97 E350 Crestline Ambo Build/Mod
- Thread starter Bikersmurf
- Start date
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
If this $400 brand new pack won't handle the load of its identical looking any rated counterpart, I'm going to want a permanent solution... Not just an extra leaf that'll make the ride harsher. It'd take quite the leaf to lift 3000+ lbs +/- 2.5"
I'd think it'll need more.
I'd think it'll need more.
Wow. I didn't think it was that much lean. Mine visibly leans but nowhere near that much, and it's not an uncommon thing. Older jeeps are famous for it and my first superduty had it from brand new. "Within specs" was the response. I think your on your best course, drive that bugger over there.
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
It has an honest 2" consistently. I figure I need 2.5" so that once it settles, it doesn't lean. I jacked the corner up when the springs were broken, and 2" leveled the front and back out.
I don't think it's a good sign when a new pack goes beyond 'flat' and has a 'reverse' arch when the rig is empty... I know from what expo members have said the cabinets aren't light, but on an 8500+ lb rig, it shouldn't make that much difference. With 2 broken leaves it leaned the same amount... But everyone has been shocked that the brand new pack sits 2" lower than the well aged pack. My even bigger concern is where will it be in 6 months, a year, two years... $450 for parts is a lot to pay for a 'saggy' pack. I considered replacing the other side with the same springs, but I'm afraid It'd be dragging its rear every time I went up a sloped driveway... I'd be even more afraid to see what'd happen if I ever loaded it up with cargo. I realize, of course, it's not light to begin with, but given what an extended body 7.3 van weighs... 8500 lbs isn't bad.
Fj40s are infamous for lean... Never had enough with mine to be see, or know which way for that matter, but I'm aware of the issue.
I don't think it's a good sign when a new pack goes beyond 'flat' and has a 'reverse' arch when the rig is empty... I know from what expo members have said the cabinets aren't light, but on an 8500+ lb rig, it shouldn't make that much difference. With 2 broken leaves it leaned the same amount... But everyone has been shocked that the brand new pack sits 2" lower than the well aged pack. My even bigger concern is where will it be in 6 months, a year, two years... $450 for parts is a lot to pay for a 'saggy' pack. I considered replacing the other side with the same springs, but I'm afraid It'd be dragging its rear every time I went up a sloped driveway... I'd be even more afraid to see what'd happen if I ever loaded it up with cargo. I realize, of course, it's not light to begin with, but given what an extended body 7.3 van weighs... 8500 lbs isn't bad.
Fj40s are infamous for lean... Never had enough with mine to be see, or know which way for that matter, but I'm aware of the issue.
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Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
No factory perches... Given how tight things are under there I can't see adding them to be an easy thing. Especially given the 35 gal tank just behind the rear axle.
I don't Cary cargo, so either they'd be no use, or I'd be riding on them 100% of the time. I'd add a well designed set of airbags before overloads.
Replacing the one pack was necessary to get it back on the road quickly. Original plan was to replace one broken leaf... Turns out the main leaf was also broken. This necessitated replacing the whole pack. Replacing the second side is coming... But not with a pack that won't support the empty rig when it's lowered off the jack stands...
I'll measure frame to axle... It could be the box, but the rear of the frame/bumper is just as bad, if not worse.
I don't Cary cargo, so either they'd be no use, or I'd be riding on them 100% of the time. I'd add a well designed set of airbags before overloads.
Replacing the one pack was necessary to get it back on the road quickly. Original plan was to replace one broken leaf... Turns out the main leaf was also broken. This necessitated replacing the whole pack. Replacing the second side is coming... But not with a pack that won't support the empty rig when it's lowered off the jack stands...
I'll measure frame to axle... It could be the box, but the rear of the frame/bumper is just as bad, if not worse.
BajaSportsmobile
Baja Ironman
Packs may "look" the same but could be different material.
Someone asked earlier, "Is the a formula..." and yes there is. A spring builder selects different thicknesses and material and number of leaves along with arch and other things. And then there is their experience, this is the key!
Your new pack is well under sprung.
More leaves will not make it stiff, it has to be able to carry the weight.
A lot of work goes into getting the right spring combination under a heavy van.
Someone asked earlier, "Is the a formula..." and yes there is. A spring builder selects different thicknesses and material and number of leaves along with arch and other things. And then there is their experience, this is the key!
Your new pack is well under sprung.
More leaves will not make it stiff, it has to be able to carry the weight.
A lot of work goes into getting the right spring combination under a heavy van.
Abitibi
Explorer
Sounds like you've been through this lately
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Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
Given the number of these ambulances on the road, and I'm lighter than most, it shouldn't be too hard to replace a stock pack with a new one. The fact that it sags on the new side, and the OEM side is higher with what are likely 20 year old springs suggests someone dropped the ball. The old pack look worse than the 42 year old springs on my 4x4... The 'nylon' pads are worn through, and the leaves have worn into each other... They are well used, and near the end of their service life.
I'm aware of how difficult it is to build a pack, especially for a lifted, heavier, modified rig... That said, mine is stock height, 'stock' weight, and not significantly modified. If I install a new factory made spring pack for an ambulance package Ford, it should more or less work... Or at least that's the theory.
I'm aware of how difficult it is to build a pack, especially for a lifted, heavier, modified rig... That said, mine is stock height, 'stock' weight, and not significantly modified. If I install a new factory made spring pack for an ambulance package Ford, it should more or less work... Or at least that's the theory.
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
Could be... I did tell them there was 6000+ lbs on the rear axle. They said it didn't matter, there was only two options... 9 or 10 leaf, and 9 leaf was what I had and therefore, 9 leaf was the correct replacement. I don't think I've even seen a type II in BC. Until this last round, they were always Crestline boxes on a Ford Body... Now they are Crestline boxes on GM Gasser Bodies.
I did had a conversation with them about how it had to be the difficult side with the battery box that went... not the easier side. He said they usually end up drilling a hole through the battery box to get to the fixed bolt.
I went out and checked the spacing axle to frame. The left side was about 4" to the bump stop and the right was about 6" to the stop. The box just behind the axle sits 1/4" off the frame on both sides. When I went over the scales, the left side is about 500 lbs heavier than the right side. However, given that 350 lbs doesn't even make the body sink on either side, it doesn't explain the 2".
I did had a conversation with them about how it had to be the difficult side with the battery box that went... not the easier side. He said they usually end up drilling a hole through the battery box to get to the fixed bolt.
I went out and checked the spacing axle to frame. The left side was about 4" to the bump stop and the right was about 6" to the stop. The box just behind the axle sits 1/4" off the frame on both sides. When I went over the scales, the left side is about 500 lbs heavier than the right side. However, given that 350 lbs doesn't even make the body sink on either side, it doesn't explain the 2".
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
Went by... They agree the left side is lower than the right. At the point they measured, they're saying 1.5" lower.
They looked for other explanations and measured everything carefully. All the lean is in the springs... They're saying 1/2" less to the bump stops than on the other side. So... They've called their supplier to see what they have to say before digging into it further. They've suggested it could be a bad pack... But so far, still saying it should be higher, and the inatalled pack has an issue since they did order the pack for an Ambulnce pack.
The hands free wouldn't answer their call... And the line was still busy when I called back.
They looked for other explanations and measured everything carefully. All the lean is in the springs... They're saying 1/2" less to the bump stops than on the other side. So... They've called their supplier to see what they have to say before digging into it further. They've suggested it could be a bad pack... But so far, still saying it should be higher, and the inatalled pack has an issue since they did order the pack for an Ambulnce pack.
The hands free wouldn't answer their call... And the line was still busy when I called back.