Got my new Leaf Springs

I ordered new leaf springs from JC Whitney and they got delivered today. I went with the 4 leaf heavy duty set.

Before I begin taking my car apart, I was just curious if anyone had any input on what parts I'm gonna need and any suggestions to make the job a little easier. I figured while everything was apart maybe there is somethings I should do just to do it.

While I'm under there and I have the rear down I'm gonna repaint it and do a little cleaning and painting.

But I would appreciate any help yo guys can give me. I plan on starting this weekend.

Thanks!

Steve

 

dude... talk to todd. he did it virtually by himself! ain't these mavs COOL?

 

Its awesome that he has the intrest to do the work himself. It shows that he loves that car...it sure is beautiful!

It was a toss up on what was gonna be done first, thge springs or detailing the engine. The springs got here first, so they win!

PM me his number. I didn't pick up new shackles or bushings, so I'm hoping I can get a set from pep boys or autozone tomorrow. Gonna pick up the paint tonight from Lowes.

If anything have him give me a ring....I would love any advice! I just don't wanna miss anything. Getting the ass off the ground a little and some stiffer suspension if what I want to accomplish, but I want to do it the right way.....

 

what was the part number for the springs....and how much did they run....i am going to do that myself.......and i wanted the heavier duty springs as well


thanks

and good luck

 

not sure what the part number is....I went to jcwhitney.com and put in the car year, make and model. Went to suspension and picked the leaf springs. They were about 120 for the pair. Fast delivery, and if you over more than $150 worth of stuff they offer no payments, no intrest for 90 days and they were offering free shipping too.

Not a bad deal. Just hope I like the way the car sits.

 

springs

I need them also any info would help THANKS RON

 

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/makeId-1000114/p-1955/c-10101/modelId-1001297


here are the springs.....59.95 each....

 

I bought here ... was very happy with them ...

http://www.espo.com/

 

I did the swap myself (4-leaf). Took me several hours, as I had no help. The hardest part is getting the old shackle bushings out--just takes a little patients.

I bead-blasted the lower shock mounting plates and the original rear shackles and re-painted them to look new. I replaced all of the U-bolts with new ones and replaced all of the bushings. The new springs returned the car to original height from sagging; didn't jack up the rear at all. It is much stiffer now though. Again, I re-used my original rear shackles with new bushings -- I have heard that the JC Whitney shackles suck. I installed new gas-charged shocks in place of the air-shocks that were on it.

My best advice would be to spray WD-40 on all of the bolts that you will be removing; do this several times for a couple of days prior to performing the swap. It will make the bolt-removal much easier, as it will disolve most of the rust.

Use good jack-stands to support the car on a solid and level surface, Saftey first!

Hope this helps...

 

You may not be happy, at first, with the ride height. May take awhile to settle down, might even throw some weight in the trunk for awhile to help the process.

 

Buy NEW U-bolts ... cut the old ones off - makes life easy and they are inexpensive. Definitely soak the bushing bolts so they are easier to remove.

 

So should I replace the shackles or just take them off, clean them up, throw a coat of paint on them and put them back on?

 

Soak everything, and I hope you have an impact gun, makes life real easy, just spins the bolts out of the bushings. If you need shop space, I may be able to arrange some for this weekend up this way for ya , have to kick the 77 F250 out though
Shaun

 

I got it in the garage, so I should be set, but I really do appreciate it Shaun.

I'm reading the chiltons now, and I just called pep boys and they can have me the bushings by thursday. I was looking at the leaf sprnigs and it seems that there is a set of bushings on one end, but not the other.....make sense?

 

I would replace them. Get a shackle kit with new poly bushings....may as well spend a couple of extra bucks, it'll be worth it in the long run. Get your kit and bushings from someone like www.p-s-t.com and not JC Whitney.

I'm doing the same thing....going with the 4 leaf.

D. Ray