Install new leaf springs- line up pin to axle?

[Analog]

1971 Jeep. I'm installing new leaf springs. Stock height. As installed right now, the pin on the spring that aligns the spring to the axel is about an inch too far towards the front. Both sides of the leaf spring are installed.

The rear shackle is at an angle and not straight up and down as it is on the other side which I haven't removed yet. I think if I can get that corrected it should pull the spring back far enough to drop the pin of the spring into the hole on the axle. I'm just not sure of the best way to do that.

Should I push up on the spring until the shackle goes straight and then jack up the axel to match? Maybe I should have done the axle first?

I thought someone might have had the same issue and could save me trying ten different ways until I find the right one.


Thanks,

[tgreese]

Compare to what came off. The pin needs to be the proper distance from the spring mounts for the springs to fit. Note they could be turned around, front to back. The pin isn't necessarily centered exactly.

When installed, the shackle should be past vertical with weight on the truck, and the shackle angle should increase with more load.

What brand are these springs? If they don't fit, you'll need to send them back. This is not something you can work around. They should fit.

[Analog]

I'm not able to upload a photo right now, but I just checked and the new and old springs are a match. I can put one on top of the other and each hole and the center pin line up. They are from Bj's and are for my year. So I think the issue is me and how I'm doing it. I brought home two other floor jacks so
I can have more options of where to use them to push the spring into place.

The front and back have different sized holes for the bracket to the chassis so I don't think it is possible for it to be backwards.

[dddonkey]

I know that when I installed new leaf springs on my jeep you can install them backwards. I don't remember if it was the front or rear but the pin is not centered, it is offset if that makes sense.

[Analog]

Spring is installed. Took off the U bolts. Jacked up the spring in front of the axle which caused the rear shackle to go straight which brought the pin of the spring into alignment with the hole in the axle plate.

For anyone thinking of springs on an early wagon I installed new rubber body bushings, bj’s supplied stock height springs and billstein shocks and it all raised the rear 1 1/2 inches from where it used to sit with worn out original parts. Now 27 inches from floor to bottom of fender opening just above the middle of the 29 inch tires.

[rang-a-stang]

The axle is not supposed to be centered on a leaf spring. it should always be slight closer to one end (I don't remember if it is supposed to be slightly closer to the shackle or slightly farther than the shackle). If I recall correctly, on our FSJeeps, with the shackles in the front, the axle sits slightly forward (closer to the shackle).

There is an engineering reason for them not being centered on the spring but I do not remember what it is.

[sierrablue]

The axle is not supposed to be centered on a leaf spring. it should always be slight closer to one end (I don't remember if it is supposed to be slightly closer to the shackle or slightly farther than the shackle). If I recall correctly, on our FSJeeps, with the shackles in the front, the axle sits slightly forward (closer to the shackle).

There is an engineering reason for them not being centered on the spring but I do not remember what it is.

The pre-'74s actually are centered on the front springs. In '74, when they swapped the axle, they realized that they needed a longer pitman arm to get the same steering travel. Only when they did that, the pitman arm hit the tie rod. So they decided to use new, not centered springs, as well as (I think) different shackles/mounting points, resulting in a little bit of lift over the Kaiser rigs. This spring change makes it WONDERFUL working on the steering of a '71 with a '74 front axle...and then there's the fact that the '74-'76s used a smaller spindle (same size as the Ford D44 spindle) than the later ones...

Sorry I didn't see this sooner, Analog. I wish I could've helped.