BigJ
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Supporting Vendor SDHQ Offroad (click here) has put together an incredibly comprehensive "how to" regarding removing the Raptor's factory leaf springs, and replacing them with new after market leafs. SDHQ's writeup is specific to Deaver's leafs (click here), but this information should be applicable in many different situations. All material below is courtesy of Ryan and SDHQ, and all credit belongs to them. Great writeup guys and thanks for letting us host it here!
A couple of notes that are specific to the Deavers, but may also apply to other after market leafs (as they become available):
-Member Phil Howell (click here) has provided a very elegant solution to replace the factory bump stops removed by the Deavers install. See here: http://www.svtoffroad.com/showthread.php?2016-Bumpstops-with-Deavers
-Phil has also noted that the Deavers allow the the axel to droop further than stock, creating a situation where the brake lines stretch quite a bit and the Fox Shocks become the travel limiters. Not ideal. See his solution in that same thread linked to above.
And here's SDHQ's writeup:
Leaf springs
U-Bolts with nuts and washers
Bushings with flat side x4
Standard round bushings x4
Bolt with nut x2
Larger sleeve x2
Smaller sleeve x2
Grease
With the truck on the ground the removal of the stock leaf springs and block begins.
Start by removing the lower shock mount bolt
Remove the stock u-bolts and lower u-bolt plate
Now comes the removal of the leaf spring mounting bolts
The front mount takes a little extra work to get out of there because it is so close to the fuel tank, after the bolt has been loosened and the nut removed, the head of the bolt must be cut off in order to remove it. ( Use of a torch is NOT advised) Once the head of the bolt is cut, the remainder of the bolt will need to be punched out.
On the rear mount, you are going to want to loosen but not completely remove the shackle bolt, in order to make it easier to transfer it over to the new spring once it is off the vehicle.(top bolt in pic 1) The lower bolt may be completely removed. Keep in mind that once this bolt is removed there is nothing solidly holding the leaf spring in place
The truck can now be jacked up high enough to release the leaf spring, the easiest way is to push the spring upwards and towards the front of the truck, keep an eye out for any cables that may become entangled in the spring.
Cables
Where the spring and block used to be
Now its time to prep the Deavers for install
Grease the bushings and insert into the eyes of the spring. The bushings with the flat side are going to go on the front of the leaf pack, which is the larger diameter end of the spring. The standard round bushings will go into the rear eye which is the single wrap side.
Now that the bushings are installed the sleeves may be greased and installed
Remove the shackle from the stock leaf pack, and install on the rear of the new leaf spring
The Deavers are now ready to be installed on the truck, the truck should still be jacked up to the height of where the springs were removed.
The new bolt will be utilized in the front spring mount since the stock one was cut off. ( do not completely tighten)
The stock bolt on the rear mount will be reused ( do not completely tighten)
Since there is no longer a block on the axle the center pins of the leaf spring will go right into the opening of the perch.
Next the u-bolt retainer needs to be removed from the stock leaf pack. The best way to do this is to loosen both the center pins but only remove one. Then oscillate the plate to the side so the pin may be reinstalled to keep the pack from falling apart, then the second pin may be removed and the u-bolt retainer is now free.
The holes on the retainer may now be bored out to clear the nuts on the center pins of the Deavers
The retainer will install over the top of the nut of the center pins
The stock lower u-bolt plate is reused
Install the provided u-bolts with new nuts and washers ( do not tighten completely)
Reinstall the shock into the lower mount
Lower the truck back down to the ground, tighten all bolts.
Remember to retorque all bolts after 500 miles
A couple of notes that are specific to the Deavers, but may also apply to other after market leafs (as they become available):
-Member Phil Howell (click here) has provided a very elegant solution to replace the factory bump stops removed by the Deavers install. See here: http://www.svtoffroad.com/showthread.php?2016-Bumpstops-with-Deavers
-Phil has also noted that the Deavers allow the the axel to droop further than stock, creating a situation where the brake lines stretch quite a bit and the Fox Shocks become the travel limiters. Not ideal. See his solution in that same thread linked to above.
And here's SDHQ's writeup:
Leaf springs
U-Bolts with nuts and washers
Bushings with flat side x4
Standard round bushings x4
Bolt with nut x2
Larger sleeve x2
Smaller sleeve x2
Grease
With the truck on the ground the removal of the stock leaf springs and block begins.
Start by removing the lower shock mount bolt
Remove the stock u-bolts and lower u-bolt plate
Now comes the removal of the leaf spring mounting bolts
The front mount takes a little extra work to get out of there because it is so close to the fuel tank, after the bolt has been loosened and the nut removed, the head of the bolt must be cut off in order to remove it. ( Use of a torch is NOT advised) Once the head of the bolt is cut, the remainder of the bolt will need to be punched out.
On the rear mount, you are going to want to loosen but not completely remove the shackle bolt, in order to make it easier to transfer it over to the new spring once it is off the vehicle.(top bolt in pic 1) The lower bolt may be completely removed. Keep in mind that once this bolt is removed there is nothing solidly holding the leaf spring in place
The truck can now be jacked up high enough to release the leaf spring, the easiest way is to push the spring upwards and towards the front of the truck, keep an eye out for any cables that may become entangled in the spring.
Cables
Where the spring and block used to be
Now its time to prep the Deavers for install
Grease the bushings and insert into the eyes of the spring. The bushings with the flat side are going to go on the front of the leaf pack, which is the larger diameter end of the spring. The standard round bushings will go into the rear eye which is the single wrap side.
Now that the bushings are installed the sleeves may be greased and installed
Remove the shackle from the stock leaf pack, and install on the rear of the new leaf spring
The Deavers are now ready to be installed on the truck, the truck should still be jacked up to the height of where the springs were removed.
The new bolt will be utilized in the front spring mount since the stock one was cut off. ( do not completely tighten)
The stock bolt on the rear mount will be reused ( do not completely tighten)
Since there is no longer a block on the axle the center pins of the leaf spring will go right into the opening of the perch.
Next the u-bolt retainer needs to be removed from the stock leaf pack. The best way to do this is to loosen both the center pins but only remove one. Then oscillate the plate to the side so the pin may be reinstalled to keep the pack from falling apart, then the second pin may be removed and the u-bolt retainer is now free.
The holes on the retainer may now be bored out to clear the nuts on the center pins of the Deavers
The retainer will install over the top of the nut of the center pins
The stock lower u-bolt plate is reused
Install the provided u-bolts with new nuts and washers ( do not tighten completely)
Reinstall the shock into the lower mount
Lower the truck back down to the ground, tighten all bolts.
Remember to retorque all bolts after 500 miles
