I want to take apart my leaf springs to give them a good cleaning and and some new paint, but I haven't seen much information on the job. While I'm at it I hought I should get some new friction pads/silencers and a bracket to install a new bumpstop. And wondering if there are non-dealer sources for all the rest of the hardware like those big rivets that hold the clips on.

 

You might find the parts at your local Spring Shop if they will sell them is another story .

I wish I had this kind of extra time.

 

I'm going though the whole truck. It's almost 25 years old. So it needsome attention every couple of decades.

 

Are you planning to leave the main leaf in the truck ??

If I cut the u bolts and the bolts through the spring hangers and shackles I am putting New Springs in After all that work

I know all to well of trucks that vintage I have way to many.

 

The only bolts I destroyed were the front eyes. The truck only has 115k miles. I think the springs have some life left. I'll get a set of new bushings from Marlin and the new front bolts will be 316 stainless with stainless tubing for the bolt sleeve. I'll apply some marine grade anti-sieze to the bolt. I should be able to take that appart years from now with minimal effort.

In the mean time, I think I am going to learn something about rivets and riveting, because if I really want to take apart the spring pack I probably will end up destroying two or three of the rivets that hold on the spring clips.

 

I ordered new springs from Michigan spring, they were $115 each, plus UPS shipping....They also bend up U bolts to whatever size you need.