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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / June 2009

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FORD LEAF SPRINGS ?

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datakoll - 25 Apr 2009 04:11 GMT
Are leaf springs greased ? As shoot grease in between springs with
small nose grease gun nozzle.
Bought a new van, leaf springs had grease between springs.
Tom J - 25 Apr 2009 04:36 GMT
> Are leaf springs greased ? As shoot grease in between springs with
> small nose grease gun nozzle.
> Bought a new van, leaf springs had grease between springs.

I've owned Ford trucks for over 50 years & some had over 200,000 miles
on them. My current Ford has 123,000 miles on it. I have NEVER greased
any springs!! I have had springs break - but never on a Ford Truck -
always on a trailer of some sort.

Tom J
Nate Nagel - 25 Apr 2009 12:34 GMT
> Are leaf springs greased ? As shoot grease in between springs with
> small nose grease gun nozzle.
> Bought a new van, leaf springs had grease between springs.

typically no, nowadays they use teflon buttons betwee nthe leaves.
greasing springs is so fifty years ago :)

nate

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datakoll - 26 Apr 2009 01:25 GMT
But then why were the E250's leaf springs oozing grease when
delivered ?
I'll try greasing, I guess. Get a nozzle, unload springs, shoot
grease. Maybe park on a hill, up one day down the next, hot day.
Tom J - 26 Apr 2009 01:49 GMT
> But then why were the E250's leaf springs oozing grease when
> delivered ?
> I'll try greasing, I guess. Get a nozzle, unload springs, shoot
> grease. Maybe park on a hill, up one day down the next, hot day.

All you are going to do is load your springs up with dirt, grit &
sand!!
Not Good for the surfaces of the springs!!

Tom J
datakoll - 26 Apr 2009 03:33 GMT
yes, this is true: grease collects dirt.
But Ford's cost accountants cheated on paint, welds, steel...not only
saving weight and raising mpg but lowering costs. Seam sealants are
below minimal, seriously threatening the truck's longevity. Parts are
left unpainted.
Yet, the leaf springs were greased.
OK, eliminating squeeks and cracks during break-in ?
Dave D - 26 Apr 2009 09:48 GMT
> yes, this is true: grease collects dirt.
> But Ford's cost accountants cheated on paint, welds, steel...not only
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Yet, the leaf springs were greased.
> OK, eliminating squeeks and cracks during break-in ?

Well....If you are really concerned about the grease in the springs, you can
remove them from the truck, break the spring pack apart, clean each leaf,
reassemble placing a thin sheet of teflon clothlike material (think you can
get it from NAPA) between each leaf, and remount the spring packs. Not a
speck of grease, no sand/gravel/grit, and no squeaks....

DaveD
datakoll - 27 Apr 2009 03:07 GMT
will write it into the list.
but first, a collector tray under the AC condensor followed with 2
coats VHT urethane on fender wall and frame box member.
Our nab has a new "flyover". up in Biggar: beautifullly done, spacey
side lights on the walls. Storbe strobe strobe.
Flew over checking the new truck's handling and squooze out leaf
grease left side.
Handling is neither truck nor car.
Replaced stock Hankooks with Toyo A/T, Bils for a 350, Hellwig bar and
muh left wrist. Now the E250 handles like a good chevy sedan.
The Toyo run with Audi on the interstate in 3" water, the Bils cure
psoriasis, and the bar keeps all four tires on ground despite the
constant camber front end. Ruins mpg claims but its safe to drive now.
teflon cloth !
after pnuemo ground effects and rear skirts.
david - 27 Apr 2009 10:18 GMT
> will write it into the list.
> but first, a collector tray under the AC condensor followed with 2 coats
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> front end. Ruins mpg claims but its safe to drive now. teflon cloth !
> after pnuemo ground effects and rear skirts.

Take it easy on the drugs.
datakoll - 28 Apr 2009 03:22 GMT
try powdered apple
datakoll - 09 May 2009 02:34 GMT
The E250 is a delivery van. Not so good out on the interstate:
unacceptable. I was surprised at how bad the stock van is given window
vans hauling kids and old folk.
The local blvd is smooth, sweeping and slightly tracked with triax
grooves. The double beam front end follows the tracks, right on one,
the left on another, leaving a badly located rear deciding an
independent future course. The situation maybe a constant problem
causing adhesion and directional control loss where your van use
suffers so only once every 5-6 seconds.
A Hellwig rear bar, Toyo A/T sticky tires, and Bilstein shocks turned
a highway pig into a good sedan, with mpg loss fersure.
A simple and total upgrade for non-delivery usage are Bilsteins on the
rear only. Replacing two shocks gives an upgrade into acceptable
handling from unsafe at any.
Jeff Strickland - 13 May 2009 02:54 GMT
So, if you drive an E250, put some good shocks on the back if it isn't a
window-van.

> The E250 is a delivery van. Not so good out on the interstate:
> unacceptable. I was surprised at how bad the stock van is given window
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> rear only. Replacing two shocks gives an upgrade into acceptable
> handling from unsafe at any.
datakoll - 16 May 2009 02:59 GMT
SUMMIT doesn't have rears in stock, at this time. Call Bils in
Mooresville. Summit will order for you. Don't tell them I sent you.
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?Ntt=BILSTEIN+FORD+E350+SHOCKS&N=700+
115+4294907929&Ntk=KeywordSearch


Yeah. Adding fronts make the suspension a wee bit stiffer. Not much
but some scream abt uncomfy ride like they got terminal arthritis from
it.

The rears are a big deal. I drove a Dodge delivery van: Atlanta
beltway. MG, PV544, Buick LeSabre 6.9.
The Ford needs Bilstein rear shocks. Delivery goes GP
Local noise suggest window vans are inflicted with different valving
than the E250 delivery van. We are praying over our Pinto gastank.
datakoll - 24 May 2009 02:02 GMT
A 2008-09 Ford Econoline is not seam sealed at doors or inside doors.
Lift out front door sills, front up and pull forward, lift up and curl
back floor covering. Side door sill lifts out at rear then pull
rearward. The inner lip is tied down with clips: lift up. Pull
flooring back at rear doors.
The seams are left unsealed, exposed to water runoff from poorly
placed and not long enough floor covering. There are bolts at rear and
under the drivers and passengers feet possibly unpainted and rusting.
Levine Autoparts sells 3M sealers online. Six tubes will seal door
seams and engine compartment seams. The 8500 is the lesser sealant but
has zero odor. The urethane is excellent, durable with slight odor.
http://www.levineautoparts.com/3mulause.html
http://www.levineautoparts.com/3malautsealc.html
Floor covering needs an extension. Ford’s design allows water running
off directly into door wells and sills when floor covering should
carry water over the sill top and onto the sill floor NOT under sill
floor. Seattle Fabrics sells heavy Vinyl online for under Ford’s floor
covering then over the sills.
Inside doors are urethane sealable at door bottom and outside panel
then paint with urethane, VHT from Summit Racing. Slight odor for a
paint.
Two front wells before each fender are urethane paint needed and
behind the battery on inside front wheel well. The A/C condenser leaks
water directly onto the fender running down fender into the front
right box frame member. Spray the inside box frame if not tarred.
The battery needs a new fixture bolt with rod and a wing nut cut to
below battery top. Buy one before taking the battery out: 3/16ths rod.
Examine top and bottom roof drip edge for weakly painted surfaces and
unsealed areas.
Seal inside bottom door corners or the complete circumference with
urethane then. Try a small watercolor brush from Wal.
datakoll - 06 Jun 2009 16:48 GMT
Check cargo front side door's upper folded edge for a water leak area
and below door hinge corners. The rear palstic drain guard between
rear bumper and body was Goop glued onto the body.
Take a look at the rear corner side door step. The water collector box
there could use urethane sealant. Local noise suggests this box is a
water drain.
Internet searching suggests valve noise is a frequent complaint.
Owner's manual states: valve noise at cold start up, adjust.
Our  dealer did not adjust. Using Valvoline 5/20 synthetic, the noise
localized into a small band between high idle and low idle during
start. I asked the dealer to adjust start sequence for a longer hi
idle and a very gradual reduction to low start idle. This adjustment
and the Valvo synth cured excessive valve noise at start. Also added a
HD valved fram filter.
tom - 14 Jun 2009 21:31 GMT
I thought they eliminated the double beam starting with the'92 vans? Using
ball joint a frames instead?

> The E250 is a delivery van. Not so good out on the interstate:
> unacceptable. I was surprised at how bad the stock van is given window
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> rear only. Replacing two shocks gives an upgrade into acceptable
> handling from unsafe at any.
Nate Nagel - 14 Jun 2009 22:46 GMT
I doubt it; my '93 F-150 still uses the old Twin-I-Beam front end (but
with ball joints not king pins.)  And yes, it's a bit of a pig, even
with new shocks.

Typically the F-series would get suspension upgrades before the
lower-volume E-series, but I'm basing this mostly on memory and
speculation, so I may well be mistaken.

> I thought they eliminated the double beam starting with the'92 vans? Using
> ball joint a frames instead?
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>> rear only. Replacing two shocks gives an upgrade into acceptable
>> handling from unsafe at any.

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replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
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tom - 14 Jun 2009 21:26 GMT
Probably a "cosmoline"-like anti-rust compound for the long boat ride from
China.

> yes, this is true: grease collects dirt.
> But Ford's cost accountants cheated on paint, welds, steel...not only
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Yet, the leaf springs were greased.
> OK, eliminating squeeks and cracks during break-in ?
 
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