Removing a leaf from All Pro Expedition springs

I have seen that doing research about flip kits n such. So removing leafs will not give more flex and softer ride ….SOL. Perhaps it’s time to take a drive to deaver down the 55 and ask what they think.

 

they will sell you one of their Expo variants....or suggest....

My first AP Expo install too a number of trips but with weight to soften up, I do remember taking most of my weight out the back and rear was like a bunny hoping down that road.

A mixture of thinner and some thick leafs in a pack may be more suited for you.

 

Yes it’s like I’m in a model T that sounds like a 1600s Spanish ship creak creak

 

Archive garage has some new springs out maybe I’ll give them a try and just go with med duty

 

I’m on my 2nd set of AP Expo springs. The first set eventually sagged after 8 years? I had a built out flippac, rear swing out, interior boxes for gear, fridge, battery, etc….75% of the time and the springs worked well. 2nd set, AP suggested that I do an AAL, that required me to take apart the spring pack and add one more AAL that had to be cut to size. These springs have barely settled over 2 plus years. Now, I’m selling the Flippac, and build and my bed is not weighed down, and as you can imagine, I need to lower it. I will report back with what was removed and how much it affected the lift in the rear.

 

Standing by

 

I’m about to tackle this tomorrow. I’ll report back with results soon.

 

I’m getting ready to reassemble the driver side. I’m coming off a surgery, so I’m a little slower this week, but I’ll get it done today. I’m doing this with the leafsprings on the truck. I’m not taking them off. I think it will make it easier, but I’ll find out after the paint dries. I am guessing that I either did not paint these springs in 21 when I bought them or did a crap job, but man, they are so rusty for 3 year old springs. I’m cleaning, rust reforming and painting before putting them back together. I’ll spray or wipe grease between them as well.
As others have said, you are really limited, at least on a 1st gen pack, to what you can remove. First leaf is a half leaf, I don’t think it will do much, 2nd and 3rd are part of the military wrap or connect to the truck. The 4th is the only long leaf that will come out that also does not have a clip attached to it. In my case, I had installed a long AAL under the direction of Allpro/wheelers for these springs to hold their shape longer with my old setup. That leaf was the 4th leaf for me. They did their job, but without my camper build plus, it’s insanely high and stiff.
I am basically taking out the stock 4th leaf, and the AAL I put in, and then I’ll see. If that allows the truck to settle down.
Should be done this afternoon.

 

I finished it a few hours ago. I can post some photos up later if it’s helpful. These were Expedition springs that I bought in 2021 and because of the weight I carried around, Allpro suggested I put in an AAL. It was a Deaver spring and I cut it and put it in the 4th position of the pack. After selling my setup, I needed to reduce the capacity and the lift of these springs. They held their arch for the time used. If you need to carry a load all of the time, put an AAL in this pack and you are good.
I left the pack on the truck and after taking off the tires, chocking the fronts, jacking from the diff, and putting the truck on stands on the frame, I went to work
Take the U bolts off one side, use some clamps to hold the pack together and then release the center bolt. Slowly release the clamps (it was a non issue, but you might get a pop), and lower the axle slowly on the side you are working on. I used a small jack to manipulate the axle to help.
Keep track of the order the springs are in. 1st leaf is a half leaf, 2nd and 3rd are part of the miltary wrap or connect to the hangers. They will stay on the truck.
For me, the next one was the AAL I had added. I used a hammer and knocked it out through the back. That gave me more room to get the rest of the pack out.
Oh, yeah, release the spring retainers and bang on them a bit to get the leafs to separate.
What you will find is that there is really only one spring that is not connected to the vehicle, does not have a retainer clip, and is full length. That’s the one you will want to pull. If you don’t care to do any cleanup, you can repackage the pack leaving all of the lower leafs in place. I used the trolley jack and ratchet straps to manipulate the center pin through the remaining leafs, spraying lithium grease all over them. I did take the whole pack apart, cleaned, rust reformered, and painted before putting back together.
Results. The back end at the fender was at 40” prior to the repair. I had 3 full size tires in the back and a full size spare to try and weigh it down before I could do this job. LOL.
After the fix, with the two leaves removed, it was immediately at 38.5”. After removing the tires and some Jerry cans of water, it was at 39”
I suspect it will drop down more now that the springs are removed. I also run timbrens back there and I think the rear is resting on them now.

There ya go. It’s time for bed. I’m whooped.