Help Installing Leaf Pack

I didn't have this problem but I put the truck up on top most notch on jack stands 4 of them, and a 4x4 block between the frame and jack stand. It's been mentioned already about the brake line is what you might worry about. There's a bolt you can undo/remove that will get you a little more slack in the line. I think a pry bar might have been used too to get it lined up just right to slip the bolt through.

 

Ditto just went through the same thing. Once you find the groove its 15 min or less to get them back on.

 

When I did mine, I also had my jack stands pretty high knowing that I'd be having to lower the axle to the basement to get the leaf spring bolts to line up.




If you find you don't have any more down travel for your axle and you have the jack stands forward of your rear axle, you might be able to gain some rear frame height if you air down your front tires to nearly flat.

 

Here are some jack and progress photos.

 

I don’t think these jack stands are tall enough….. with the stands at full height my truck is pretty much level still.

 

Carefully drop your front tire pressures down and see if you can get the ass to rise enough to get you some additional clearance.

 

I’ll try that. The lift under the diff might not be able to go lower though….

 

Pull the jack out completely. If you have to use your oem bottle jack to lift it afterwards then so be it. Also as mentioned I would disconnect your brake line bracket where it attaches to the axle.

 

One more suggestion for ya.

Support your axle with jack stands out near the shock mounts.

Remove the floor jack from under the diff.

Lift one side of the axle with the floor jack on the axle tube, and remove the jackstand on that same side. It should allow you to lower the axle further to get your bolt in.

Afterword, jack that side back up and support it with the jackstand and repeat the process on the other side.

 

3 ton or 6 ton jack stands?

 

It's so close in the first picture posted. Maybe my 300lb friend and that pry bar put a little more on there than I remember
Sorry, little humor to keep spirits up.
He is close to 300 lbs though

 

Try going to the other side and lifting up on the rotor, carefully. That may pivot the other side of the axle low enough.

 

I’ll give your suggestions a try with angling the axle with a stand. I honestly don’t think I have the right stands though. Not enough height. Going to head to autozone now and grab some 6 ton stands. I swear to god if it’s a problem of having the wrong gear I’m going to lose my mind…

 

3. Going out to buy 6.

 

Yeah 3 are too short for sure.

 

I bought 6 tons just for this. Axle needs to go lower then everything will be fine. The front bolt is the hard part.

 

I was going to say def invest in at least 6 tons. 3 tons wouldn’t even lift my truck enough to get my tires off. Maybe off the axle but not frame

 

Are we there yet? Did you ever get those rear springs installed?

 

When I did my leaf packs, I had the axle supported on jack stands and then jacked up on the trailer hitch to get the necessary clearance. Popped right in.

Using only a jack to raise and lower the differential won't make much difference as its loading the leaf pack unless you have the vehicle supported elsewhere that isn't sprung in the rear.

 

I've had to do my leafs twice now and both times required another set of hands with a pry bar to force the eye into place while the other guy slides the bolt in