Dreaded "thump/clunk"

I would just get new ones if I were you.

 

I'm having this same issue on my truck and its a 2008....Does this mean I need to add a leaf or replace my brand new leaf packs? Help please.....I only have 3500 miles and and worried about this and it is really ruining what otherwise is a very nice truck.

 

check your leaf springs...the numbers on them. if they have a g on the end of them, then they are the upgraded leafs....if not, you may be able to get the rear leaf tsb done thru the dealer.

 

Who makes the best replacement springs?

 

You can get custom ones made from Deaver or Alcan, but you will be paying $$$$$!

 

Well, thanks to you, I emailed Alcan for info, and turns out they have a set of replacement springs in stock. Not only did they email me right back, their pricing is pretty reasonable. I have talked to two local spring shops about a new set, and Alcan's price is lower than either of these. They have them for $190 per side plus shipping, and even what they charge for shipping is about half of everyone else. I know this is higher than getting my springs refurbished and adding a leaf, but it seems to be worth it to me. I will have the new springs and u-bolts here early next week.

FYI, I spoke with Deaver also, but they do not carry stock replacement springs, they have to order them and they are higher in price than Alcan.

Thanks for the suggestion, you made my day.

Gary

 

Glad I could help you out, Gary!

 

I will post some photos of the removal of the old springs and installation of the new. Install pix always come in handy to those considering a project.

 

good idea. i was planning on doing a step by step write up when i replaced my suspension with my ome coils/ wheelers rear leafs last weekend, but i left my damn camera at the house.

good on you for the pics tho!!

 

Ok I was looking around for helper springs to deal with this. Found some at AutoZone for 25 bucks. They're packaged under "Dynachrome" but made by "Makes Waves".

They're simple bolt on helpers, don't need to separate the axle from the springs to put them on.

Doing a Google search, the guys over at the Nissan Titan forums (yes I will gouge my eyes out later as punishment for reading there) love them. Also well rated over at TN. Say it eliminates not only the axle wrap clunk, but also wheel hop and takes some of the squat out of towing a heavy tongue trailer. Some claim an extra 15MPH off-ramp speed increase.

They're intended to mount behind the axle, the consensus seems to be that is for adding load capacity. Mount them in front of the axle for the above benefits.

Haven't put them on yet, that's for after work tonight. Will post back with results.

Putting a linky here to Autozone don't work, but go to their website and search for "leaf spring helper".

 

They work. They work INCREDIBLY well. The clunk on braking and the lurch and clunk coming off the brakes is gone.

The rear end does not lean nearly as much in turns as before. Feels more "solid".

Took about 20 minutes to put on, but only because there's not a lot of room to swing a ratchet under there.

Best 25 bucks I've spent on the truck so far.

 

Although I have new springs on the way, and plan to install them as soon as they arrive, I would appreciate any photos of the helper springs you installed...I got those from Autozone also, but for the life of me, I could not figure out how they went on to do any good at all...maybe they just didn't work on mine because my springs are already shot, but I sure would appreciate it if you could post photos of how they are on your springs...thanks!

BTW, I ended up returning those to Autozone because I felt they were useless...

 

I went to take pics but AGAIN my *&*#$* KID DRAINED THE BATTERIES in my camera taking VIDEOS OF THE *!%&@ CATS!

By the time they charged it was dark. I'll get some tomorrow after work.

 

I knew there was a reason I don't have any kids or cats around...anyway, thanks for trying. I will look forward to seeing those pix. That install had me frustrated to no end.

 

Went to take pics of the installed helper springs, but it was pouring outside and had a funnel cloud watch, so no go tonight. Hopefully tomorrow. Sorry.

 

Oh, well...I had seen the same thread on the Titan site when I searched for photos of installed helper springs. I read through almost all of that thread, could not find one single photo of the installed helpers. That was when I gave up trying and took them back to Autozone, 'cause I couldn't figure out how they went on like they were supposed to. Did you end up mounting in front of the axle or behind?

My replacement springs showed up today, I will be installing them this Saturday. I'm going to photograph the install, plus comparing the stock springs to the replacements. Interesting item, one place I had looked to buy replacements had the same spring for both sides, interchangeable. The ones from Alcan, though, were side specific, and the driver's side had a little more arch. That was to account for the extra weight of the gas tank, and, I suppose, the driver...

 

Got the new Alcan replacement springs installed today...

Before

After

Driver side Alcan next to the stock spring


Stock springs hecho en Mexico

Stock springs still on truck


Jacked up with stands

Removed shock bolt

Took out spring bolts


New springs in



The photos showing the arch of the old and new springs are a little hard to tell, but there is definitely more arch with the new. I gained about 1" of lift in the rear at the bumper after the new springs were on. I did not take off the wheels or parking brake cable, just wrestled the springs in and out, then pried them up or down with a pry bar to line up the bolt holes. Pretty much a straightforward job. Went on a test drive, the ride quality is unchanged from stock. Try as I might, I could not get the thump/clunk to return, when downshifting at a light, or taking off then stopping...worth the effort, definitely!

 

very nice man!!! my springs are actually almost the same(mine are made by alcan for wheelers offroad), except i got the 5 pack instead of the stock height ones. they ride superbly!!

 

Ever come up with a photo?

 

whoops, thought everyone lost interest. gonna paint the wheels today so I'll get a couple when the wheel is off.