1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

[Atlas75]

I agree.

I took a few more photos tonight.

This one shows where the shackle is hitting the frame.

This one shows that the shackle is not hitting the bumper.

This is the passenger side shackle looking straight on.

This is the drivers side shackle for comparison.

I think both look bent although the passenger side more so. Now the question is did it get bent because it hit the frame or is it hitting the frame because it got bent.

[Gary Lewis]

I took a few more photos tonight.

This one shows where the shackle is hitting the frame.

This one shows that the shackle is not hitting the bumper.

This is the passenger side shackle looking straight on.

This is the drivers side shackle for comparison.

I think both look bent although the passenger side more so. Now the question is did it get bent because it hit the frame or is it hitting the frame because it got bent.

Carl - The passenger's side looks to be tilted out some. But otherwise looks much like the other side.

How much clearance does the driver's side have to the bumper? If about the same then I'd say there isn't a problem. But it the difference is large then maybe it is bent.

[Atlas75]

Carl - The passenger's side looks to be tilted out some. But otherwise looks much like the other side.

How much clearance does the driver's side have to the bumper? If about the same then I'd say there isn't a problem. But it the difference is large then maybe it is bent.

Drivers side looks to be 3/8 from the bumper and the passenger side looks to be 3/16 from the bumper.

 

[Atlas75]

Drivers side looks to be 3/8 from the bumper and the passenger side looks to be 3/16 from the bumper.

I took a few more photos. I think something is tweaked on the passenger side.

The 3 images above are of the drivers side. Note the spring alignment with the shackle and the spacer is still between the springs. Also the sides of the shackle are relatively straight.

These 3 images are from the passenger side. You can see how shifted the spring is and the plastic anti squeak spacer is missing. It also looks like the sides of the shackle are twisted out.

Is there anything I am missing here? What do you see? Does this look normal?

 

[firefire]

I took a few more photos. I think something is tweaked on the passenger side.

The 3 images above are of the drivers side. Note the spring alignment with the shackle and the spacer is still between the springs. Also the sides of the shackle are relatively straight.

These 3 images are from the passenger side. You can see how shifted the spring is and the plastic anti squeak spacer is missing. It also looks like the sides of the shackle are twisted out.

Is there anything I am missing here? What do you see? Does this look normal?

Hi. I suggest totally worn out bushings and even the bolts.

[Gary Lewis]

Hi. I suggest totally worn out bushings and even the bolts.

I agree. Pull it apart and see what the damage is

[ArdWrknTrk]

I agree. Pull it apart and see what the damage is

Shackles aren't hard.

If you're replacing bolts check the shank length and cut down a longer bolt so you don't have a bunch of threads fretting the bushing, shackle and hanger.

[Atlas75]

Shackles aren't hard.

If you're replacing bolts check the shank length and cut down a longer bolt so you don't have a bunch of threads fretting the bushing, shackle and hanger.

I had a chance today to pull the front spring on the passenger side. It wasn’t to bad. All of the bolts were in great shape and none were frozen into the bushings. Here is what I found.

This is the front bushing. This photo is the inside view. The photo doesn’t show how badly it is pushed down. The strange part is the outside was almost centered so the bolt was going thru the bushing at an angle.

This is the rear bushing. Better than the front but not great.

This just shows what things looked like after the spring was removed.

I have not removed the front shackle yet. I realized I don’t have the correct socket. Does anyone know what size it is? Most of the bolts were 21mm but this one is bigger. It is smaller than 25mm though. I’m assuming it is metric like the rest of the suspension bolts I have encountered.

After I had the spring out, I noticed there seemed like an excessive amount of rotational play in the axel pivot bushings. I took a video and have posted it here.

Does this seem normal or is this excessive?

Two more questions. Can U bolts be reused? And after I disconnected the shock, it just stayed in place. Most shocks I have experience with extend when not attached to their mounting locations. Is this an indication that the shock is shot?

I will take a few photos of the spring itself tomorrow. I’m trying to determine if the spring is good or if it is twisted in some way. The leafs just don’t line up like they do on the drivers side.

 

[Gary Lewis]

I had a chance today to pull the front spring on the passenger side. It wasn’t to bad. All of the bolts were in great shape and none were frozen into the bushings. Here is what I found.

This is the front bushing. This photo is the inside view. The photo doesn’t show how badly it is pushed down. The strange part is the outside was almost centered so the bolt was going thru the bushing at an angle.

This is the rear bushing. Better than the front but not great.

This just shows what things looked like after the spring was removed.

I have not removed the front shackle yet. I realized I don’t have the correct socket. Does anyone know what size it is? Most of the bolts were 21mm but this one is bigger. It is smaller than 25mm though. I’m assuming it is metric like the rest of the suspension bolts I have encountered.

After I had the spring out, I noticed there seemed like an excessive amount of rotational play in the axel pivot bushings. I took a video and have posted it here.

Does this seem normal or is this excessive?

Two more questions. Can U bolts be reused? And after I disconnected the shock, it just stayed in place. Most shocks I have experience with extend when not attached to their mounting locations. Is this an indication that the shock is shot?

I will take a few photos of the spring itself tomorrow. I’m trying to determine if the spring is good or if it is twisted in some way. The leafs just don’t line up like they do on the drivers side.

Your bushing does appear to have taken a set, and while you have things apart I'd replace it.

And u-bolts can be reused.

But the shock may be ok if it was already fully extended. I'd push it up and see what happens when you let it loose. Most shocks are gas-charged and should quickly extend fully when released, so if it doesn't the gas has probably leaked out and the shock needs to be replaced. But I'd replace them in pairs.

And the pivot does appear to be worn. I would pull it apart and see what is going on there.

Last, did I hear a British accent in the video?

[Atlas75]

Your bushing does appear to have taken a set, and while you have things apart I'd replace it.

And u-bolts can be reused.

But the shock may be ok if it was already fully extended. I'd push it up and see what happens when you let it loose. Most shocks are gas-charged and should quickly extend fully when released, so if it doesn't the gas has probably leaked out and the shock needs to be replaced. But I'd replace them in pairs.

And the pivot does appear to be worn. I would pull it apart and see what is going on there.

Last, did I hear a British accent in the video? http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/uploads/6/5/8/7/65879365/thinking-26_orig.jpg

No British accent. Just my 7 year old trying to talk with me while I was filming! Iowa born and raised!

Here is the part number for my front springs.

While I have found listings for 1980 F350 front springs, none reference this number...and I can't find this number in the spring section under front suspension. I'll need to dig deeper.

Here is the spring at the front.

And here it is at the rear.

The bottom leaf seems to be pushed to the left at both ends and aligned in the middle. I wouldn't think it possible for a piece of steel like this to bend in that way. Is it possible it was just that way from the factory and this spring is normal? The drivers side is perfectly straight.