Installing Add - A - Leafs

August 17, 2008

Alright im going to be getting Fabtech Soft Ride 1.5" Lift add - a - leafs...

how hard are they to install? do they just sit under all of the other leafs?

and do i have to cut off and put a new center pin in?

and about how much more would i be able to haul without sag? like a 600 lbs 4 wheeler sags it about 2 inch.. just a ballpark...

August 17, 2008

i figure even if they sag i will just put blocks under it then since i will have a extra leaf to keep the other ones from sagging as well

silverbullet2005 · August 17, 2008

add a leafs are not bad to install, You'll need a couple of 6" C clamps and some hand tools. jack up the rear of the truck and put jack stands under the rear of the frame. remove the four U-bolts from each side of the rear axle and lower the rear end. Put the C clamps on both sides of the leaf springs center pin then you can safetly remove the center pin. slowly undo the C clamps and seperate enough to get the new add a leaf in place. add a leafs usually go between the second and third leaf spring in the pack. use C clamps to get springs re compressed then install the new longer center pin, torque to specs and cut off any extra center pin protruding. reinstall the rear axle to the spring packs and tighten the U-bolts to specs. 75 ft lbs is usually stock and if your adding lift blocks then it's 100-120 ft lbs.

August 17, 2008

i have access to Air jacks, impacts, and stuff so i dont have to do everything by hand...

i hope the u-bolts come off.. i shouldnt have to replace those..that c-clamp idea is a good one though..

and they go between 2nd and 3rd leaf?

Zembonez · August 17, 2008

Fabtech makes good stuff but they will sag eventually.

No biggie really... It will take a while (maybe a year or two) but they all do eventually. You can always add a block later or by then you may be on another truck... who knows?

August 17, 2008

well i figure if the leaf will sag in a year or two... it will keep all of the other leafs from saggin as well...

and then when it does sag i will just add blocks and the whole leaf pack will be stronger..

Woodcutter · August 17, 2008

Fabtech makes good stuff but they will sag eventually.

No biggie really... It will take a while (maybe a year or two) but they all do eventually. You can always add a block later or by then you may be on another truck... who knows?

The new leaf will sag, but under normal circumstances won't for well over 1-2 years. Make sure you have a set of jack stands for the frame and also an additional set for the rear axle. The biggest PITA when I added my Trail Master AALs was getting the hole for the center pin aligned when compressing the spring pack with the new leaf inserted. I literally could've killed someone or something, as at one point I was so frustrated. Overall, it is a fairly straightforward installation. Once your done, your truck probably won't even squat to the original stance with a quad in the back!

silverbullet2005 · August 18, 2008

I agree getting the holes lined back up to reinstall the center pin was a pain in the ass but using a ladies foot prybar made it alot easier. The ladies foot bar is just one of those round tapered prybars, use it to line the holes up while compressing the C clamps.