Dodge D150 1990 Service Manual page 775

17 - 8 SPRINGS/SHOCK ABSORBERS •
SPRING
Fig. 10 Front Suspension W/Model 60 Axle—W-350
Vehicles
(3) Inspect t h e s p r i n g leaf a l i g n m e n t clips. T h e
clips m u s t not be damaged or bent. The clips should
be t i g h t around t h e spring leaves, b u t n o t t i g h t
enough t o " b i n d " the spring leaves. Replace damaged
clips.
(4) Inspect for broken s p r i n g leaves and replace as
necessary.
T h e r e a r s p r i n g s a r e d e s i g n e d t o f u n c t i o n sat-
i s f a c t o r i l y w i t h o u t l u b r i c a n t a d d e d b e t w e e n t h e
leaves; h o w e v e r , f o r a b n o r m a l o p e r a t i n g c o n d i -
t i o n s , a s l i g h t a p p l i c a t i o n o f l u b r i c a n t b e t w e e n
t h e l e a v e s w i l l i m p r o v e t h e s p r i n g a c t i o n .
F r o n t leaf springs do not have plastic-tip liners.
INSTALLATION
(1) A l i g n t h e spring front " e y e " w i t h t h e bolt hole
i n t h e f r o n t bracket a n d i n s t a l l t h e "eye" p i v o t bolt
and n u t (Figs. 9 and 10).
(2) Position the shackle plates a t t h e s p r i n g rear
"eye" a n d t h e frame r a i l bracket, and i n s t a l l t h e re-
t a i n i n g n u t s (Figs. 9 and 10).
(3) T i g h t e n the shackle plate n u t s a n d t h e front
"eye" p i v o t bolt n u t u n t i l a l l separation between t h e
metal is removed.
(4) Position the spring on t h e axle shaft tube so
t h a t t h e spring center bolt is inserted i n t o t h e locat-
i n g hole i n the axle tube s p r i n g pad (Figs. 9 and 10).
(5) I n s t a l l the U-bolts, replacement lockwashers
and t h e r e t a i n i n g nuts (Figs. 9 a n d 10).
(6) T i g h t e n the nuts u n t i l t h e y force t h e lockwash-
ers flush against t h e spring bracket.
(7) Remove t h e supports a n d lower t h e vehicle so
t h a t t h e weight is being supported b y t h e tires (i.e.,
the springs).
(8) T i g h t e n t h e s p r i n g r e t a i n i n g n u t s according to
the following specifications:
• U-bolt nuts - 129 N - m (95 ft-lbs) torque;
• axle spring pad stud n u t s (9/16-18 stud) — 129
N-m (95 ft-lbs) torque;
• axle spring pad stud n u t s (Model 44 A x l e ) — 142
N-m (105 ft-lbs) torque;
• axle spring pad stud n u t s (Model 60 Axle) — 156
N-m (115 ft-lbs) torque;
• s p r i n g front "eye" pivot bolt n u t — 108 N-m (80 f t -
lbs) torque; a n d
• shackle plate nuts — 108 N - m (80 ft-lbs) torque.
REAR SPRINGS—REMOVAL/INSTALLATION
REMOVAL
(1) Use a chain hoist/crane or a h y d r a u l i c l i f t posi-
tioned a t t h e frame a f t o f the rear axle to raise t h e
vehicle u n t i l a l l w e i g h t is removed from t h e rear
springs.
T h e v e h i c l e m u s t b e r a i s e d e i t h e r b y a hoist/
c r a n e o r a l i f t p o s i t i o n e d u n d e r t h e f r a m e side
r a i l a t t h e c r o s s m e m b e r a f t o f t h e a x l e . U s e c a r e
t o a v o i d b e n d i n g t h e s i d e r a i l f l a n g e .
(2) W i t h the front tires i n contact w i t h the surface,
position support stands under t h e frame side rails.
(3) Remove t h e nuts, t h e lockwashers, a n d t h e U -
bolts t h a t attach t h e s p r i n g to t h e axle shaft tubes
(Figs. 1 1 , 12 and 13).
NUT J9017-30
Fig. 11 Rear Spring—Model 150 Vehicles