Ford Ranger Broken Spring Mount

[mscher]

Our 97 Ranger rear leaf spring mount, has broken loose and pushed up through the bed. It looks like it broke at the welds on the truck frame.

Is this usually repairable? I need to get a bigger vehicle anyway and was hoping that this repair will at least keep it rpoad worthy, until sold.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Ford Ranger Broken Spring Mount

A lot of what your asking depends on the condition of the frame. Is it rusted out or did the weld brake?

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Ford Ranger Broken Spring Mount

Pretty common problem, have not seen many frame problems but have replaced a fair number of spring hangers.
Abrasives make it easy.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/d...apwcid=P1135867996W43b3f85c7ab9e&apwiddzS6L27

 

[mscher]

Re: Ford Ranger Broken Spring Mount

The frame is in pretty good shape. It did not look like ithad too heavy of welds on it in the first place.

I think the truck may have been overloaded ( a lot of dirt) and stressed the spring connection.

My garage guy will look to see if it needs rewelded or add the bolt-on piece.

Thanks everybody.

 

[68C15]

Re: Ford Ranger Broken Spring Mount

while he has it on the hoist have him closely look (may even go as far as poke with a screwdriver) the upper spring bracket for the front axle. this is also a common failure. I think they had the same guys making frame brackets as the oil pans.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Ford Ranger Broken Spring Mount

I just fixed my 90 dodge conversion van. Left rear spring hanger totally disintegrated, along with it's mounting place.

Frame and heavy trailer hitch seemed to be solid. I cleaned up the scrap left with a torch and grinder, and fashioned a fish plate/spring hanger/ bumper mount out of 1/4 inch plate and welded it into place. Did both sides while I was at it.

Gave me a good excuse to buy a wire feed welder.

I think Minnesota uses battery acid for ice removal.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Ford Ranger Broken Spring Mount

Those poor spring perches and shackles they are in the direct path or mud,crud, snow, salt and all the other good crap out there. They load up with road grime and dirt that sits there wet and moist and just rusts em right out.

All I've worked on were riveted from the factory and not welded, cut the rivet heads off pound them out and bolt the hanger in place.
Usually the bolt the goes thru the spring and shackle are also firmy rusted in place also rendering those as scrap.
Preferred method of of replacement ? Cut it all out with a zip wheel or plasma cutter and throw the spring, shackle and mount into the scrap box and replace it all.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Ford Ranger Broken Spring Mount

Our 97 Ranger rear leaf spring mount, has broken loose and pushed up through the bed. It looks like it broke at the welds on the truck frame.

Is this usually repairable? I need to get a bigger vehicle anyway and was hoping that this repair will at least keep it rpoad worthy, until sold.

Hmmm... if I had a nickle for every time I have seen one of these, I would probably have .50 cents.

Honestly though, like the other posters said, it happens all the time.
When I was working at a Mazda dealership we had a B series truck (first cousin to the Ranger) come in from Gloucester with not 1, not 2, but 3 of those spring pockets rotted off the frame. The scary thing was the gentleman who owned it drove it to the dealership like that, axle twisted and all (and tires rubbing the body) ! They are really no sweat to replace, and usually the frame is fine, its just what ever metal the pockets were made out of was crappy.

Grind the rivets holding the pockets on, and tap the rest of the rivet body out with a punch. Then install the new pocket(s) with grade 8 bolds, lock nuts, and Loctite.

If you have any front ones go, especially the left front near the gas tank, it may be easier to replace them with the bed removed.

Also one final note; You may find that the cap screw that bolts the eye of the leaf spring to the leaf spring shackle has rusted it self solid to the metal sleeve inside the bushing of the leaf spring eye. If thats the case, good luck getting it out, you may be in the market for new leaf spring bushings!

 

[mscher]

Re: Ford Ranger Broken Spring Mount

Those poor spring perches and shackles they are in the direct path or mud,crud, snow, salt and all the other good crap out there. They load up with road grime and dirt that sits there wet and moist and just rusts em right out.

All I've worked on were riveted from the factory and not welded, cut the rivet heads off pound them out and bolt the hanger in place.
Usually the bolt the goes thru the spring and shackle are also firmy rusted in place also rendering those as scrap.
Preferred method of of replacement ? Cut it all out with a zip wheel or plasma cutter and throw the spring, shackle and mount into the scrap box and replace it all.

You are correct, that it is a riveted-on bracket (eyesight not that great anymore). the Gargage Mgr that works on our big trucks, will take a look at it. He can fix about anything.

I don't want to put a lot of money in it, as it's going up for sale, as 3 teenagers don't fit in it too well, for their daily commute.