do leaf springs wear out?

[jcwaters1]

i have a 98 xlt and was looking at it the other day after i put my new shocks on and the back end sits lower then the front. is this normal? or should i look into getting an add a leaf set? its probably about 1.5 inches lower then the front. even with new shocks

 

[explorerguy89]

yes they do wear out and sag over time

 

[gavin]

it's normal for them to sag over time, as the leaf packs lose their "spring"

it's also normal to see what I've seen referred to here as the "gangsta lean"
where the dri side rear sits lower than the pass. side rear due to the additional weight of the gas tank and driver on that side.

an add-a-leaf will help, but only for a while. It'll eventually start to sag again.

 

[jcwaters1]

so what should i do? just let it sag or what? the ride isnt as good as it could be either. its a little bumpy.

 

[Electrohacker]

aftermarket springs are the best solution, if you can get heavier springs it will help prevent sag in the future
LMC truck sells a 4 spring pack for $99 a piece, probably the best price I have seen, but I would want to check a local spring shop first

you can also have your springs "re-curved" if they are not worn too badly

 

[jcwaters1]

cool. i checked them out but its only a 3 pack. can you add one of the old springs just for the added support? or would that sort of defeat the purpose?

 

[gavin]

you can also have your springs "re-curved" if they are not worn too badly

I've heard that this doesn't usually last too long. But of course you may have different results.

a new spring pack is about the only way to do it.

Check with Deaver Spring if you have a deep pocket ($$$)

 

[gavin]

cool. i checked them out but its only a 3 pack. can you add one of the old springs just for the added support? or would that sort of defeat the purpose?

you can add a leaf out of an F150 leaf pack... haven't done it myself, but have read several threads around here on it.

could try doing a search on that.

 

[corkey]

go to the local junkyard , find 2 that aren't sagged , and buy the passenger side pack out of each Ex, than swap yours out for them, and lean gone for quite a while,

 

[jcwaters1]

"go to the local junkyard , find 2 that aren't sagged , and buy the passenger side pack out of each Ex, than swap yours out for them, and lean gone for quite a while"


what? thats confusing.

"you can add a leaf out of an F150 leaf pack... haven't done it myself, but have read several threads around here on it. could try doing a search on that."

so would i have to get the leaf kit for my explorer and one for an F-150?

 

[gavin]

"go to the local junkyard , find 2 that aren't sagged , and buy the passenger side pack out of each Ex, than swap yours out for them, and lean gone for quite a while"


what? thats confusing.

he means find 2 Explorers in a junkyard that don't have sagging rears, and take the passenger side leaf pack from each (pass side will have less sag due to less weight).

"you can add a leaf out of an F150 leaf pack... haven't done it myself, but have read several threads around here on it. could try doing a search on that."

so would i have to get the leaf kit for my explorer and one for an F-150?

you could actually just add a single leaf (some might use 2?) from an F150 pack to your existing leaf pack

 

[jcwaters1]

he means find 2 Explorers in a junkyard that don't have sagging rears, and take the passenger side leaf pack from each (pass side will have less sag due to less weight).



you could actually just add a single leaf (some might use 2?) from an F150 pack to your existing leaf pack

so i should find an f-150 leaf say, at a junkyard, and add it to my leafs already on my explorer? will there be enough room in the shackles and the u-bolts?

 

[gavin]

so i should find an f-150 leaf say, at a junkyard, and add it to my leafs already on my explorer? will there be enough room in the shackles and the u-bolts?

basically, yes.

you would only use 1 or 2 leafs out of the F150 back, and place them appropriately. Ubolts shouldn't be a problem, but centering bolt may need replaced. And the shackle shouldn't pose any issues.

I've never done it myself, nor have I looked extensively into it, I just know it's been done by browsing through threads around here.

I'm sure there's a thread floating around that will provide all the needed info

 

[Electrohacker]

you might need longer U-bolts

 

[Lanky]

Sticky: Modifying Ford Explorer Leaf Springs for Lift using F-150 Leaf Springs.
Here is a link you should find interesting. I am looking at doing this to my ex in the near future. Found a U-Pull-it lot that has an 89 f150 and the spring pads still look to be in great shape.

 

[Lanky]

Sorry, I did that wrong. Go to SEARCH and type in f150 leaf spring swap and you will find an old write up by Bronco 638, it's a good read.

 

[gavin]

why did I not think to look in the Shocks, Suspension, and Lift Kits sub-forum... lol

here's the sticky in that subforum about it.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101035

 

[jcwaters1]

hey thanks guys. ill take a look