[para]

'96 Bronco I restored a couple of years ago. Just about everything on undercarriage replaced, minus the rear leaf springs. They looked OK.

Walking up to the back of it the other day and it looked like it was listing to one side. Took a tape measure to check and I was right. Passenger side is 1 1/2" lower than drivers side.

Is this a common way for leaf springs to fail? I thought they snapped or those little crimp bands that hold them together rust and break..... am I in danger of any sort of imminent failure?

 

[miesk5]

Yo para,
A wag, are body mounts on lean side ok?

This is by Ford in 1996 Bronco/F Series Workshop at 1996 Bronco/F-Series
Vehicle Lean
Side-to-side vehicle lean should be verified by measuring the fender lip-to-ground dimension before beginning diagnosis and service actions. Normal acceptable limits are:

• Maximum of 16mm (5/8-inch) variance between left and right front wheel lips to ground.
• Maximum of 19mm (3/4-inch) variance between left and right rear wheel lips to ground.

NOTE: Codes identifying the front and rear spring options and springs are printed on the Safety Standard Certification Label. Replace springs in pairs if one is found to be damaged or worn. If a spring should require replacement because it is damaged, worn or due to a leaning condition, replace only with the same part specified on the label. In rare instances, the spring codes will not reflect the springs as installed due to a DSO option or assembly plant substitution. If a DSO option number is shown on the certification label, the District Office can establish whether springs are affected. If the factory-installed springs do not agree with the code printed on the Safety Standard Certification Label (right and left spring part number should match), replace the damaged or worn spring with a new spring of the same part number as the damaged or worn spring. It will not be necessary to replace the matching, non-worn or undamaged spring.

1. Place the vehicle on a flat, smooth surface.

1. Inspect vehicle for any heavy add-ons that may cause excessive weight on any corner of the vehicle.
   • In cases where the excess weight is a snow plow, a rear tailgate lift, etc., the vehicle must be diagnosed with the equipment in place.
   • Measure corner weights if necessary.
   • Vehicle should be empty, fuel tanks full, no cargo such as tools, equipment or debris in the pickup box or rear body section.
   • Vehicle must be sitting on the wheels and tires and not a hoist, jack or jack stands.

1. Check all wheels (1007) and tires:
   • Wheels must be same size and design, right and left side on each axle.
   • Wheels size and design, tire size and tire design should be as indicated on the Vehicle Certification Label.
   • Check air pressure of all tires; inflate to specifications indicated on the Vehicle Certification Label.

1. Check front and rear suspension. Make sure the same spring is on the left/right front and left/right rear. The front springs have I.D. tags indicating the part number. The rear springs (5560) have the part number stamped on the bottom just behind the U-bolt attachment.

1. Jounce the vehicle's front and rear suspension to normalize the vehicle static ride height.

1. Measure the height of the right and left fender lip openings for both front (dimension A) and rear (dimension B).

1. Calculate the side-to-side differences for each dimension. If these differences are greater than 16mm (5/8 inch) between left or right front and/or 19mm (3/4 inch) between left and right rear, adjustment can be performed following the Vehicle Lean Correction procedure under Adjustments in this section.

And,

Body Leans	Weak rear spring.	REPLACE rear spring.
	Worn or deteriorated stabilizer bar bushing(s).	REPLACE stabilizer bar bushing(s).

@ 1996 Bronco/F-Series

 

[N2 Bronco's]

I'd measure from the frame rail where the leaf's connect not body or bumper if checking for a lame spring

 

[para]

Miesk5, I suppose I should check and see just in case a body mount 'puck' did not disintegrate....
Is it common for a leaf spring when it gets old to sag unevenly compared to the other one?

 

[para]

I measured rear bumper height from a nice flat floor. Bumper attached to frame so body was not a part of this measurement, but I am going to go under and have a look !

 

[para]

BTW: JBG and LMC are both on backorder for springs.....are car parts and inventories in general down because of Covid? Hoping I dont have to wait 6 months.

 

[miesk5]

Yo para,
Most cities I've been in have a truck spring distributor.
SEE Best 30 Auto Springs Suspension in Boston, MA with Reviews - YP.com