So I just finished with my add a leaf install that I've been putting off for a while, I get in to go run some errands, and anything faster than about 5mph I hear very prominent clicking from under the truck.

Add a leaf installs don't need driveshaft extension or shimming or anything do they? I can't see how because the axle is now where it always has been, the bed's just sitting up higher from it. Or is this maybe caused from the other end of the driveshaft, does something change there?

I'm confused... and truck-less!

Stats: 2006 F150 SuperCab XLT. 3" Leveling Kit, 35" Trail Grapplers, and today: 1.5" Add A Leaf.

 

Take a pic of the leafs and post it. I ust put on an AAL and all is good

 

I'll take a pic as soon as I can. I followed all the directions to a "T" (except the clamps... the AAL was shorter than the width of the clamps on the longer leafs).

I had to jack it from under the differential, so I could get the frame high enough to clear the rear wheels and jackstand it. I used a wood block, though, to lessen the metal to metal pressure. With my floor jack, that's all I could do. The truck's too high to do it any other way!

Also, it sat overnight with the differential at partial droop. I hope that wouldn't send one of the u joints into hell.

 

maybe a shim would help man but its hard to tell without any pictures to see how the driveline angle is. Could be the u joint rubbing and causing that noise. Get up underneath there and see if you find anything that doesnt look right. Whenever i got my tires rotated and balance at one shop they used a jackstand underneath my rear diff all the time so i doubt thats what caused it.

 

Ok, I found the issue.

I crawled under there with the iphone, taking pics of everything. Put the truck back up on stands, left the tires on so I could put the truck in neutral and spin the rear end while troubleshooting. As soon as I spun it by hand from the driver's side, there it was, staring me in the face.

The Add A Leaf lifted and stretched the parking brake cables JUST enough to come into contact with the very aggressive sidewalls on my nitto trail grapplers. It was just the right frequency for me to assume binding. Amateur mistake.

I slid the little factory double-eyelet further up the cable to pull it away from the tire a little more, but it's still within a quarter of an inch. Now I just need to come up with a permanent solution to protect it and keep it away from the meats.

I'm SO DAMNED HAPPY this turned out to be something stupid. I was already pricing new gears in case I was already gouging metal somewhere.

I'm hungry... time for some more retard sandwiches!

 

Thats alright we all have had a few of those sandwhichs ourselfs. Atleast yours did cost you a small hole in your wallet. lol

 

I had the same issue when I reconnected the rear diff to the truck after dropping it and getting it regeared a few years back. Got everything back together at like 4 in the morning not knowing what to expect, put it in reverse and heard that clicking, first thing I thought was the gears were self destructing took me a minute to realize it was the e-brake cable.

edit: Forgot to add, my 'permanent' solution has always been zip-ties. I've got more of them under this truck than I care to mention..

 

Seriously, it happened to me too. After I had swapped out my stock leafs for the BDS ones, it pulled my e-brake cable into the tire. I just un-hooked it and added the loose parts to my pile.