Well my back end has been really bothering me lately whenever I walk up to my truck because I notice how low the back end is when it shouldnt be. My girlfriends 4x2 is about the same height....Anyways what are my options for fixing that...I know add-a-leaf kit woould work but what about trying to find new leafs from a 02 and up Ranger for the junkyard....Should work fine...how hard are those to replace?


Kosmo

 

I've never replaced rear leaves, so I can't tell you what kind of work is involved.

I was at the dealership today to get parts, and I checked out an '06 LII. It sits about 2" higher than my truck. It looked like the LII had a good arch in the leaf springs. On most 4x4s (at least '02 and newer) it seems that the rear leaf spring is flat.

You might try to find a wrecked LII if you want some extra lift without going too high or using AALs.

 

Thats what i wanna find, a wrecked LII would be perfect. So theres no arch in the 02-up leafs for the 4x4's?

 

Mine springs are flat as a board. I took it to the dealer for the slip yoke TSB and complained of the flat springs. They looked at their trucks on the lot (and I did too on a later visit) and they all had flat springs. It's normal, but I still think the spring should have some arch in it.

 

ur options are blocks, shackles, add a leafs, or new springs.

 

It's not terribly hard to change rear leaf springs , especially if you have air tools . Make sure the spring pack you are installing is good , the center bolt not broken or the head worn away and the bushings are in good shape . Jack up the truck with a floor jack under the differential and place stands under the frame so the wheels clear the ground by three to four inches when the jack is all the way down . Block the front wheels . raise the floor jack till it contacts the bottom of the differential . Unbolt the spring pack of your choice . Lower the jack till you can get the spring pack out . Install one bolt in the new spring pack in the spring hanger ( not the shackle )and raise the jack till you can get the shackle bolt in . If the bolts were worn , I hope you got new ones , grade 8 , along with some new locknuts . Torque the shackle and hanger bolts , gorilla force isn't necessary . The center bolt head should fit into a recess in the spring perch . This is all the alignment most rear ends ever get . Replace one side , then the other , so the rear end doesn't try to get away . Torque the u-bolts evenly . It's not a bad idea to check them after a few hundred miles , to make sure they are still tight . You can do it in an hour with hand tools . I am new to writing how to's , but this should see you through . But as always , follow these instructions at your own risk , bob

 

Bob thanks for the how-to. It bugs me more and more everyday looking at it, so I need to do it rather soon, but want the weather up here to warm up a lil bit more.


Kosmo