In the garage replacing the front leaf spring we broke on a recovery. I share some of the tips and tricks I have learned to make this job a little easier.
Great video. Love the recoveries but I really like your down to earth, real world garage tech vids. Wish you could squeeze in more of those. :) thanks again.
That extra link looks like the top link from a 3-point hitch on a tractor, lol. Good idea. I used the same thing for a drag link on a CJ5 i had a few years ago.
Really Awesome tips and trick. It helps a lot when u traying to fix a truck or car on a budget. It makes me wanna start working on my truck again. I own a 1989 Chevy C20 inline 6, I believe is a 230 cu or 250 cu with a 4 speed manual. Im not a professional mechanic, just know a lil about it. But these type of video's help a lot. Stay safe and take care.
You and me both! I like all of Eric's videos, but I really like his Repair Videos. He busts his knuckles just like I do. I have learned a lot by watching his videos.
My 87 V20 I installed 2.5 leafs and a zero rated from offroad design. And some custom shackles I made that gave me another 1in so about 4in total lift. It worked good but road bad and didnt flex. I called ord and they said remove the sway bar or install their kit. I removed it and it was like a new truck. Rode better actually flexed. So anyone who installs more than a 4in lift remove ur swaybar or buy the kit to make it work right. Like ur vids keep on wheeling
spring jobs are fun. I did my 97 f350 cause hangers were rusting thru. Did springs also since it was a construction trk. Than early feb i discovered torque king 4x4 parts cause fixing my brakes i discovered on my dana 60 auto lock hubs my axle nut retaining clips broken. I finally fiquired out why. I was missing some washers and snap ring
I was very surprised not to see a farmer fix on this one. Clean the spring up and put a good bevel on both sides. Whip out the good old 7014 rod and welder up. I did that once. This was to test my welding skills. I put the spring in a press and it broke it broke elsewhere. For all those out there, no I would not do this on a vehicle. I know the metal becomes more brittle. Just being sarcastic.
Interesting way of doing it. My YJ has bottom mounted springs. I mounted shackle side first. Then U bolts. Last was the body mount end. I did flare the ends of the body mount as seen here. To line it up I used the floor jack, my winch, a drift pin and crescent wrench. Now the lube maybe controversial. A little soapy water works great, KY does the job too. It all depends on the application.
Don't forget, when you broke that spring you messed up the other side also. You have the new bushings so, you can fix the other attachment that you lost. Just need the new pins to bolt up. I'm sure that you have some in a can in the shop.
the transfer case on my 84 dodge broke during the end of the polar vortex (there is a giant hole near the rear drive shaft) a couple people didnt think it was worth fixing it, but when i was matching the replacement transfer case to the broken one, (which does appear to fit) the dome light that has never turned on in the year that ive owned it turned on with the door and worked normally. I call it a sign :D
If you have those bushes where the steel is joined to the rubber, tighten them when the truck is back on the ground. And lossen and retighten after a week. It’s an old guy trick, but if you have that bush type it is a good one for smooth ride and decent bush life :o)
The stuff I work on if it doesn’t get never sees it gets Loctite, without either one of those you either never get it apart or you never get it to stay tight !
I'm addicted to watching you I love how you get it done and I love the old truck I just got the same truck and would love to know what lift springs are you using and all the info for that thank you
Another great video with notably good instructions, but all the tricks, too! A question, what are your thoughts on running a small block engine versus a big block, for your application? Thanks, Skip
I leave the front and rear spring bolts loose and i get the axle/spring lined up and u bolts installed loosely before setting it down and then i tighten everything up but that's just my preference
I'm not against ur. Sway bar type link but I'd like some more info and pics of It and if. U could clarify what exactly it makes stronger and helps. But either way it looks 10xs stronger with it lol. My 87 V20 has k30 2.5 tuff country springs right now with no sway bar I removed it. It had my suspension binded up n nothing worked right ride flex or braking.
Ditch that old push pull steering. It's a kp 60. Run a high steer crossover setup with a ram assist and bam! Way easier steering on 37s and no more wierd broken springs
Bet that link bar has something to do with that spring failure. It wants o hold the axle center, fighting the normal movement of the spring want to flatten out and move back.
I was looking for a comment like this. I love the idea but that link can't grow or contract. Where the leaf spring gets longer flatter n shorter when droop. But probably most of the leaf spring stretch is past axle at rear shackle since front is fixed.
No public trails for trucks/Jeeps in WI. However there is events on private land, and off-road parks. There are a few public trails, and state run off-road parks in MN
Eric, have you given the thought of having at least one each front & rear springs in the shop for the wrecker with a couple bushing packs for spare parts in case this happens again????
@@brandonrichter6910 I know they are not cheap; it's the abuse the wrecker goes through in the woods & "through the crap" (BSF parlance). It's the peace of mind that if a spring did happen to break next time the parts would be on hand and repairs could be done as soon as you returned home instead of waiting for a spring to arrive at the parts store.
@@gravitygear we live in a very busy world. Not sure about you but i usually have a few nights between buying parts and installing them. Sunday being the only free day I have to work on my truck ive got 6 other days to buy parts and store them as need be
just wanted to say i love your videos and maybe ask why you don't put a little more aggressive tires on her maybe you could get cooper or maxxis or toyo or goodyear to sponsor you videos and yes "everything is better with a little lube" lol well right after posting this i watched the bf goodwrench video
The 37" military tires are about the best thing going for the money. I live close enough to a place that sells them. That way I can choose the best ones.
A fella works all day come home fixes his truck and still does towing for free. Hats off to ya. Appreciate ya!
That truck is one of my favorites on youtube, something special about a well built work horse. Hope she stays rolling for a long time to come!
This guy is bob ross of working on rusty gold. Plus 13:13 click torqued to spex
One of your best videos in my opinion. I don't like 5-10 minute videos. Lots of good, practical advice. Thank you.
Repair videos always top notch.
My favorite woods recovery vehicle for years now. I love the videos !
Great video. Love the recoveries but I really like your down to earth, real world garage tech vids. Wish you could squeeze in more of those. :) thanks again.
Awesome video! Great tips!
Nice smooth install. Great work!
That extra link looks like the top link from a 3-point hitch on a tractor, lol. Good idea. I used the same thing for a drag link on a CJ5 i had a few years ago.
By far my favorite channel this guy is great
Really Awesome tips and trick. It helps a lot when u traying to fix a truck or car on a budget. It makes me wanna start working on my truck again. I own a 1989 Chevy C20 inline 6, I believe is a 230 cu or 250 cu with a 4 speed manual. Im not a professional mechanic, just know a lil about it. But these type of video's help a lot. Stay safe and take care.
You remind me so much of my father. I think that’s why I love these videos 😂
Anti-seize - I put that shit on everything!
Love the videos keep them coming please
Love the vids like this keep up the good work
You and me both! I like all of Eric's videos, but I really like his Repair Videos. He busts his knuckles just like I do. I have learned a lot by watching his videos.
Good job man. Get on back out there!
5:26- SHOP CAT!
More like shop kittens.
Just cruising by for some camera time..
Yea, it's always cool to have a few kitty cats in the shop. Keep the rodents down, so they don't nest in your wiring harness or heater box.
Nice work pard your a good man!👍
Great repair video
My 87 V20 I installed 2.5 leafs and a zero rated from offroad design. And some custom shackles I made that gave me another 1in so about 4in total lift. It worked good but road bad and didnt flex. I called ord and they said remove the sway bar or install their kit. I removed it and it was like a new truck. Rode better actually flexed. So anyone who installs more than a 4in lift remove ur swaybar or buy the kit to make it work right. Like ur vids keep on wheeling
Nicely done, not just the spring replace but the presentation
Nicely done !
Awesome tips!
Never Seize never ceases to amaze me . . .
spring jobs are fun. I did my 97 f350 cause hangers were rusting thru. Did springs also since it was a construction trk. Than early feb i discovered torque king 4x4 parts cause fixing my brakes i discovered on my dana 60 auto lock hubs my axle nut retaining clips broken. I finally fiquired out why. I was missing some washers and snap ring
Great video
Very informative, thanks.
I'll be doing this on a 72 4x4 in a few weeks hopefully. Some good tips
Love the kittens running around :)
I was very surprised not to see a farmer fix on this one. Clean the spring up and put a good bevel on both sides. Whip out the good old 7014 rod and welder up. I did that once. This was to test my welding skills. I put the spring in a press and it broke it broke elsewhere. For all those out there, no I would not do this on a vehicle. I know the metal becomes more brittle. Just being sarcastic.
Interesting way of doing it. My YJ has bottom mounted springs. I mounted shackle side first. Then U bolts. Last was the body mount end. I did flare the ends of the body mount as seen here. To line it up I used the floor jack, my winch, a drift pin and crescent wrench. Now the lube maybe controversial. A little soapy water works great, KY does the job too. It all depends on the application.
At 9:18 now we tap that one in... BANG BANG BANG
trust me, thats a tap xD
Don't forget, when you broke that spring you messed up the other side also. You have the new bushings so, you can fix the other attachment that you lost. Just need the new pins to bolt up. I'm sure that you have some in a can in the shop.
Good job my brother
Sorry to see the truck break down and cause extra work on you, but we do get to reap the rewards and enjoy the repair videos
I recall passenger side shackle also needs TLC, Be glad to see a vid on that repair.
Sorry didn't film that, just a bushing and new bolt.
Its ok, Good footage
excellent tech
the transfer case on my 84 dodge broke during the end of the polar vortex (there is a giant hole near the rear drive shaft) a couple people didnt think it was worth fixing it, but when i was matching the replacement transfer case to the broken one, (which does appear to fit) the dome light that has never turned on in the year that ive owned it turned on with the door and worked normally.
I call it a sign :D
See, the lights and the transfer case are connected. Now go up and tell someone that has a burnt out headlight to check the oil. I bet they do it.
@@KevinBenecke OMG. There is people dumb enough to do that, too. Maybe I can spin the old blinker fluid trick with this too
Hey can you fix that power steering belt while your at it. 👍
I saw that kitty!! I love trucks guns and cats!!
If you have those bushes where the steel is joined to the rubber, tighten them when the truck is back on the ground. And lossen and retighten after a week. It’s an old guy trick, but if you have that bush type it is a good one for smooth ride and decent bush life :o)
The stuff I work on if it doesn’t get never sees it gets Loctite, without either one of those you either never get it apart or you never get it to stay tight !
Good job
Informative. Tks
Dancing bushings and sleeves on the work table... Bounced right off, even with a little lube!
Well it's a helluva lot easier to change springs in the garage than in the middle of the trail on the iron range
LOL
I miss episodes like this. Can you break more things on the wrecker?
I'm addicted to watching you I love how you get it done and I love the old truck I just got the same truck and would love to know what lift springs are you using and all the info for that thank you
They are 8" super lift springs in front, custom made blocks, and added leafs in the rear.
I love this truck i want one
Love this truck. What size lift and tires and what gears and axles?
Alucino con ese camión es una tremenda máquina, que motor tendrá??
Saludos desde chile...
I love the shop cats
Great tutorial
Just as a fellow friend, be careful ur getting old.
Not just old, but high in miles. LOL
@@offroadrecoveryteam haha cheers man!
Another great video with notably good instructions, but all the tricks, too! A question, what are your thoughts on running a small block engine versus a big block, for your application? Thanks,
Skip
Small block parts and mods are about 1/2 the cost of a big block.
after a small mud puddle the new spring and the old spring wont look much different anyhow
Great job you look like you need to take a vacation and rest up
Do you think those bars where the sway bar would go help that much? Does it still ride and flex as good with them vs without ?
I leave the front and rear spring bolts loose and i get the axle/spring lined up and u bolts installed loosely before setting it down and then i tighten everything up but that's just my preference
Is your right headlight dimly lit in the video? Looks like it.
What about a spring with a 'millitary' second wrap around the bushing?
What size lift are you running on the wrecker. Awesome videos man.
8" superlift
don't forget the passenger side spring that lost the bushings as well .
Two wheel drive steering box and crossover steering that would be set up nice
That's y I'm so interested in URS and what it really helps n how'd you make it??? Bc I'm in same boat with my 87v20 1Ton axles n springs
You ever think of doing diesel rig or swap? Duramax
I understood the wrecker is just a work truck. But. Did you check for stress cracks in passenger leaf spring.
I bet I can find you some upgraded springs for that truck
you need drop limiters, the drag links are pulling forward on the spring when the axle drops
I got a question could you squeeze in bushes in with a c clamp I don't know I just asked looks like it works better with a hammer
I'm not against ur. Sway bar type link but I'd like some more info and pics of It and if. U could clarify what exactly it makes stronger and helps. But either way it looks 10xs stronger with it lol. My 87 V20 has k30 2.5 tuff country springs right now with no sway bar I removed it. It had my suspension binded up n nothing worked right ride flex or braking.
Upgrade the bolts in that shackle. My springs have all 9/16" bolts because I replaced the shackle mount in the frame. Check out diy4x.
I hope you didn't forget to replace the bushing and fix the shackle on the passenger side of the truck as well
Yes, I fixed that too.
Why not use nylon bushings? Rubber vs nylon. Which is better?
Nice work - any thought to doing hydro assist on there to take some stress off that push/pull setup?
Yes Kyle. It's been on the list of things to do, seems like the list never gets done.
Sponsor him the parts and I van pretty much guarantee he'll use em and make s video installing them
Ditch that old push pull steering. It's a kp 60. Run a high steer crossover setup with a ram assist and bam! Way easier steering on 37s and no more wierd broken springs
Bet that link bar has something to do with that spring failure. It wants o hold the axle center, fighting the normal movement of the spring want to flatten out and move back.
I was looking for a comment like this. I love the idea but that link can't grow or contract. Where the leaf spring gets longer flatter n shorter when droop. But probably most of the leaf spring stretch is past axle at rear shackle since front is fixed.
Everytime I do leaf springs rust infuses the bolt in the bushing lol
Do you were ear protection
Can you list some of the best off road trails in the northern Wisconsin area?
No public trails for trucks/Jeeps in WI. However there is events on private land, and off-road parks. There are a few public trails, and state run off-road parks in MN
Eric, have you given the thought of having at least one each front & rear springs in the shop for the wrecker with a couple bushing packs for spare parts in case this happens again????
Hasn't been a issue till now.
Springs ain't cheap.... its hard to justify having multi hundreds of dollars worth of springs sitting there just in case
@@brandonrichter6910 I know they are not cheap; it's the abuse the wrecker goes through in the woods & "through the crap" (BSF parlance). It's the peace of mind that if a spring did happen to break next time the parts would be on hand and repairs could be done as soon as you returned home instead of waiting for a spring to arrive at the parts store.
Eric, were you able to fix your other spring on the passenger side then, as you only had to replace the driver's side????
Yes new bushing, and shackle bolt, good to go.
@@offroadrecoveryteam Good idea to carry a spare bag of bushings in the wrecker you think???
I'm not from your part of the woods, I'm not even from the same woods, but never seize is always your friend on suspension components
Pop those bushings in the freezer over night and youll need 0 persuasion when putting them in. Ive never used a hammer on any after i learned that
But then you need to wait overnight...
@@gravitygear or be in canadian winter, you dont need overnight lol.
@@gravitygear we live in a very busy world. Not sure about you but i usually have a few nights between buying parts and installing them. Sunday being the only free day I have to work on my truck ive got 6 other days to buy parts and store them as need be
Has you frame cracked around the steering box yet?
The 1ton frame is thicker, and not as prone to that problem. I have added the Off -Road Design steering box brace.
next time put the leaf spring on the axle first and bolt it up with the u-bolts then put the whole leaf spring and Axle up into place
Only reason to change both is that the other spring may be fatiqued
What size of lift you running in the truck
8" Superlift
just wanted to say i love your videos and maybe ask why you don't put a little more aggressive tires on her maybe you could get cooper or maxxis or toyo or goodyear to sponsor you videos and yes "everything is better with a little lube" lol well right after posting this i watched the bf goodwrench video
No sponsors knocking my door down, yet. The military surplus tires are cheep, and we tend to destroy them from time to time.
The 37" military tires are about the best thing going for the money. I live close enough to a place that sells them. That way I can choose the best ones.
Go to DIY4X and get some HD parts
How many times have you broken springs?
First time on the wrecker.
They lied to you. Your new spring has 2 less spring wraps. What size lift?
8" super lift
We never reuse u-bolts, always make new ones.
Well, good for you.
if i remember front bolt is a 9.16 bolt
Need to install cross over steering with hydro assist. You will wonder why you didn't do it years ago.
I would worry about it when I turned onto the highway
Can u tow my 650 atv, i swamped it. Lol have a good one.
What's up
🙂
You are not supposed to tighten the leaf spring until you lower the truck to the ground fully so that you don't tear the rubber bushing.
It's OK with poly bushings, but yes rubber pressed bushings normal ride height before tight.