Finally tackled that brake line...

[280plus]

 On my F-150. The one that runs aaaaaalllll the way back to the rear axle. Turned out it was in sections so instead of running the whole thing from front to rear I only had to replace ~5 feet. Way easier than I anticipated. Then, of course, when I started to pump them up yet ANOTHER line blew. Thought I was taking another ride to town but this one turned out to be in about a 6" piece coupled to a much longer and curled around a few times line that is fine. So I kinda stretched the curls out a bit and it screwed right in where the old one came out. Not sure why that little piece was in there. Anyhoo, so far so good but what should I notice while I'm under there? the damn bracket that holds the front end of the leafsprings to the frame is hanging by a thread. Sigh... Now what? Worth fixing? Hard to say. PITA I'll bet though. The other one is not as bad.

[Tallpine]

Not sure why that little piece was in there.

Fuse link 

the damn bracket that holds the front end of the leafsprings to the frame is hanging by a thread. Sigh... Now what? Worth fixing?

Not unless you don't want the wheel well suddenly rubbing the top of the tire 

[280plus]

When you say "suddenly"... 

[Tallpine]

When you say "suddenly"... 

What kind of a thread are you talking about?

Are the rivets all about to wear through and/or break off...?

I've seen that happen on TRUCKS, but not yet pickups.

[Jim147]

You got practice, now you can come by and put one of those lines on mine. I had just put all new front lines on and was moving it when the rear one let go.

Trucks just sitting here beside the garage so you can stop by anytime.

jim

[280plus]

You got practice, now you can come by and put one of those lines on mine. I had just put all new front lines on and was moving it when the rear one let go.

Trucks just sitting here beside the garage so you can stop by anytime.

jim

I'll be right over... 

What kind of a thread are you talking about?

Are the rivets all about to wear through and/or break off...?

I've seen that happen on TRUCKS, but not yet pickups.

no, the actual bracket itself is rotted through around the big pin that holds the springs in place. Outboard it is completely gone, inboard there's still some metal around it but not much. It needs a new bracket which means cutting the rivets, getting the big rusty bolt out of the leaf springs. I already know how tough it is to get that bolt free.. I'll have to look at it again tomorrow, maybe take pix.

[Tallpine]

no, the actual bracket itself is rotted through around the big pin that holds the springs in place. Outboard it is completely gone, inboard there's still some metal around it but not much. It needs a new bracket which means cutting the rivets, getting the big rusty bolt out of the leaf springs. I already know how tough it is to get that bolt free.. I'll have to look at it again tomorrow, maybe take pix.

Salt ?   

I don't think you will like it if that spring hanger lets go while you are driving.  It will probably tear up some brake lines, among other things.

[280plus]

yup, I'm going to have to take a close look at it and see if'n I can figure out how to prevent that from happening. 

Good thing I noticed it anyways.

[HeroHog]

If you don't replace ALL of the brake lines, steel and flex, you are just asking for trouble given the corrosion evident in the system so far!

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

If you don't replace ALL of the brake lines, steel and flex, you are just asking for trouble given the corrosion evident in the system so far!

much wisdom there!  hope he didn't learn same way i did

[280plus]

Actually I gave the rest of them a visual and they look ok. I've changed quite a few of them now.

I'm assuming there is an after market bracket available that I can bolt to the existing rivet holes?

[Nick1911]

Actually I gave the rest of them a visual and they look ok. I've changed quite a few of them now.

I'm assuming there is an after market bracket available that I can bolt to the existing rivet holes?

Not sure about that particular part, but brackets for the front radius arms were available from advance auto for my F250, FWIW.  They were special order, though.

Personally, knowing what I know now, I don't think I'd even try to unbolt that part from my truck.  Acetylene is cheap, and grade 8 fasteners are cheap enough from tractor supply.

[Tallpine]

I'm assuming there is an after market bracket available that I can bolt to the existing rivet holes?

Salvage yard, perhaps ?

Actually, if you have a place to set it on cinder blocks, just buying another entire parts truck might not be a bad idea. 

[280plus]

Yup, I was thinking torch myself but the gas tanks worry me. I believe it's riveted on so I was thinking grinder.

[Tallpine]

Yup, I was thinking torch myself but the gas tanks worry me. I believe it's riveted on so I was thinking grinder.

You might make life easier for yourself by just yanking the bed off to work on it 

[Nick1911]

You might make life easier for yourself by just yanking the bed off to work on it 

You know, I've never done that.  How hard is it to remove the bed on a 90's F series pickup?  I imagine it would just be the electric for the taillights and the mounting bolts?

Course, on mine those are probably rusted beyond cold-wrench removal. 

[CNYCacher]

You know, I've never done that.  How hard is it to remove the bed on a 90's F series pickup?  I imagine it would just be the electric for the taillights and the mounting bolts?

Course, on mine those are probably rusted beyond cold-wrench removal. 

Don't forget the gas tank filler tube! 

[Fly320s]

Don't forget the gas tank filler tube! 

And dump out the gravel first. Makes it much lighter. 

[280plus]

Probably fairly easy if you have some way of lifting the bed off. The bed is not really in the way though. I don;t know, I have half a mind to put it up on Craigslist and be done with it. That's a lot od work to do to fix something that is just going to keep nickle and dime-ing me. Sucks cause I love the truck. If it was anything else I wouldn't give it a second thought. 

[Tallpine]

You know, I've never done that.  How hard is it to remove the bed on a 90's F series pickup?  I imagine it would just be the electric for the taillights and the mounting bolts?

Course, on mine those are probably rusted beyond cold-wrench removal. 

Not sure, but I had the bed off and on my old 1973 Chevy and it wasn't much problem.  I was going to rig it up for something else but then put the bed back on.

I do know that my sister's husband routinely pulls the bed on brand new pickups to install gooseneck hitches.

Everything is easier if you can stand up to do it instead of lying on your back.

I would think that you could hoist an (empty!) pickup bed up to your garage rafters.  Or a big tree or an A-frame gallows made for the purpose.  You might even be able to do it with one of those roll-around engine hoists by "heeling" it on the boom.  (use some cross timbers)

[Jamie B]

Here is some information that I found about replacing the shackles:


http://www.am-autoparts.com/Ford/F150-Truck/LeafSpringRepair/AM-59298517/472111.html

http://www.fordf150.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=70536

[280plus]

Thanks!