[wslytoy]

hey guys,
any input is great.... My 96 ex-cab has the stock shitty leafs(imagine that). Anyways, the drivers side overload is off by about 1/4". The front part of the overload is closer to the tire and the rear part of the overload is pointed more towards the center of the truck. Well, the passenger side is WORSE. The rear part of the spring is off by about 1"-1 1/2". I believe this is the reason my passenger side rear tire sticks out farther than my drivers side. And it just so happens to be about 1" off. How the hell do I correct this? Am I in need of a new set of leafs(I already know I do, lol). Or can I just unbolt the u-bolts and and re-position the overloads, on jackstands of course???? Thanx, Wes

 

[J-Man]

Are you saying the overload is not inline with the other leafs? If so, jack er up and you might need to put a new centerbolt in the leafs, torque it down, and then clamp the ubolts on and torque those down to correct specs too. I took mine out and doubled up the leaf packs, much better than before. The overload is completly useless if you have a well built pack.

 

[Oppositeboy]

Use a BFH and pound them straight.

Check the torque on the nuts on the ubolts. I am wondering if they came loose and your axle shifted with thse lovely roads down there.

 

[wslytoy]

Mississippi Roads

Use a BFH and pound them straight.

Check the torque on the nuts on the ubolts. I am wondering if they came loose and your axle shifted with thse lovely roads down there.

LOL, what would you know about Mississippi's fine smooth roads? You're probably right though, cause on my old Yota the u-bolts were ALWAYS coming loose. I was checking them constantly. But, that truck was also a mega-peice-of-shit!

 

[wslytoy]

leafs

Are you saying the overload is not inline with the other leafs? If so, jack er up and you might need to put a new centerbolt in the leafs, torque it down, and then clamp the ubolts on and torque those down to correct specs too. I took mine out and doubled up the leaf packs, much better than before. The overload is completly useless if you have a well built pack.

As soon as I get a chance I'm gonna peek at the center bolt and see if it is fubared b/c I've been thinking that might just be the culprit. Thanx, Wes

 

[Bear]

hey guys,
any input is great.... My 96 ex-cab has the stock shitty leafs(imagine that). Anyways, the drivers side overload is off by about 1/4". The front part of the overload is closer to the tire and the rear part of the overload is pointed more towards the center of the truck. Well, the passenger side is WORSE. The rear part of the spring is off by about 1"-1 1/2". I believe this is the reason my passenger side rear tire sticks out farther than my drivers side. And it just so happens to be about 1" off. How the hell do I correct this? Am I in need of a new set of leafs(I already know I do, lol). Or can I just unbolt the u-bolts and and re-position the overloads, on jackstands of course???? Thanx, Wes

I am almost certain that you will need new centerpins. I had my leaf packs shift in a similar fashion as you first described and the center pin was sheared in two. the top part was holding the top portion of the pack together and the bent bottom part was holding the lower section together. My truck crabbed down the road as if it had a bent frame…only positive to the whole ordeal was that leaf pack had some crazy flex until I finally found the problem.

this also caused the ubolts to free up some as well, so you definitely want to check into it quickly. But I am almost certain that you are going to have a broken center pin or two.

It is a fairly easy fix, as all you really need to do is un bolt the ubolts, one side at a time, remove the bump stop and replace the center pin, then rebuild in reverse order. Make sure and keep a floor jack under the axle so you can control it's decent. Let me know if you need further assistance or explanition

 

[wslytoy]

centering pin

I am almost certain that you will need new centerpins. I had my leaf packs shift in a similar fashion as you first described and the center pin was sheared in two. the top part was holding the top portion of the pack together and the bent bottom part was holding the lower section together. My truck crabbed down the road as if it had a bent frame…only positive to the whole ordeal was that leaf pack had some crazy flex until I finally found the problem.

this also caused the ubolts to free up some as well, so you definitely want to check into it quickly. But I am almost certain that you are going to have a broken center pin or two.

It is a fairly easy fix, as all you really need to do is un bolt the ubolts, one side at a time, remove the bump stop and replace the center pin, then rebuild in reverse order. Make sure and keep a floor jack under the axle so you can control it's decent. Let me know if you need further assistance or explanition

thanx Bear. Would it be pointless to just get a toyota centering pin, or should I go get a better bolt else where? Thanx man, Wes

 

[Bear]

thanx Bear. Would it be pointless to just get a toyota centering pin, or should I go get a better bolt else where? Thanx man, Wes

I just went to 4wheel pukes (parts) and got the ones they carry. I can't remember the diameter off the top of my head, but they usually have a small selection. You can get two pins per pack for under $12. I can't remember the brand, but they have zink coated pins which help to some degree with rust protection. I am guessing that Toyota pins would be no better or worse, just maybe a bit more pricey.

You will have to cut the center pin as you tighten the pack down, they normally come too long, but a sawzall or even a cut off wheel will make short work of it for you.

 

[Bear]

thanx Bear. Would it be pointless to just get a toyota centering pin, or should I go get a better bolt else where? Thanx man, Wes

If you are doing the job yourself and work the way I do (easily distracted and easily side tracked) it will take you about an hour to switch them out.

If you have a friend to keep you on track you could do the job easily withing 20–30 minutes, quicker if you use air tools.

 

[toyguy]

I'm with Oppositeboy. I'm not convinced you have a centerpin issue. My overloads are not parallel to the stack, nor do they stay that way after BFH'in them back in line and then go wheelin.

If the center pin is fine, don't lose sleep over this. You may have to consider realignment a part of of ongoing routine maintenance.

 

[wslytoy]

centering pin

I'm with Oppositeboy. I'm not convinced you have a centerpin issue. My overloads are not parallel to the stack, nor do they stay that way after BFH'in them back in line and then go wheelin.

If the center pin is fine, don't lose sleep over this. You may have to consider realignment a part of of ongoing routine maintenance.

I hope the center pin isn't fine and then I can fix it and everything will be ok, cause I don't wanna have to re-align the damn thing everytime I change my oil, lol! peace, Wes

 

[Bear]

I'm with Oppositeboy. I'm not convinced you have a centerpin issue. My overloads are not parallel to the stack, nor do they stay that way after BFH'in them back in line and then go wheelin.

If the center pin is fine, don't lose sleep over this. You may have to consider realignment a part of of ongoing routine maintenance.

If the individual leaf springs are just moving around and not staying under each other, I would say that it is nothing to worry about. Tighten down the center pin and Ubolts and keep going. But from what I read in the post, the rear wheel was sticking out somewhat from the side of the truck, and the leaf pack was not sitting even with all the leafs stacked properely from front to back.

With those symptoms, I had a sheared center pin. For his sake I hope that it is nothing like a broken pin, but he will not know for sure until he takes the bump stop "cap" off and can determine exactly if the top of the center pin is aliegned with the bottom of the pin.

Not arguing, just explaining my conclusions.

 

[toyguy]

good point