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| | | | Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 145 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 145 | I got my new leaf springs. I put them on, and everything fit just fine. Then I was looking at the assembly manual to see if the u-bolts needed washers on them, and I noticed the spacer. I found the spacers on the old springs. They looked like they were part of the springs so thats why I missed them. So when I went to put them on, I can't get the axle separated from the springs. I think the paint dried everything together. I've tried just about everything to get them separated. So are these spacers really needed? They are wedge shaped. 1/16" on ones side and 1/4" on the other. Will it mess up the steering or alignment if I leave them off? I didn't see a picture of a space in any catalog like LMC.
Oh. This is for a 53 1/2 ton chevy.
Last edited by davidn; 01/18/2009 10:55 AM.
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| | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 | Well David,
I would think the tappered spacers where there for a reason , such as alighnment an such ...I'm not a expert but I am sure there will be responses on what those wedges do as far stability an such in your front end.
I can see there use in the raer end for setting the pinion angle but not sure what they do for the front.
good luck,
Tim | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | Yes David they are quite important, they are for the caster adjustment, with out them you will have neutral or negative caster and the truck will be all over the road and very dangerous to drive. gp7.425 pn474682 front spring shim.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
Last edited by Denny Graham; 01/18/2009 7:23 PM.
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,464 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,464 | Yes, like Denny says. Those are caster shims and are used to tilt the kingpins back (kinda like motorcycle front forks). The fat side of the wedge goes to the rear of the axle. Without them your truck won't be stable at speed and will tend to wander all over the road. Get a bigger hammer and put those puppys back on there. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 145 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 145 | Thanks. I ended up using a little wedge to get them separated. I was kind of surprised that a little paint can seize things together like that.
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