hey guys,
tried to remove my stock rear leaf spring lift blox this morning. are they bolted to the spring pack, it didn't seem like they wanted to lift off by just undoing the u-bolts. thanx

 

There's an alignment pin that holds it in place. It will come out. Just tap it.

 

You have to also take out the wrist pins (bolts) There are 2 to remove on each side of the axle. These pins (bolts) center the lift blocks onto the leaf spring base. The wrist pin heads peek through the u bolt mounting plate.

 

i'm assuming those wristpins are threaded in? I'll try putting a wrench on top and go from there.

 

I can't recall, although I do remember the pins (bolts) have nuts on the ends. You can't get it wrong as far as identifying them, they are right on top of the Ubolt mounting plate.

What part of the eastern shore are you from? I grew up there, in Queenstown which is near Centreville, which is not far from Kent Island.

 

how bout that. I'm in sudlersville right now, went to high school in centreville. Went charter fishing off Kent Island the weekend before last. what made you move?

 

Aint that a trip? You must be a little older than I since the old Centreville high (my parents graduated from there) was a middle school when I was in elementary school (went to Centreville Elementary too) I went to Kenard Annex for 9th grade (my grandfather built that school) and went to Queens Annes County High for 10th grade (1985), then moved to Northern Virginia in 1986 to live with my Dad and finished up High School here. My mother still lives in Centreville to this day. Lots of fond memories in Kent Island, my grandfather had a boat docked at the Kent Island Country Club and Kent Narrows. Lots of crab catchin off the pier pilings!

Sorry guys, I know this is off topic!

 

FX4, so your signiture picture is a picture with the blocks removed?

If so did anything change in handling. I think I like this cheap (free) mod..wait, I have to buy new 2wd u-bolts don't I. I should search but you explain yourself well and will probably save me a but load of search time.

Thank you,
-Will

 

Will, thanks, I try and you got it, sig pic illustrates post block removal. Very cheap mod if you can find another member to swap parts with. Just costs in shipping. You will definitely need the 2WD Ubolts and you can use your existing hardware. You can also opt to swap or find the 2wd shocks as well since they are shorter than the ones you have now. I did this as well just to keep things consistent plus my swap buddy needed my longer shocks to go with the 4WD Ubolts/Blocks I gave him. Zero change in handling although it was funny because prior to removing my blocks, I had a nasty clunk on takeoff. Post-removal, the clunk on takeoff was gone. Go figure. You can post in this forum looking for someone willing to swap U-bolts with you or post a wanted ad in the classifieds or check ebay. I am very happy with this change since now my truck in the rear is level with the front and I didn't want to lift the front. Good luck and let me know if you need any additional help!

 

i'm going to use the stock 4x4 u bolts, just put some washers on the threads so the nuts will tighten up....looks like 2 or 3 on each nut should do it.

some advice:
my truck rolled off it's blocks this morning and landed on the outboard shock mount and rear wheel drum........BE CAREFUL guys. nothing got hurt and i'm okay (except for the giant pant load)

when you go to remove the wrist pins (bolts) from the leaf spring mounts, C-clamp the spring pack together, i neglected to do this first and it made for alot of extra work.

question:
has anybody done anything to take the place of the wrist pins, if not do i need to worry about the leaf springs moving?

thanx

p.s. (I graduated from Q.A. Co. high school in centreville in 2000)

 

It's up to you, but I would advise not using the 4wd ubolts without the blocks. There is considerable distance from where the threads end to the point where the 4WD ubolts would be safely secure. I would be concerned from the standpoint of strength when drivetrain force is applied to a stack of washers. The 2wd ubolts are cheap enough I think to have it done safely and properly. Good luck with whatever you decide! Gotcha, I was thinking of the "old" centreville high school in downtown centreville. You just made me feel old. heheheh