Is there any good or legitimate reason why the rear leaf springs should be out of alignment? By "out" I mean the individual leaves do not stack vertically up on one another -- some are out of vertical position by as much as an inch!!
Maybe this is caused by my 5.4's camshaft -- that is what ford says causes my truck to idle rough!!
Just being sarcastic here -- seriously should this be fixed ? or is it no big deal?

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99 F-150 XLT 4X4, SC, SB, AT, 5.4, Single CD
3.55LS, Tow pkg, Rhino Liner, Sportsman topper,
Westin black double step bars, Custom gold pinstripe, Bright Red/Gold

 

Markmizzou, I have the same thing on my truck. Everything is tight and I haven't had any problems yet. In fact, I was wondering about this same problem last week when I was under Bluefish trying to find a new rattle noise. I saw the leaves but did not find the noise. I pull a lot of boats and thought this did it, but other guys out there have the same problem. I'm not too worried about it, but I will keep an eye on it. Let me know what you find out. C YA Bluefish97

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'97 F150 XLT SC 4X2 4.6L Moonlight Blue Century Cap 265/75/16 Firestone Wilderness A/T

 

Bluefish, My truck has been "babied" from day one. I have only towed a tandem-axle box trailer once and then I just had a cherry entertainment center on board (300lbs). Towed it 130 miles one way and back empty. I am going to ask my dealer about the spring issue next week-- will let you know

 

bada bing theres a tsb on this problem for rear springs double check those spring may hit the tank when towing or load on rear end just let you know

 

How are your springs put together, how many in the stack? Im guessing they dont have the bent piece of steel keeping the leaves in in line and touching. Most 3 leaf and 4 leaf springs do not have the c-shaped piece of metal. Its normal for the leaves to twist alittle out of alignment. As the pressure goes up and down on your axle and springs. the twist do to uneven pressure. like a pot hole or bump on one side or the other. Its normal.

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MechE
If this is "normal" why is there a TSB on IT? as fordtec2000 says????

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99 F-150 XLT 4X4, SC, SB, AT, 5.4, Single CD
3.55LS, Tow pkg, Rhino Liner, Sportsman topper,
Westin black double step bars, Custom gold pinstripe, Bright Red/Gold

 

Normal? ya right mine were replaced under warranty at only 6,000 miles.I hauled one load of lanscape rock (650lbs or so) in the bed. The leafs seperated and the rear end sagged after that.Took it to ford to get them replaced..There is a backlog on the leaf springs, I had to wait 1 1/2 months.

 

I had the same problem. I took the truck to my dealership, and they fixed it under warranty. They compressed the leaf springs back to specs and reclipped them. Seems to be holding up ok.

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1998 F-150 XLT 4x4 Off-Road | Red Supercab | Automatic 4.6
3.55 limited slip | 12-disk cd changer | limo tint
Magnum Custom wrap-around grill guard | Offroad lights
Blazer back-up lights | Full-length nerf steps with custom brackets
275/70/17 Bridgestone Dueler ATs

Find out more about my truck here:
<A HREF="http://www.escalix.com/freepage/merlin2/truckpag.htm" TARGET=_blank> </A>
Or email me at melvin02@netzero.net

 

I had mine replaced under warrenty in January at 26000 miles. They are already starting to get out of align again. I think when I do my lift I will get some claps from an axleshop in twon.

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1998 Ford F150 4.2L V6
American Racing Rims
Brush Gaurd
Tinted Windows
Saving for lift and SuperChip
3.55 Rear
5 Spd.

 

if yours are sapposed to have clips on them then yes you need work. I have 800 lbs, in the back of my 99 and ive hauled more than that, and mine is not babied. Springs seperating out of stack are different than shifting left and right. If your springs are going to shift left and right where they hit the gas tank, thats a lot of movement. much more than an inch. Its way over 6 inches to the tanks.
As for the TSB, I have not found one for it. If i could have the TSB number I will look it up.
Is this out of vertical position just at the ends or at the centers above the axle?
I believe I was wrong on which spring packs dont have the clips. 3 and 4 packs have them. On my old truck the two overload springs where not the clips.