Suspension Tech General discussion of suspension for the Ford Ranger.

Is the bottom leaf supposed to do this?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 04-29-2009
Crackerstein's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Basically hanging out, sm
Posts: 604
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is the bottom leaf supposed to do this?

Name:  0428091923.jpg
Views: 306
Size:  77.5 KB
Name:  0428091922.jpg
Views: 284
Size:  90.6 KB


both sides do this. If they're not supposed to be like this how do i fix it, and what caused it?
 
  #2  
Old 04-29-2009
rangerboy101's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Winchester, Va
Posts: 8,187
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Hmm... hit it with a BFH and see what happens lol jk
 
  #3  
Old 04-29-2009
AHeyen77's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Petersburg,IL
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i've seen some pics on here that the bottom leaf did that.. i'll see if i can find it
 
  #4  
Old 04-29-2009
BlackStallion's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Pittsburgh,Pa
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yep lol no worries haha, thats just your max load leaf, the stiffest/ strongest so if you put a really heavy thing in your bed it wont crunch your suspension past that so you dont damage the axle etc.
hope that helps!
But yes its all good!
 
  #5  
Old 04-29-2009
ES894x4's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Killafornia
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
haha
 
  #6  
Old 04-29-2009
AHeyen77's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Petersburg,IL
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Name:  100_0766.jpg
Views: 287
Size:  117.9 KB

here's a pic for ya
 
  #7  
Old 04-29-2009
AHeyen77's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Petersburg,IL
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
it's "Tys 4x4" 's truck
 
  #8  
Old 04-29-2009
Crackerstein's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Basically hanging out, sm
Posts: 604
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by BlackStallion
Yep lol no worries haha, thats just your max load leaf, the stiffest/ strongest so if you put a really heavy thing in your bed it wont crunch your suspension past that so you dont damage the axle etc.
hope that helps!
But yes its all good!
It's alright like that even if i have a huge load to haul?
 
  #9  
Old 04-29-2009
BlackStallion's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Pittsburgh,Pa
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yep or if your max out flexing like the previous pic shows.
I dont know how heavy you want to go with that truck...but im sure if your engine can haul it without straining your suspension will hold up to it and been fine.
its all good brother!!!
 
  #10  
Old 04-29-2009
TrePaul86's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Gresham, OR
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
It's an overload spring. So your leafs have a hard time flipping the other direction under heavy loads. No worries. That's normal. I'll show you a picture of my leafs right now (later tonight) of what isn't normal for a leaf spring.
 
  #11  
Old 04-29-2009
whippersnapper02's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Posts: 7,415
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
I noticed that the reason the bottom leaf moved on my truck is because the u bolts moved out a bit. I have been meaning to fix this but I just haven't done it.
 
  #12  
Old 04-29-2009
01_ranger_4x4's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Muskegon, Michigan
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 2 Posts
^^^what they said
 
  #13  
Old 04-29-2009
04blackedge's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 23,426
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Mine are exactly like that too, no worries.
 
  #14  
Old 04-29-2009
EricRanger's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cary, IL
Posts: 801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
mine are the same way, I've loosend the u-bolts before and put them back streight, but after a coupple weeks they go right back.
 
  #15  
Old 04-29-2009
BOBO's Avatar
Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Mundelein, ill
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
mine were worse than that and i just fixed them last weekend but i dont expect it to be long b4 they are back like that again...
 
  #16  
Old 04-29-2009
Johnbaum13's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Yeah, it's normal. Same stuff on mine.
 
  #17  
Old 04-29-2009
FordGuy302's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chelsea,AL
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
mine do
 
  #18  
Old 04-29-2009
Ranger0n20s's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Mandeville, Louisiana
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
haha buddy ur ok, thats normal!
 
  #19  
Old 04-29-2009
99ranger4x4's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by rangerboy101
Hmm... hit it with a BFH and see what happens lol jk
...actually thats the fix for it

just watch it, make sure it doesnt walk out too far.

Originally Posted by BlackStallion
Yep or if your max out flexing like the previous pic shows.
I dont know how heavy you want to go with that truck...but im sure if your engine can haul it without straining your suspension will hold up to it and been fine.
its all good brother!!!
how do you figure?
something called bump stops limit your travel.
 
  #20  
Old 04-29-2009
Crackerstein's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Basically hanging out, sm
Posts: 604
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the responses guys, Had me a little worried because all the other trucks i look at its not like that.
 
  #21  
Old 04-29-2009
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: WARWICK RI
Posts: 895
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
mine is just like that
 
  #22  
Old 04-29-2009
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
yay for my truck!

but yeah, mine sticks out a bit like that on one side only, i've noticed no differences, i'll probably bash it in with a hammer at some point. but its not real high on my priority list lol
 
  #23  
Old 04-29-2009
08XLT4x4's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: bomba shack
Posts: 3,257
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
mine do this too, only on the right side. ive loosened the u bolts several times and straightened it back up, but about a week later, its crooked again.
 
  #24  
Old 04-29-2009
hozII's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: athens, Al
Posts: 2,245
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LOL when your lookin straight down on it and its not lined up inline, thats called twistin the leafs...no biggie. You can take a hammer and knock it back in line. I have a F-150 work truck that way. its from goin through ditches and max flexin the rear out, like i said no biggie and it doesn't hurt anything.
 
  #25  
Old 04-29-2009
Fx4wannabe01's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (23)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Boring, Oregon
Posts: 21,721
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
It's normal....just take a hammer and beat 'em back in properly. when they get out of shape, beat 'em again.
 


Quick Reply: Is the bottom leaf supposed to do this?



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:08 AM.