Leaf spring – removal and installation
Removal
1. Loosen the wheel lug nuts, raise the rear of the vehicle and support it securely on jackstands placed under the frame rails. Remove the wheel and support the rear axle with a floor jack placed under the axle tube. Don’t raise the axle – just support its weight.
2. Remove the nuts, U-bolts, spring plate, and spring seat that clamp the leaf spring to the axle (see illustration).
12.2 To remove the spring plate and U-bolts, remove these four nuts
3. Remove the leaf spring shackle bolts and the shackle (see illustration).
12.3 To detach the rear end of the leaf spring, remove the shackle nuts and bolts
4. Unscrew the front bolt (see illustration) and remove the leaf spring from the vehicle.
12.4 To detach the front end of the leaf spring from the forward bracket, remove this nut and bolt
Installation
5. To install the leaf spring, position the spring on the axle tube so that the spring center bolt enters the locating hole on the axle tube.
6. Line up the spring front eye with the mounting bracket and install the front bolt and nut.
7. Install the rear shackle assembly.
8. Tighten the shackle bolt and the front bolt until all slack is taken up.
9. Install the U-bolts and nuts. Tighten the nuts until they force the spring plate against the axle, but don’t torque them yet.
10. The auxiliary spring, if equipped, must align with the main spring.
11. Install the wheel and lug nuts. Remove the jackstands and lower the vehicle. Tighten the lug nuts to the torque listed in the Tune-up and routine maintenance Specifications.
12. Tighten the U-bolt nuts, front bolt/nut and shackle bolts/nuts to the torque listed in this Chapter’s Specifications.