you can cut off the old ones. you need a longer one because otherwise, you have to be reall strong or have some good clamps to get the add a leaf flush to the leaves to put a bolt in. the new bolts are extra long so you can use the bolt and nut itself to tighten the add a leaf to the pack

as a side note, please wrap some hose clamps around the ends of the add a leaf and leaf pack, they have a tendency to spin out and cut tires in half. ask how i know. at least ford got smart and use dual alignment dowels on the 2004+ F150.

 

[/QUOTE]as a side note, please wrap some hose clamps around the ends of the add a leaf and leaf pack, they have a tendency to spin out and cut tires in half. ask how i know. at least ford got smart and use dual alignment dowels on the 2004+ F150.[/QUOTE]

thanks bob....get ready, ordering bilsteins from you really soon!