DANGER:Add-a-Leaf Owners Read This Now!

[GJarrett]

Check your center bolts (the one with the round head in the middle of the leaf pack that holds it together and lines the springs up into the alignment holes on the bottom of the axle). Do it Right Now!

I took the day off and started my pre-Moab inspection and nearly had a heart attack when I noticed something.

My ProComp Add-a-Leaf kit came with wimpy looking 5/16" center bolts to hold the leaf pack together. I thought they looked too thin but shrugged it off figuring ProComp knew what they were doing and the center bolts they supplied were strong enough to do the job.

Guess what: both of mine were sheared off! I do not know how long I have been driving with them that way but visions of what happened when Ray Hutchinson sheared one of his off at Moab last year left me in a sweat. What if my axle decided to shift and go south like his did, while I was doing 65mph in Dallas rushhour traffic on a freeway?

I spent today acquiring repacement 3/8" bolts from an offroad shop and replacing the center bolts. Ford does not stock them; they only come with a complete leafspring kit. You'll have to find them elswhere.

Hope this saves someone's a$$. Take care guys.

[BoatsRcool]

Thanks man, I just put my add a leaf in last week, and I will check up on the bolts every once and awhile.

[NoBoundaries]

Hey Gerald,

Have you sent a letter to Pro Comp regarding this and asking for some sort of an explaination? Maybe they might come up with a free replacement or at least help other consumers aware of the potential problem.

[Tito_146]

Do you know where do i get the add-a-lift and for how much? Do you guys think I should go for a shakle instead? I have a TT on a '96 4x4.

Thanks

[BoatsRcool]

Warrior shackles stick out, add a leaf is just a leaf, I think warrior shackles are easier to put on, but if you have a 2door (sport) do the shackles.

[Alto]

I noticed it myself! I felt they were a bit to thin in diameter.
I got high quality Nuts & Bolts. I got larger bolts Ground the heads round to fit hole on top. The bottom side I also ground off the corners a bit.
I figured since I'm doing the work I know they are tight Used Metwrench to tighten the ground nuts. I noticed that everyone has problems getting the Centering bolts out anyhow. If I need to remove them I KNOW that I'll have to cut them off. But they are now larger.

Question? When I bought mine from Summit. At $26.00 (Explorer Pro Comp) that was for one set! Correct? At the time I was not sure I ordered Quantity 2. Now do I have 2 sets or 1 set. One box 2 leafs I believe 4 nuts & bolts. I have two boxes.
The reason I'm asking it I really didn't get any lift. If I installed correct 1 box. Then My present springs are just worn out. Meaning I installed correct and the lift just leveled me out. Now if I'm correct I'll just order the OME 2" entire spring pack.
Confused Yet! Welcome to my World! Try not to stay long. Maybe a picture will help! I'm good with Pictures.

[J. Kennedy]

I know what you mean re: Add a Leafs. If your original leafs are seriously sagging, the lighter leafs won't give you any lift at all. My rear was down about 1.5", and the leafs brought it up 2" initially, but then settled to stock height.

If you want actual lift, your are going to need at least the mid grade leafs.

Or, Ford could install leaf springs that had more rebound than Jell - O.

[2001ExpSport]

My guess as to the reason they sheared was because of improper installation. My leafs came with the same size bolt as stock. Also over tightening the bolt with weaken it and cause it to snap. They should only be torqued to a max of 80lbs.

[NoBoundaries]

I gave Explorer Pro Comp a call today and they are sending some 3/8" center bolts out to me. I was kind of concerned when I was putting the bolts on that it might be a problem. I figured that it wasn't rocket science and that Explorer Pro Comp knew what they were doing.

[HIX]

The Center pin is just to hold the leafs centered on the axle. If you are using the pin to clamp down the spring pack or if you do not clamp down the u-bolts tight enough you will break the pins even if you get the "good" ones. I broke three on my X before I really cranked down the u-bolts...never happened again after that.

[sk1er17]

I ordered the DOUBLE AAL kit from pro-comp. The bolts they came with are 3/8". Is that the size bolt stock on the leaf packs? (my brother has the single leaf kit and i looked at his bolts and noticed they are smaller....)

Also, why are there two nuts for 1 bolt? Do i use both of them when i install these? (2 bolts are goldish in color and two are black)

[Heath]

Matt and I just installed mine... I ended up getting a bolt that was the same size as stock... We used a round headed bolt with the hex in the middle... then I had the AAL's drilled by a local leaf spring company to fit the bolt (since it has that tiny hole) and installed them... I think the drilling and nuts and bolts added almost $20 to the pricetag, but well worth it to do it right the first time and have the peace of mind knowing that its done right...

[fordtruckin]

where can i get instructions for installin the warrior shackles on my truck 99 explorer sport 2dr 4x4

[Joey P]

I just installed a pro comp aal and the kit came with 4 bolts. 2 bigger ones and 2 smaller ones. I used the bigger ones because they just looked better, also stronger for that type of thing. Has anyone else had 4 bolts come with theirs? I do not know what the other 2 bolts would be for, I just saved them for something else. Also the bolts I ended up using had a slot in the head.....like a flathead screwdriver slot. The other ones did not.....like the factory bolts. I am sure this does not matter though.


Edit: This was a 2 inch kit that I bought off of ebay from rdsi racing or something like that.

[410Fortune]

I had Superlift add a leafs (both long and shirt) installed until recently. They came with the larger bolt, I actually had to drill the lift blocks to accomodate the bolt.

A good heads up there Gerald.........That is SCARY

Do you think Ray's bolts were the Pro Comp?

Nice job with the pre trip inspection, I was just reading about that in a 4x4 mag....Everyone should go prepared and do a THOUROUGH inspection of the truck before any road trip, especially towing or 4x4ing trips.......

[Jefe]

Since this was brought back to life:

Its all about tightening the U-bolts, and then retorqueing(sp?) them. Whenever you unbolt the u-bolts, you need to torque them down to 100 ft/lbs, and then torque them again the next day, and the next. . .until the you check them and they are already at 100 ft/lbs, and even then its not a bad idea to check them on occasion later.

I have been running the "wimpy" pin for over 2 years with no problems. The U-bolts should be holding the axle in place, not the pin.

A friend did an AAL on his rodeo. the pins with the kit were 3/8" and he sheared both of them because he torqued the U-bolts down and promptly forgot about them until I asked him why his rear tires were not centered in the wheel wells.

[GJarrett]

Thanks HIX and Jefe for the info. As long as we learn how to do it right and safely, that's what it is all abou!

[Heath]

I think I'll crawl under my truck and tighten them up again tonight... Just in case...

[MO_GUY]

I think this thread gets my vote to be a sticky! It's info that needs to be seen

[reichhartkg]

I've read in this thread that the Ubolts should be torqued to 80 and 100. Which is it?

Also, is there a torque spec on the center bolts?