Something Odd with the Leaf Springs

[slayermd]

Today, I was aiming to do a tire rotation. As I was jacking up the rear passenger, I noticed that I kept jacking it up further and further. I know there isn't that much travel...

Well, turns out, the passenger leaf spring sheared at the front shackle. Really not sure how this happened, or how long it has been like this.

Thinking of going the warranty route, or getting an aftermarket leaf pack, but I figured I'd share this with others. The photos are with the truck slightly jacked up.

Sponsored

 

[9zero1790]

Today, I was aiming to do a tire rotation. As I was jacking up the rear passenger, I noticed that I kept jacking it up further and further. I know there isn't that much travel...

Well, turns out, the passenger leaf spring sheared at the front shackle. Really not sure how this happened, or how long it has been like this.

Thinking of going the warranty route, or getting an aftermarket leaf pack, but I figured I'd share this with others. The photos are with the truck slightly jacked up.

ouch! I know someone will likely say you must have been jacking it wrong ( lets not get into that lol ) . However, I would not expect it break. I would try warranty for sure and see what happens.
My situation is different but worth mentioning. few months ago i had a decent spin out of control and went into up and over the median with a pretty stout curb. then into some sign poles. truck was not hurt too bad mainly bumper damage from the poles and lots of scrapes. but the accident did bend and shift my leaf springs and hardware nearly a full inch on the rears. the side that got the curb first was over a half inch out of the norm. my point in that story is that even though i bent up the rear leafs and hardware none of it broke. The trucks full weight plus all the inertia from the speed i was traveling etc hitting solid concrete off angle is more force than simply using a jack to lift the truck or any average driving damage you could have done.

 

[Frenchy]

Interesting to say the least. Definitely a huge concern and I hope you have another vehicle you can drive in the meantime. If you are going to get aftermarket leafs I suggest matching the shocks with them. If you decide to stay with the Factory leafs then get it towed to the dealer ASAP and make sure its noted to ford!! In general that would be a bumper to bumper type warranty but at the same time I think it is classified under a different deal.

 

[myothercarizahearse]

if you really need an excuse for an upgrade, you could just say it's broke. no need to photoshop.

actually I'm curious how it happened. my leafs are about 1/2" from bump stops with only a 300 pound camper shell. I really don't have much faith in these parabolic springs and longevity

 

[FInoob]

Looks stretched out to me. Someone overload the bed? Too much tongue weight?

Dang, i see it now. Crazy

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Hi Michael,

The pictures do not show enough of the fracture surface for an analysis of what happened to cause the fracture. It does not look like it just snapped but can't say for sure... I have seen only a couple such failures and it was attributed that the spring bushing bolt was way over torqued. Do not think this was so in you case though.. Have you owned the truck from new? Anyway to get better pix of the fracture surface? The little bit I see shows rust which indicates it was not a recent failure... and if it was a long time ago and the fracture surfaces have rubbed together enough it may not tell much...

best,
Phil

 

[slayermd]

Quick update, but here are better photos of the break now that I'm replacing the OEM with Icon packs. It's not photoshoped lol.

The truck has towed, but a 1500 pound camper, so I don't think it's been overloaded at any point.

Judging but the amount of rust, it seems to have been like this for some time.

 

[Zappy]

Sorry I didn't see this post earlier. I had the exact same issue last spring and I know of at least two other cases where the spring broke at the bushing. Anyway, just want to let you know you're not alone. https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/both-leaf-springs-broke.29518/

 

[Texasota]

Dang, I'm going to have to check mine. A few weeks ago after having oil changed and tires rotated there was a loud pop/bang sound as I pulled out of the Quick Lane parking lot. I stopped and looked but did not see anything obviously wrong. But now I am thinking it might have been a broken spring(s) popping back into place.

 

[LesPaul]

Took our 2020 Ranger in for an oil change a few days ago. When they started to lift it the rear end dropped a bit on the driver side. Lo and behold, leaf spring break at the front bushing. He asked me if I have been jumping the truck over railroad tracks. I’m sure he was kidding. My wife drives the Ranger. She babies it like I do. I drive a 2001 GMC on a 9” lift. We do have the bumper to bumper warranty. That paid for all but $200. Still, $200 too much. Doing a bit of research, it does appear that this is a common issue. I’m a bit concerned that the other side is not so far off from failure. Looking at the break, it appears that it had a partial break for a period of time before a rapid separation. The complete break had to occurred after November 4 as the truck was on a lift for a flat tire on the left rear. No issue then. This is obviously a manufacturing issue as near every picture I can find the break is in the same place. I do have experience looking at breaks in metals. I recently retired after near 40 years in NDT. I see that another on this site had luck recouping his cost from Ford. Will be attempting that route. In the images attached, one can see the original break in the center and then the rapid growth to complete failure. Being the original crack was in a location that cannot be inspected for a crack out it would be impossible to catch it before failure. This leads me to wonder just how close the passenger side is to failing.

 

[airline tech]

They are all breaking at the same spot - I determined (not confirmed) that in the manufacturing process (and the leaf) goes into the machine that creates the roll for the eyelet. That spot is the pinch point in the die and if you look at the Leafs (via ebay) pics - you will notice a small indention at that location where they are breaking.

 

[Mighty Little Blue]

Would you not change the leaf springs like shocks and do both sides?

 

[LesPaul]

Would you not change the leaf springs like shocks and do both sides?

That was a consideration. As there are other things pressing, this was a surprise expense. Future upgrade come summer.

 

[Dereku]

I smell a class action lawsuit coming. We all get free deavers now!

 

[Superspirit]

They just need to replace them all with ROW multi leaf springs. I love mine!

Sponsored