What To Do About This? Rear Leafs

[55 Fargo]

Hey all, my rear leafs have these huge blocks, used to space on the ubolt brackets.

This is keeping my rear spring height grossly high. What can be done with this, what do I need to correct and lower this toa more sane height. Wonder why the previous owner did this.....thanx Fred

[B1B Keven]

Pull them out! They'll damage the springs (spring wrap).

[48Dodger]

Hey all, my rear leafs have these huge blocks, used to space on the ubolt brackets.

This is keeping my rear spring height grossly high. What can be done with this, what do I need to correct and lower this toa more sane height. Wonder why the previous owner did this.....thanx Fred

Get the correct (stock) u-bolts

Support the frame so the axle hangs (with tires removed).

Lossen the u bolts. don't remove them yet

Pull the blocks out (they should come out easy)

Raise the axle with a floor jack to the springs.

change the u-bolts out one at a time.

Put the tires back on.

ta da!

Reasons for the blocks:

He had taller tires to get more speed out of the truck and/or his tires rubbed with heavy loads and needed clearence.

48D

Edited May 3, 2012 by 48dodger

[David A.]

Maybe someone else can verify that what I see is incorrect, but it appears in the last picture that the lower bracket under the differential housing has been bolted on 90 deg. out of place. The lower shock mount should be parallel with the differential housing. Also, that bracket it on the wrong side. That is the drivers side bracket.

David A.

[Dave72dt]

You are correct! Very good eye. The mounting eyes for the shock are at 90degress to each other, binding both. Should be parallel.

[pflaming]

What is spring warp and how does one determine it has happened?

[Dave72dt]

Based on physics, "every action has an equal an opposite reaction." Torque applied to the tires to move the truck wants to rotate the axle. The leaves deflect somewhat when this occurs and is called spring wrap. The blocks increase the leverage the axle rotation has on the springs, making it more severe which may lead, if severe enough, to wheel hop, broken axles, u joint issues.

Driven in a reasonable manner, you'll never notice it.

[Fernando Mendes]

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=16818

[55 Fargo]

Based on physics, "every action has an equal an opposite reaction." Torque applied to the tires to move the truck wants to rotate the axle. The leaves deflect somewhat when this occurs and is called spring wrap. The blocks increase the leverage the axle rotation has on the springs, making it more severe which may lead, if severe enough, to wheel hop, broken axles, u joint issues.

Driven in a reasonable manner, you'll never notice it.

I agree driven prudently, may never cause any problems.

Now in my case, those spring blocks are 3.25 ", I am going to take therm out ASAP, do not like the stance, and do not plan to trailer or haul mega loads.

The shocks low mount on the Ubolt flanges are as stated right angles to one another, would this be a big deal, if the location, and shock travel is still the same?

The driver side spring, is some other mish-mash, so need to replave it with 1 identical to the right side.

I have no idea what the past owner was doing with this job.....

[Dave72dt]

The lower shock mounting plates need to be swapped side to side. It'd be hard on the rubber bushings if left the way they are. Shock travel will be different because of the lowering. Coming down that much may bottom out the current shocks. Check the stroke of the shock when the axle is remounted. Should install at about the middle of it's stroke.

[55 Fargo]

The lower shock mounting plates need to be swapped side to side. It'd be hard on the rubber bushings if left the way they are. Shock travel will be different because of the lowering. Coming down that much may bottom out the current shocks. Check the stroke of the shock when the axle is remounted. Should install at about the middle of it's stroke.

Thanx Dave, so I will be able to still use these lower shock mount plates?

[Dave72dt]

Sure, nothing wrong with the plates. Just on the wrong side of the truck.

[pflaming]

I am, today working with my rear axle. It is no chore to disattach those mounts and attach then properly. NOW, it is not so easy with a corn on the inside of your little toe, but on actions of importance one just works through the pain while Dr. Schoel's does his thing.

Edit: On a serious note, the perches then serve two purposes: (1) as a mount for the springs and (2) to keep the axle from turning. Makes sence. A wagon axle then may not have perches?

Rookwood: At first it doesn't seem to work just remember (1) The mount is on the BOTTOM of the houseing (2) It points toward the u joint, (3) it's on the side of the U - joint, (4) The shocks are INSIDE the frame of the truck! My pics should help.

Edited May 3, 2012 by pflaming

[55 Fargo]

Sure, nothing wrong with the plates. Just on the wrong side of the truck.

Dave, maybe I am missing something....LOL If I switch sides, how will it the mount end up in the right location? Gotta go and have a good look at this.....thanx Fred

[Young Ed]

Fred look at flaming pics. You need to rotate them to be inline with the axle. the upper and lower shock mount bolts should be in line like this = not yours has the bottom one rotated like +

[4852dodge]

It looks like your springs are undersized also, not enough leaves. They may have been changed in the past.

[HanksB3B]

Is that the beginnings of leprosy? The last thread had fish guts! Geez Paul next time I'll be sure to read your treads after lunch.

Eww,

Hank

[55 Fargo]

Fred look at flaming pics. You need to rotate them to be inline with the axle. the upper and lower shock mount bolts should be in line like this = not yours has the bottom one rotated like +

I know exactly what you mean Ed, but if I rotate them, the spacing for the u-bolts is wider, does that make sense.

I am off to soccer game, will post pics later, on what I am trying to explain....thanx all

[pflaming]

Pics of the shock absorber mount, axle, and spring. My next challenge is to get the correct U-joint. Details, they just drive you nuts. I would have bet that the rear axle would be in then, decided to clean it a bit, then discovered the remains of the previous shock absorber mount had to come off, then discovered the u-joints do not mate.

Hank, (1) they are entrals, beginning biology for my grandson, (2) nope, not leprosy but I'm about ready to amputate.

Edited April 17, 2018 by pflaming

[55 Fargo]

These lower shock mounts do not appear to be the type I need, they appear to not be able to be turned around to use correctly as a shock mount. Not sure what they came from, does anyone have any ideas on this one.

Here are some pics, and 2 pics of the truck, once I remove the blocks, it should drop the rear end 3 inches, which should be about right for my liking and use.

[48Dodger]

They look like late model shock mounts, like the my 72 Charger....probably came with the axle the guy before you put in. You'll need to get at least a stock pair of mounts, if they can't be rotated etc....

48D

Edited May 6, 2012 by 48dodger

[pflaming]

I tend to disagree. Remove them and turn them 90 degrees. The indentation in the mount will fit snub around the bottom of the axle. Place the shock bolt on the U-Joint side pointing to the differential and you will see it works. It's a bit like a chinese puzzle. When they are all rusty they give a wrong impression. When those blocks are out you will be amazed at how much better your truck will look.

I got an impact wrench and that made the task so much easier, but those nuts will come off.

I just read 48dodgers' post. My truck is a '52, there might be a difference but not by much. My frame is straighter and my axle is on top of the springs.

Good Luck

Edited April 17, 2018 by pflaming

[48Dodger]

I just read 48dodgers' post. My truck is a '52, there might be a difference but not by much. My frame is straighter and my axle is on top of the springs.

Most car axles are over the springs while truck's are under them. What I was trying to show was the lateral mounting of the shock mounts.

48D

Edited May 14, 2012 by 48dodger

[PatS....]

Fred, check Princess Auto for U-bolts...I don't think they are in the catalog but I bought a pair about 3 yrs ago at the store here. They had a few different sizes.

You have the correct plates they are on the wrong side and pointed front instead of sideways.

Whoever installed those was into the sauce big time

[55 Fargo]

They look like late model shock mounts, like the my 72 Charger....probably came with the axle the guy before you put in. You'll need to get at least a stock pair of mounts, if they can't be rotated etc....

48D

This is exactly correct, and these mounts cannot be used, if shifted 90 degrees, the ubolts would be way too wide over the leaf springs.

I will need to find some correct mounts.....thanx Fred and thanx all, this is very hard to visualize in a picture.

THis job is a real dogs breakfast, I did not do the work. The perches on the diff are wider than the stock lower shock mounts, so this must be why the previous owner used the present shock mounts. I am going to have to either find something that will work, or possibly weld on mounts onto these shocks mounts, to get things right. space on perches is 2 1/2 inches wide

Edited May 6, 2012 by Rockwood