Do 8,100 GVW F250s have a nut under the lower spring mount?

[robroy]

Good morning!

While putting my front end back together on my 8,100lb GVW F250, I noticed a difference between the diagram in the shop manual and my setup. You know the large nut that's supposed to sit right under the bell-shaped lower spring mount plate? I left this nut out when putting my front end together.

At first I thought the nut didn't come out, since I couldn't find it in any of my tear down photos. But then I found two mysteriously out of place and large nuts sitting in the garage! Whoops!

So here is my question: Do all Bumpsides have that big nut that's circled in blue below? Or do some only have the big nut that's directly on top of the lower spring mount plate?



PS. The image is from my computer version of the 1972 Shop Manual, which I'll review in a separate post later on.

Thanks very much for the expert advice!
-Robroy

[fordman]

everyone that i have taken apart 5 of them has had that nut. bolt f100 and f250.

[robroy]

Okay thanks Fordman! Chances are high that I left the nut out since I didn't take a good photo that included it.

If that's true, then it explains why the bell-shaped lower spring mount plate bent slightly when I tried to torque that connection down. It's because the torque spec for the first nut is way higher than for the nut that sits above the lower spring mount plate.

Anybody else care to share their experiences with this nut?

Thanks Fordman!!!
-Robroy

[fireguywtc]

my 67 did not have a nut or shim in that area under the lower seat (spring cup).

[1971ford]

Mine did not have the shim (F100), but it does have the nut and i think it would be best to have that nut in there for extra superduper gripping power.

[robroy]

Hi Bill and Ryan, thanks for the replies!

my 67 did not have a nut or shim in that area under the lower seat (spring cup).

Interesting! It doesn't surprise me that a '67 might be a little different, but this is a good data point. Thanks!

Mine did not have the shim (F100), but it does have the nut and i think it would be best to have that nut in there for extra superduper gripping power.

Hey Ryan, I really like your phrasing, "extra superduper gripping power."

Mine didn't have the shim either--that part I'm sure about, since I never saw a shim when I was taking it apart.

I looked at those odd nuts today I found in the garage and I can't think of any other part of the car where they'd fit. That must be them.

Thanks again!
-Robroy

[robroy]

I finally ripped that part of the suspension apart again and installed the nuts; here's a photo of one of them:



I torqued it to around 180 ft/lbs. My wrench only reads up to 150 so I gave it an extra push after hearing the click.

Thanks for the advice!
-Robroy

[fireguywtc]

Now I am goin to have to do this since I forgot that nut also. I don't know if it was in my 67 when I tore it apart, but better to be safe. I hate doing things twice though

[robroy]

Hey Bill! Yeah I know what you mean; it was painful to rip it all apart again!

As I see it, that nut serves one good purpose: it allows you to put a large amount of torque on that connection, as specified in the shop manual, without crushing the factory "bell" shaped lower spring plate. I found that with 150 ft/lbs + on that plate, it crushed a little bit, which makes me think it's not supposed to be the main connection with all the torque to hold the radius arm to the beam.

-Robroy

[fireguywtc]

Hey Bill! Yeah I know what you mean; it was painful to rip it all apart again!

As I see it, that nut serves on good purpose: it allows you to put a large amount of torque on that connection, as specified in the shop manual, without crushing the factory "bell" shaped lower spring plate. I found that with 150 ft/lbs + on that plate, it crushed a little bit, which makes me think it's not supposed to be the main connection with all the torque to hold the radius arm to the beam.

-Robroy

excellent point. It makes sense, and I think the best accident is the one you never get in. This would be one way for sure to be safe. Thanks for the heads up