Does anyone have a simple how-to guide in order to pull the middle leaf off my truck? Or possibly a short and sweet explanation at most? I've been searching around the internet, and found a couple straight forward guide's. However I'm really trying to understand the whole procedure before I do anything so all the information I can obtain would be great. New to all of this and what not, so any advice and tip's are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
#1. Loosen lug nuts while truck is on ground #2. Jack rear of truck up with floor jack under axle diff #3. Remove tires/wheels #4. Lower onto jack stands at end of frame safely/shake to make sure it's safe to work on. Remove jack completely, or keep it 1/4" under diff for safety. #5. Remove bottom shock bolts and pull only the bottom of the shocks off and let them hang. Now is a good time to use a long pry bar and pry the clamps open on the leaf you'll be removing. Pry them enough because you'll be pulling the leaf out from the side, not sliding it out. You won't be undoing the shackles. #6. with truck on stands and axle dropped out (no pressure on axle from jack) undo the u-bolts and remove them and the shock/u-bolt plates. #7. Use a c-clamp or flat jaw vise grips and clamp them next to the pin (bolt) that holds the pack together. Note which way the over load leaf curves so you re install it the same way. #8. Use vise grips & a wrench to undo nut and pull leaf pin (bolt) out #9. Pull off c-clamp and pull leaf out from the side toward you. This is why you pried the clamps open earlier and not now. #10. Reassembly...Smear grease between the leaf and overload for a smooth ride and no squeaks. Now that your leaf pack is 1 leaf thinner, it may be necessary to use a washer or 2 under the stock leaf pin nut that holds the whole pack together because you may not be able to tighten the nut all the way down and get the pack tight due to the bolt now being too long and running out of threads (I keep a bunch of these shorter bolts for this very reason) Too many washers (like 2 or more) and there may not be enough room under the u-bolt plate for them, so pay attention to this. Tighten the u-bolts to at least 55 ft lbs (or good and tight if you don't have a torque wrench) but not crazy tight or you will bend the u-bolt plates. Tighten the lugs to at least 86 ft lbs (spec) I do 90 ft lbs. tight enough to stay tight and you can still loosen them with the stock kit behind the seat when you're out on the road.
Perfect!! Exactly what I was looking for. Possibly a mod can post this in the How-to article's section for others to view as well. Once again thanks for your help Beefed Taco.
