Well i finally got around to putting new leaf springs in my truck. I got a set of 4 pack leaf springs for FREE. Well almost i work at his collision shop to help pay off parts or flat out pay for them. Anyway he had a 94 exploder with 4 pack. I went up and got it and it took me all day to take out 2 leaf springs. With the damn thing falling off the jack b4 i had it high enough to get it on jacks stands under it, and bolts that were just rusted badly and working in a field and not in my shop. i actually drove home and got my generator and air compress or and air tools one it took me about 30 min to get the other side side out, after it took me 5 hours to get the other side off. also got a new front axle to fix mine at the same time, but anyway on with the pictures

passenger side height before was 35 inches



drives side height before was 34 3/4 inches



i thought i would get away with reusing the ubolts that i had but they came up 3/4 of an inch to short.



so i have to have custom ubolts made they are 1/2 inch 3.25 wide and 11 inches long they cost me $50.

random shot of the install i kinda forgot to take pics of the process



after install and drive around the block and other shock tab welded back on. i went over to my buddys that is a professional welder for the past 25 years and he set he welder all up for me and let me go to town and got them all welded up.





before




after






i ended up with around 3-5 inches of lift i cant remember exactly how much at the moment i need to take pics of the measurement.

My truck rides so much better now and doesnt sag near as much with a load of wood in the bed.

if anyone is looking for a cheap way to lift in the rear other than shackles or a simple up grade for a little more load capacity i would highly recommend this.

 

looks good. got any plans for the front?

 

either coils or coil spacers i have a bl in my room but i need new cab mounts b4 i install that.


the funny thing is my dad is not a big fan of lifted trucks. he always complains when i work on my truck. he had a huge fit when i was going to install my manual tcase. but when it was done he told me he was proud of me for doing the research and the install. he was the same way with the leaf springs he was all pissy till i got it done. then once it was done he was like it looks good but what are you going to do about the front. i laughed and said get new coils and hes like that will help and make it look even better

 

Most people only see 2 inches of lift, your springs must have been FUBAR.

 

dude they were flat as hell remember they had 270k on them and most of the 240k they had a fiberglass cap and surveying tools in the bed. then i got it and probably 10k of the 30k i have put on the truck it has towed a ton and the bed was full of firewood and w.e else.

 

nice! i need to do something about my rear end suspension soon. maybe when im finished with the 5.0 swap ill start looking to upgrade the rear end

 

its def and easy swap and pretty cheap

 

you need to loosen those u bolts and get them perpendicular to the axle, if you dont they will move and then be loose

 

**** man i didnt even see that good call def fix that this weekend

 

Fix it yet?

 

any final measurements? im looking for a cheap replacement for my lift blocks...

 

I think he welded the u-bolts to the axle? Odd, never seen that done before o.O

 

You know....after a closer inspection of that pic....they do appear to be welded onto the axle.... Why is the axle cleaned up where the u-bolts run over it? I know it's like a cell phone pic and it's not focused too well, but it appears that the u-bolts are welded to the axle? And if they were indeed welded to the axle, why?



I'm not nit-picking or making fun, I'm just curious.

 

your right they are welded. on both sides of the axle?

 

not yet this weekend im no wheres near my truck


wtf hell no i forgot to paint those ubolts b4 i installed them. since they were brand new and raw they needed painted so they didnt rust to hell

 

finial measurements will be up tomorrow depending on what time i get home

 

well i got my measurements and fixed the ubolt this weekend.


the rear both sides is 38 and the front is 34.


so i got around 3 inches of lift from the leaf springs. Cant beat that for around 60 bucks

 

i'm actually thinking about doing the exact same swap for my ranger but in the research that i've done so far, you can also take a late 80's/early 90's lowering shackles for a chevy 1500 and achieve another 2" 's of lift for next to nothing. i'm not a 100% sure of the specs though. my wifes cousing did it and it worked beautifully. he also got after-market leaf spring mounts for his rear axle and was able to get another 2" 's. i'll try and get some pics of it up when i get a chance. it's storming like crazy right now.

 

he probably got blocks and shackles. Shackles are next on the list for me in the rear. Stacking blocks isnt the greatest idea. with leaf springs and shackles you can get from 3-5 inches of lift

 

looks good i just picked up a set of explorer leafs
for my truck yesterday

 

the only ***** about the install is getting the old bolts out.

 

that's what i love about a torch. and now that you mention it he does have blocks. i'm not sure what size but after all was said and done he got approximately 10" of lift out of it.

 

My truck has no blocks, and the rear sits higher than yours before the swap?

My truck has 196k on it, and it used to carry around almost 1000lbs in tools all the time, (With helper springs)
Still sits high, weird.

Your old springs must have been F-D.

 

dude they were flat and b4 i got it had a couple 100 lbs of tools in it for 240k

 

do you have flares?