2000, 4.2, 2wd, Supercab.
I was under my truck installing a hitch. I noticed that the leaf spring hanger (where the spring attaches to the frame, at the rear) was not tightened down. Actually the bolt was only a couple of turns from falling off! It looked like it has been that way since factory assembly. The other side (driver side) was tight so I torqued the nut down tight (about 75 ft/lbs) to match the driver side.
BUT...now it rides like crap. When I hit a bump in a turn the rear end wants to get out from under me. It is especially noticeable on the highway. At highway speed the rear is floating all over the place. The shocks are okay.
What happened? I don' t want to damage any suspension components and I don't want it to ride like this...
HELP!

 

I was waiting for someone else to take a stab at this because it sounds like more than just the hangar. Is everything else OK as far as the springs go. I mean it the rear setting properly etc... If I couldn't find any thing obviously wrong I would start measuring everything; springs front to rear, side to side diagionally? etc... If I still couldn't find something wrong I'd take it to a shop to be checked and an alignment. It sounds strange that this showed up after only tightening a hangar. You'll have to post what the problem was after you get it straightened out.

 

Yeah, it's got me stumped too. I will definitely post, when I find out what is going on. Thanks for the reply.

 

My take is that you have the shackle way too tight and it is not allowing it move back and forth which means the leaf spring cannot flex. Side note:hangers are at the front of the springs and shackles are at the rear of the leaf spring. I am note sure how tight they should be, but all i know is that you tighten them when your truck is all the way on the ground. Try tightening them up just about as tight as you tighten an oil filter and make reference marks to see if the bolt backs off. If you are still stumped, call up belltech or some other company that sells 2 inch drop shackles and ask them the torque specs for the SHACKLE bolts.

 

Yeah I have to agree with RJ, the suspenison is probably binding. If it rode fine before you tightened the bolt then maybe loosen it up gradually until you get the smooth ride back.

The reference marks are a good idea.

Good luck.

 

I second sk8inrj1. The rear shackle must move and if you tightened it too much I would not be able to. I took a look in my Chilton's and It didn't give torque specs for the bolt theat connects the shackle to the frame. Any good suspension shop should be able to give you specs though.