Both rear shackles on back of the leaf springs are rusted/rotted away such that when the truck was put on a lift for something else, the springs actually pulled away from the brackets. Sheesh, been hauling wood like that for I don't know how long. Duh. Mechanic says it's very common with this vehicle. Was a hard sell to convince the better half for $500 estimate on a 4X4 XLT with V-6 4.0 liter having 233,000 on the odometer. Estimate is for shackles and brackets. Badly rusted underneath. Am I being illogically loyal to a vehicle that's done so much for me?
If the frame is rusted, Yes! (Sorry, your wife knows best this time) $500 for spring shackles sounds high to me, BUT, it's better than a new car payment!!!!
I have kept a 77 chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 running for lots of years. It hurt pretty bad to shell out 1800$ on a new motor and misc accessories back 4 years ago. You are living in the rust belt, we dont have too much of that issue here. I guess when the frame is rusted through a man has no choice but too get another vehicle.
I would probably fix it , I put a lot of new parts on my jeep , 280,000 on it now Get at least one more Estimate , most of the $500 is labor
Yup, we're in the rust belt and they use a lot of salt on the roads for snow & ice. The mechanic probed the frame for rot and found it solid, just needs the metal brackets and shackles new. He will have to grind off the rivets mounting the brackets, thus the high labor. Good idea for second estimate... I will do that. Thanks!
Since the frame is ok, spend the money and get it fixed. Explain to the wife that fixing it is a better financial decision. No long term payments... of course, let her think she helped make the decision...
Shoot if thats all that wrong with it? Price is a bit high, I'd say... But as long as your over all happy with it fix it... I just traded my '01 Ranger sounded just like yours except a year difference. But one repair followed by another, followed by another for about a total of $2600. If I traded it off early, I could have put that dollars towards the new truck instead... So dang if you do and dang if you dont... Good Luck...
Shackles go on all makes. I did mine on an '86 F250, frame will still very good. It's not a fun job with lots of rust flying at the old eye balls. Parts and hardware probably under $100, couple or three hours labor... The $500 is on the high end but not out of line.
Had a rotted out bracket on my '95. $60 or so in parts for each side and an hour of grinding the rivets off...put back together with grade 8 bolts and locking nuts and you're good to go.
Agreed...sounds kinda high...might shop around a bit if you don't wanna DIY...its not very hard if you have the tools (grinder, maybe an oxy/acetylene torch, punch and BFH) the brackets are something like $35 each from AutoZone the last time I bought one. I did both front and rear on my F150...the front was only available from Ford...was more like $100 each.
It is a pretty nasty tough job doing the shackles. I've got pretty good at doing them. It probably takes 2 or 2.5hrs per side, maybe a little more depending on how bad things are. I think the estimate is inline. Grinding the rivets off is the easy part. The hard part is getting the bolt out off the spring. The bolt usually rusts to the bushing and that makes for a job. $500 is one payment on a new truck.
OK, follow up post - got 'er done! Left & right brackets and shackles brand new. Truck again appears level (seen from behind) and rides well without clunking noises. Ready to haul wood again, yeehah!
