OME heavy spring install....WTF!!! (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Dec 22, 2018
Threads
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318
Location
Austin, TX
So I ordered the last bits of the heavy springs to swap out the old safari kit that was on it to from a po. Man a fre? I was going to do the swap with my son and got a wild hair to get a quote from the same shop that installed my sbc wiring harness and some other things...they quoted me 4 hours. Springs, bushings, center bolt spacers and ubolts. I presoaked all with pb blaster several times. Easy enough....

I dropped it off yesterday with instructions...A spring is left rear, arrow points to fixed end etc... I went over there today and noticed the arrow on the front was pointing towards the front... military wrap on the shackle! I told them that it was backwards. Called cruiser outfitters to verify and left a message. They also did the same. Weird times out there with the shelter at home stuff going on so I understand being a Friday, maybe they are closed at mid day on a Friday. No big deal. I called arb USA and got a tech on the line. He indicated that while the military wrap does indeed go to the fixed end, the front springs have the center bolt in the middle unlike the rear. Given this, he said it would not make a difference in orientation. It also would not void an warranty, if there is one lol. I don't want to see anyone eat labor hours if it is really a moot point. Any advice?
 
When I accidentally installed my rear springs backwards, my driveshaft fell out. Why pay a shop if they aren't going to do it right?
 
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The center bolt on the rear is indeed offset towards the fixed end. They will swap them. Is it necessary, with equidistance of the center bolt on the front springs?
 
In my experience with repair shops, it doesn't matter if you print out a drawing and put a big red arrow highlighting something important, and explaining what needs to be done - the guy working on your car won't look at it or pay attention to what you said and do the job incorrectly.
Then when you come back to complain, they'll say that's how they do all their repairs.
 
Military wraps are a spring eye configuration that has a secondary leaf that wraps around the main leaf. It gives an extra layer on security and safety. If a main leaf breaks, the main connection of the differential to the chassis of the vehicle is broken and the axle is now able to move in ways it shouldn’t, which will allows other things to get damaged. With a military wrap, if the main leaf breaks, there’s an additional layer that will keep the suspension connected and the keep the differential where it needs to be. It is an insurance policy.

I would guess it would have more to do with the military wrap orientation rather than the center bolt offset, since you say it is indeed centered on the front spring.
 
Arb tech indicated they were centered and it really didn't technically make a difference but I think that it should be done per instructions. I guess they will eat the labor and orientate the springs as I originally instructed. Thnx for the thoughts on this.
 
In my experience with repair shops, it doesn't matter if you print out a drawing and put a big red arrow highlighting something important, and explaining what needs to be done - the guy working on your car won't look at it or pay attention to what you said and do the job incorrectly.
Then when you come back to complain, they'll say that's how they do all their repairs.

Exactly!
 
Well the shop called lol. Now they say that the ds is bottoming out with the rear springs on the correct way. Military wrap is on the fixed end. I told them to pull the zerk on the ds. They said no effect. I have to go up there in the am so they can show me. Any thoughts on this?
 
Bottoming out? What is bottoming out with heavy rate springs?

The first time I swapped out a leaf spring suspension (OME) was.....well, my first time, all by myself, and I got it right.

This is becoming a WTF? thread with this shop I think.

Edit: just noticed you mentioned the ds is bottoming out
 
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Yeah, I'm not feeling good about it either. I am hoping to have some ammo, so to speak, when I see them in the am. I'm a little confused about them saying they got no result after pulling the zerk on the ds. I had the ds done last year with oem ujoint on the pinion side. Should I tell them to pull the ds and reinstall under the weight of the vehicle on the ground?
 
Went up there to speak to them...they said the axle was moving forward when the were mounting the shocks. So at this point I told them that most people don't have the luxury of a lift and usually a ratchet strap will hold it in place...as far as the ds goes, I told them again about the slip joint zerk again. I also told them worst case would be to disconnect and reconnect on the ground under the vehicle's weight. Am I missing something here 😭?
I guess I should have done it with my son.... supposed to get it back by 1:30 cat. Will report back lol.
 
did they swap front and back springs? they are different lengths if i recall and the fronts are shorter by a couple inches. that might be a reason the axle has moved
 
if you decide to run away from them just leave the rear drive shaft out and drive in 4wd. it’s just front wheel drive and it’ll get you home. then you can do the job properly
 
Okay...just got back with a measurement from flange to flange on the rear ds. Dropped the ds in a car thAt my mom loaned my son while he had his 62 at lcs in Austin for the last few weeks. I will drive that this week to work and drop the ds off at drive train specialist in buda, tx to have shortened and balanced. Soooooooo. I had the ujoint on diff side replaced by them last year and reinstalled myself. I think I got a moot as I was short on time at that point. I may as well replace the TC side at this point....so while I am at....get the oems ordered for both ds and TC side right? Lol. So who can should I try to get them from with time frame for delivery being a tad more than cost? I will drop the ds off on Monday.

Tia,
Dave
 
Pictures and what # springs.
 
Ironically,
Bottoming out? What is bottoming out with heavy rate springs?

The first time I swapped out a leaf spring suspension (OME) was.....well, my first time, all by myself, and I got it right.

This is becoming a WTF? thread with this shop I think.

Edit: just noticed you mentioned the ds is bottoming out
Renamed thread with your with suggestions lol
 

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