Squeaky leaf springs

femurphy77

SDD Junior Member
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Oct 25, 2007
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I've seen several different threads on different forums talking about squeaking front leaf springs and all the threads had one thing in common; what a pain in the obama it is to replace the isolator shims in the springs.

I must have done something wrong because it only took me about 10 minutes total to replace/install new isolators at all 4 locations on my front springs including the saddles for the spring eyes! I didn't use a chisel to wedge the springs apart to slide the isolators in, I used a small but sturdy nail bar and pried the spring far enough away from the spring eye that I was able to slip the new isolator in then release the spring and give it a good shot with a hammer to seat the locating pin and then spread the spring again to install the eye saddle.

This was all done while I had the front end jacked up enough to almost lift the front tire off the ground to help unload the spring. I used one of those high lift jacks under the tow eye, installed the isolators then jacked up the other side to repeat the process. I had been putting this off for some time due to the horror stories I had heard about how difficult it was. Of course I have a '00 SDD and the later models may indeed be a PITA. Anyway it is amazing how much quieter and seemingly smoother it now rides. Now to get those new shocks installed and it'll be ready for another 275k miles:)
 

Tail_Gunner

CRJ & ERJ A&P Mech.
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I've seen several different threads on different forums talking about squeaking front leaf springs and all the threads had one thing in common; what a pain in the obama it is to replace the isolator shims in the springs.

I must have done something wrong because it only took me about 10 minutes total to replace/install new isolators at all 4 locations on my front springs including the saddles for the spring eyes!

I didn't have much trouble replacing them either. Once the wheels were off the ground and the suspension was hanging, it was a piece of cake.

Anyone with any mechanical apptitude shouldn't have any trouble replacing those shim pads.
 

JRJ04

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so the name of the game here is to get the load off the suspension...and the only way to do that is to lift the front of the truck, but NOT doing it on the axle?

where did you guys get the shims?
 

uloadit

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Feb 14, 2006
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I need them too,,any one know g ood place to buy them or the part number to order them from ford .. how much did thay $$$$$$$$
 

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