Front dependent suspension leaf spring — removal and installation (Transit 2)

Removal

1. After applying the parking brake, jack up the front of the vehicle and place it on supports installed under the chassis on both sides. Support the front axle beam with a jack and supports.

2. Loosen the U-bolt nuts, then slowly lower the jack head supporting the front axle beam. Remove the U-bolts and travel limiting buffer from the spring. The jack must be lowered enough so that the spring mounting pin is disengaged from the beam.

3. Unscrew the self-locking nuts of the spring shackles, then use a soft metal punch to remove the mounting plates and axle pins of the shackles and take out the rubber bushings (see Figure 16.3).



4. After unscrewing the nut and removing the front spring mount washer, pull out the only bolt holding it.

5. Place the spring away from the beam and mountings.

6. Inspect the mounting bushings, check the condition of the earrings, U-bolts and spring travel limiter buffer (see Figure 16.6). Replace any worn or damaged components with new ones.



7. The spring eye bushings can be removed by any available means. Just be careful not to damage the spring eye.

8. After installing the new bushing, make sure that the bushing protrudes the same amount on both sides of the eye. Support the spring to prevent it from bending.

Installation

9. Installation is carried out in the reverse order of removal, but note the following additional points:

• a) When installing the spring on the chassis, do not tighten its mounting bolts completely until the vehicle is lowered to the ground and placed on its wheels;
• b) When installing the spring on the front axle beam, make sure that the spring mounting pin matches the hole in the beam;
• c) Center the travel limiter on the spring, then install the U-bolts and tighten the lock nuts to the specified torque.

(Information for this article was taken from the website fordbook.ru)