taking off leaf springs

[bluemoose]

I am sure this will be a pretty simple post to answer. I am just looking for the order of operations for taking off the leaf springs on my 69 f100. I am wire wheeling the frame to prep it for por-15. I have taken the bed off. I haven't dealt with leaf springs before, so...
I assume I should take the shocks off first?
If I take these off, is there any stored energy? Is it going to be difficult to get them back on? Will I need any special tools? Should I jack the frame to take weight off the axel when I take them off? And so on.

The other question is, I would like to do the bushings while I am in there, but the only place I have seen the hardware for the flexomatic springs is John's F fun hundred. If I get into these and break the hardware (likely) is there anywhere else to get this stuff?

Thanks for any info.

Moose

[fordman]

take the botls out fo the leafs on both side. jack the frame up and block it. roll the whole rear end out from under the truck. many vendors sell the bushings. i know lmc truck sells them.

[bluemoose]

Fordman,

Thanks for the info. So there is no stored energy in the leaf springs? Will I need to compress them when they go back on.

I know that they have the bushings through a number of companies, but I will be looking for the hardware as well. I assume there is rust in there and I may break a bolt or two in the process of taking them apart and trying to get the bushings out.

Moose

[fordman]

the leafs will only have down pressure. so when the botls are taken out the weight of the frame holds the springs down. as far as hardware. the nuts and bolts lmc truck also has those. i bought some of them myself.

[convincor]

got my bushings here for flex-o's
http://www.suspension.com/fordtruck3.htm

[bluemoose]

Would anyone suggest pulling the leaf spring apart and hitting it with POR-15? I intend to replace the bushings, but was not sure if it is worth pulling it apart to paint.

Moose

[fordman]

there was a discussion a while back abotu paint the leafs out of the pack. one version was not to because of something about ford said just to oil the springs. the other version was go ahead and do it. it wouldnt hurt anything. which way to do it i never decided which was correct.

[hazelnut]

take the botls out fo the leafs on both side. jack the frame up and block it. roll the whole rear end out from under the truck. many vendors sell the bushings. i know lmc truck sells them.

I would jack up the frame and block it before i removed any bolts, let the rear hang with the tires just off the floor and put a floor jack under it to support the rear while you remove the bolts, dont forget about removeing the rubber brakeline too. theres really no need to pull apart the springs to paint them because when the springs go up and down the paints going to rub off blast and paint as a pack and save your self the extra work.

[bluemoose]

Thanks guys, I hope to take the leaf springs off tomorrow. I don't think that LMC still sells the hardware for the flexomatic. I see where they sell the bushings, but not the hardware. Here's hoping I dont bust anything when I take it apart.

Moose

[fordman]

sure they do check out page 108 here. http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fb/t.aspx?Page=108

heres a picture of the bushing i bought there last year fo rmy 67.

[bluemoose]

Fordman,

That is the page for the suspension without flexomatic. I do know they sell the bushings, but I can't find the hardware. I guess it is the double bolt part on the flexomatic that I can't find. Perhaps I am looking in the wrong place.

Moose

[fordman]

your right i misread that. i dont see the hardware on page 105. i do see the hardware for older trucks. but i dotn know if its the same or not. if i was going to lmc soon i would check it out for you but i dont have any plans to go for awhile.

[bluemoose]

Fordman,

The pics you posted are a single unit. Do we have to use a single unit bushing, or can we use two piece bushings with a metal sleeve? I need to order some. I think some come as kits and some are sold by the piece. I'm just not sure what the difference between the one piece and two piece with metal sleeve.

Thanks

Moose

[fordman]

i'm not sure what the difference is either. i am using stock type parts on the 67. i thought the poly bushings were the ones that you had to reuse your old sleeves with. that is all i know. i dont know what a 2 piece bushing is. unless it is the rubber and inner as one piece and the outer as your old piece.

[bluemoose]

Convincor,

Thanks for the tip on where to get the bushings. I called them and the do offer the bushing set I need. They are currently out of stock, but hope to have that set in the next couple of weeks. I will keep checking back with them. He said it was not something them sell many of. Hope to get those before I paint the frame, we'll see.

Thanks

Moose