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| | | | Joined: Mar 2021 Posts: 256 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2021 Posts: 256 | What's the best and easy way to know if your front leaf springs are good?
When we jack-up the front end the left wheel leaves the ground about 1 ½ inches after the right side does. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,827 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,827 | Obviously that demonstrates uneven wear so they should both be replaced, along with the shackles and bushings.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2020 Posts: 451 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2020 Posts: 451 | That you may need springs is likely but Help me understand… how are you jacking the front up?
If by the center of the beam axel it tells nothing as springs stay compressed?
1st-on level ground is the truck level side to side?
2nd-what is the angle of the front shackle in relation to frame ( sagging spring get longer and shackle rotates away)
3rd- what condition are the shackles, spring eye bushings and frame pivot bushing’s and pins
4- Check the FAM on spring dimensions and compare, might have ride height numbers too
Chuck
Last edited by Hanks custodian; 10/20/2025 9:02 PM.
Hank: 46 Chev 1/2ton shortbed
2023 Miata RF Club
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,072 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,072 | If you're jacking from the center of the front axle, it says more about the condition of the rear springs than the front.
Like Chuck said, take some measurements and compare with stock dimensions.
That being said, if they're original springs, they're likely shot and you'd do yourself a favor by replacing all 4 springs.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2021 Posts: 256 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2021 Posts: 256 | I'll have to do more
However, 1- yes the ground is level; 2- the shackles rotate forward; 3- unknown; 4- will need to check FAM
for your information we always lift the truck by the center of the front I Beam; and the rear by the center of the differential | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,072 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,072 | If you lift by the axle, unless the jack is perfectly centered, one wheel will come off the ground first, depending on how far to one side the jack is.
The only real way to check the springs and associated stuff is to jack from the frame or bumper and let the axles drop and the springs relax.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2021 Posts: 256 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2021 Posts: 256 | Got it. Just yesterday I was looking at the I Beam and related parts and I concluded that the way we were jacking the truck up wouldn’t allow for the springs to drop and give us a realistic view of how much the springs dropped to get a good drop measurement. Thanks for suggestions.
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