Leaf Spring anchor point install ?

[Rusty76]

Thanks everybody for the help. It nearly took me all day monkeying around
mocking things up this way or that way. I was nervous about welding that bracket in the wrong spot. Got frustrated and walked the dog. Was able to come up with a different plan. Got back into the garage and it seemed to work.
Funny how it took me sooooo long to figure it out. Anyway I attached the spring to the new front shackle then used the "indicator' knob of the new leaf, lined that up with the female knob taker (wait what am I describing here)
on the bottom of the axle. Stuck my jack under both and raised it up into position with the new bracket already mounted. I think I'm pretty darn close.
The picture is a little dark but you can see the old revit and the spring eye are
at a nice angle like the original.

Welding was tricky. My Miller 135 will not Mig weld 1/4 steel. So I needed to switch to fluxcore. The problem I realized right away was that the bracket is 1/4 steel and the frame is only 16g steel. Had to sit on the bracket and whip the puddle up onto the frame. Its not pretty but its solid and I will probably try to brace is some more. With weight the front shackle angle seems good.
Onto the drivers side. Thanks again
IMG_0579 by , on Flickr
IMG_0580 by Colin McArthur, on Flickr

[rws31]

I'm gonna say you pretty screwed already cause of that serious hack job someone already accomplished.

IF you haven't already cut the mounts off, here's what I would do.

Put everything back together and set it on the ground. IF you like where the axle is centered in the wheel well, place a plumb bob on each side of the frame and let it be centered on the axle tube. Leave it be.

Take everything off and cut all that crap out.

Put new hangers on the springs and install springs on the axle and get the axle tube lined up under the plumb bob or slightly behind the plumb bob cause when you put weight on the springs the axle will slightly move forward.

Tack weld the rear holders onto the frame and then put the jeep weight back onto the springs and see where the axle center is compared to the plumb bob. Adjust accordingly.

It's a guessing game at this point cause all your factory locations are mute cause you don't have factory spring brackets.

As far as squaring it, good luck. Nothing on these vehicles are square to begin with. I would measure from the rear spring hanger to the front on each side and get it close. Remember, a slightly out of square front axle won't make you go crooked down the road but a crooked rear axle will.

Good luck. You have lots of ciphering to do.

[rws31]

I typed all that only to post after you fixed it.

[rws31]

But I do agree with Rang on the location of the Spring center eye. Looks to be perpendicular from the frame to the old mount rivet. Picture might be deceiving, but you might be slightly off.

[Rusty76]

haha sorry..Thanks for the input. I do see what you are saying in regard to the eye.
The picture is taken a little to the front. Its really close. We will see how the drivers side works out.

[rws31]

It was pretty funny.

I only suggested all that cause you don't really know what the PO had done. When I put the 89 together from the old 82 stuff I found out that my front axle was slightly off due to a spring center pin being off. And I was the one that did it lol.

[SJTD]

Is: If you haven't done the other side yet you could get a bar and drill it to match the factory front shackle pivot hole and rear spring mount hole of the side you've done. Then use the bar and the other front bracket to locate the rear.

Was: If you haven't done the other side yet you could get a bar and drill it to match the front spring hole and rear shackle pivot hole of the side you've done. Then use it and the other front bracket to locate the rear.

I did something similar on mine to get the holes through the frame rails for the shackle pivots on my reversal.

[Rusty76]

Morning. rws31 thanks for the suggestions. As always I'm open to all advise!
SJTD I have not started the drivers yet. I've cut out the old just need to clean up the area and get to it.

SJTD do you think you could explain your idea a different way. Cant wrap my head around it. Maybe if I drink some coffee it will come to me. I'm thinking if I follow the same steps it should workout the same. Mating the leafspring Knob to the female on the axle. Lifting them both up into position.

Thanks

[bkilby]

Sorry, that's wrong, you need to use a weighted string and drop straight down from original spring mount hole and locate the new spring mount hole in that location, then measure to the front spring mount on both sides so they are the same and then across to each side to make sure there are square.

Yup. What he said. I'm going through this right now and although he's right, it's not easy to get good measurements sometimes. I have to go through all this, this morning.

[Rusty76]

Ah man.... Bummer. If I get the other within 1/2inch would it work?
Going to be tough cutting it out and redoing.

[SJTD]

My understanding is that the front shackle mounts are still in place on yours.

My assumption is that the factory installation of the fronts is accurate.

So you make a bar that picks up the front and rear holes on the side you've done then use it to locate the mount you have yet to install. I hope that makes sense.

I think you want to be way closer than 1/2" side to side. If you mean can they both be 1/2" of I'd think you'd be ok. I'd tack the other side where it needs to be then put the weight on the axle to see how the shackle angle looks to be sure before finish welding it.

Just realized I worded my post like you're doing a shackle reversal. I'll edit it but the idea is the same.

[Rusty76]

Ah. Ok that makes sense now. Yes no change to the front spring mount position.

Thanks!