Replacing Leaf Springs on a Suburban 3/4 Ton 4WD V8-305 (1986)
Suspension Spring ( Coil / Leaf ): Service and Repair
Leaf Spring Replace
For information on leaf spring front suspensions used on four wheel drive vehicles, refer to ``Front Wheel Drive Section.''
A leaf spring type front suspension is available on P Series vehicles. The suspension is centered around a solid I-beam axle and includes leafsprings,
shock absorbers and a stabilizer bar.
LEAF SPRINGS, REPLACE
1.
Raise and support front of vehicle. Support axle assembly with a separate jack to relieve load from springs.
2.
Remove wheel and tire assembly.
3.
Remove lower shock absorber attaching bolt and nut.
4.
Remove stabilizer link-to-bar attaching nut, then separate the link from bar using a suitable tool.
5.
Remove stabilizer link, nut and retainer from axle, then pull link away from axle.
Use care to avoid losing inner insulator and retainer.
6.
Remove leaf spring retaining nuts, washers, U-bolts and spacers, then separate leaf spring from axle.
7.
Remove leaf spring-to-rear shackle attaching nut and bolt, then separate spring from the shackle.
8.
Remove leaf spring-to-front hanger attaching nut and bolt, then separate spring from the hanger and remove assembly from vehicle.
9.
Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:
a. Torque leaf spring-to-frame attaching nut to 92 ft. lbs.
b. Torque leaf spring-to-axle attaching nuts in a diagonal sequence first to 18 ft. lbs. then to 80 ft. lbs.
c. Tighten stabilizer link-to-axle attaching nut until distance between each retainer is .82 inch.
d. Torque stabilizer bar-to-link attaching nut to 50 ft. lbs.
e. Torque lower shock absorber attaching nut to 37 ft. lbs.
SHOCK ABSORBER, REPLACE
1.
Raise and support front of vehicle.
2.
Remove wheel and tire assembly.
3.
Remove lower shock absorber attaching bolt and nut.
4.
Unfasten shock absorber from upper attachment at frame and remove from vehicle.
5.
Reverse procedure to install. Torque upper nut to 136 ft. lbs. and lower nut to 37 ft. lbs.
WHEEL BEARINGS, ADJUST
1.
Raise front of vehicle and support under lower control arms.
2.
Remove retainer and cotter pin, then torque spindle nut to 12 ft. lbs. while rotating wheel forward.
3.
Back off spindle nut one flat, then install cotter pin.
If cotter pin holes do not align, back off nut no more than an additional 1/2 flat more as
necessary.
4.
Ensure hub and rotor assembly endplay measures .0005---.0080 inch, then install retainer and lower vehicle.
