springs

aceaway · Post by **aceaway** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:40 am

When I jack up the truck(66 1/2 ton) at the bumper, the body of the truck goes up and the axles and wheels stay on the ground. Looks like the springs are not attached to anything at the top. Are they supposed to be attached to the frame and how? Thanks aceaway

Hoss · Post by **Hoss** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 9:19 am

The springs are stacks of steel flat stock called "leafs" with eyelets at either end of the main leaf with bushings and pins. The front of the front spring will be attatched to the frame via a swinging shackle that is also attatched to the frame with a pin through a bushing. The rear of the front spring is attatched to the frame with a pin through a solid bracket attatched to the frame. This is basically the same for the rear springs. You will get some flexing of the springs when you jack the truck up by the bumper but should not be more that about 6" depending on your shock length. Inspect the length of the springs for cracks or gaps. It should be a continuace piece of steel from front to rear with additional spring leaves stacked below the main leaf.
Hope this helps,
Ken

Jeffc · Post by **Jeffc** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:02 am

mmmmmm, can't even recall the last time I jacked up
a truck with a bumper jack??? aways use a bottle jack
or floor jack on the axle. Keeps those "hard to find"
nice clean bumpers un-tweeked and a little safer too.

Website · Post by **wideblock** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 1:37 pm

i used to jack my 66 up by the bumper with the big farm jacks. it will come way up before the axle ever leaves the ground. you sure you just didnt go high enough?

Post by **oneowner71** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:20 am

I'd with trey on that one... I've had to go almost all the way to the top of the bumper jack just to get the tires high enough off the ground to get the bottle jack underneath the axle... quite a good bit of suspension travel... though I guess it would have been better if the axle wasn't burried in the mud at the time

shearingmatt · Post by **shearingmatt** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:43 pm

Just in case this is what Aceway has. Doesn't the camper special have a second leaf spring that isn't attached and doesn't touch unless there is some serious weight on it?

Matt

70d200 · Post by **70d200** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 1:07 pm

my 70 d200 came stock with dual rear springs. there is a bumper of sorts wielded to the frame and when i put tons of stuff in the back the second spring stack will rest on the bumper of the frame. all in all i think my rear leafs are about 12-16" think. rides like a skateboard when empty as a result. also it does take a lot of travel to lift the wheels off the ground when jacking the truck up via bumper/frame
tom

aceaway · Post by **aceaway** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 2:48 pm

I have the leaf springs on the truck like you were all talking about. However the odd part is that above the leaf springs is also a coil spring which doesn't seem to be attached at the top of the coil. Now does this seem unusual to have both leaf and coil springs.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 9:46 am

aceaway, what you are explaining sounds like an aftermarket add on. I have the same setup on my 68 W300. The coil spring is bolted to the axle and there should be a rectangular tube or a plate mounted on the frame for the spring to come in contact with. This is not OEM.
Hoss

Website · Post by **wideblock** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 2:53 pm

to add to hoss's post and answer your question, no the coils arent hooked to anything up top. they are an aftermarket overload spring, bolted to the axle, and just comes in contact with the frame or a plate when loaded. they just kind of float in space otherwise.