Leaf Spring

REMOVAL
1. Raise vehicle on frame-contact hoist as follows:





a. Position the hoist arm supporting the corner of the vehicle to be serviced against a block of wood placed on the body sill as shown.
b. Position the remaining hoist arms at each corner of the vehicle in the normal fashion.
c. Raise the vehicle to a comfortable working level.
2. Position an under-hoist utility jack or transmission jack under rear axle toward the side needing spring replacement. Jack pad should just contact axle.





3. Remove the shock absorber lower mounting bolt.

NOTE: If shock absorber bolt deflects upward during removal, raise axle by adjusting support jack. If shock absorber bolt deflects downward during removal, lower axle by adjusting support jack (or by pulling on axle).

4. Using 2 jack stands positioned under the outer ends of the axle, raise the axle enough to remove the weight of the axle from the rear springs.





5. Loosen and remove the spring plate bolts from the rear axle.





6. Remove the spring plate from the rear axle and the leaf spring.
7. Using the jack stands slowly lower the rear axle, permitting the rear springs to hang free.
8. Loosen and remove the 4 bolts securing the front mount of the leaf spring to the vehicle.





9. Loosen and remove the nuts from the spring hanger for the rear leaf spring. Then remove the hanger plate from the hanger and remove the spring from the spring hanger.
10. Remove the leaf spring from the vehicle.
11. Loosen and remove the pivot bolt from the front mount of the rear leaf spring. Remove mount.

INSTALLATION
1. Assemble front spring mount to front of spring eye and install pivot bolt and nut. Do not tighten at this time.

CAUTION: Pivot bolt must face inboard to prevent structural damage during installation of spring.

2. Raise front of spring and install four mounting bolts. Tighten bolts to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.) torque.
3. Install rear of spring onto rear spring shackle. Install shackle plate. Do not tighten.
4. Verify lower leaf spring isolator is in position.





5. Raise axle into correct position on leaf spring with axle centered under spring locator post.
6. Verify that the leaf spring isolator is correctly positioned in the spring plate.
7. Install spring plate in position on the spring.
8. Install spring plate bolts. Tighten bolts to 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.) torque.
9. Install lower shock absorber bolt. Do not tighten at this time.
10. Remove jack under axle.
11. Lower the vehicle and remove hoist arms and block of wood from under vehicle.

CAUTION: The following sequence must be followed when tightening the pin nuts on the rear hanger for the rear leaf spring. First the hanger pin nuts must be tightened to the specified torque shown. Then tighten the retaining bolts for the inner to outer half of the spring hanger to the torque specification listed. This sequence must be followed to properly seat the bushings into the springs and to avoid bending the spring hanger.

12. Tighten the spring front pivot bolt to 156 Nm (115 ft. lbs.) torque.
13. Tighten rear spring shackle pin nuts to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.) torque.
14. Tighten rear spring shackle inner to outer half retaining bolts to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.) torque.
15. Tighten the lower shock absorber mounting bolt to 102 Nm (75 ft. lbs.) torque.