Bent front leave...

hwstem · #1 (**permalink**) 11-14-2012, 07:19 AM

So last night I ran into a stump covered with leaves and it bent the bottom leaf on the front drivers side on my '97 F350, it curled down. The truck rides the same but it looks wrong. If I were to put my jack under it to try to bend it back, is that a bad idea? Any ideas or thoughts are welcome.
Thanks
hwstem

1Dieselman · #2 (**permalink**) 11-14-2012, 07:53 AM

Unless you have a spring shop that can properly bend it back which would require removing it I wouldn't mess with it because there is a very good chance that you will break it or seriously hurt yourself. I think it would be cheaper to just find a replacement spring and install it. By the way

**2000-7.3L** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-14-2012, 08:01 AM

I can order you a brand new OEM leaf spring if needed. 30% off of retail pricing. It is a very bad idea to even try to mess with it. If that leaf snaps its going to hurt. I had a few snap on me and its painful.

hwstem · #4 (**permalink**) 11-14-2012, 09:02 AM

Thanks for the welcome and will it hurt to drive as is for awhile? We have a full shop at work with a shop press, what tools are required to actually do it right?

**BigFuel** · #5 (**permalink**) 11-14-2012, 09:29 AM

Don't do it. It's spring steel, very brittle and stores a lot of energy before moving. Either that stump was 3 feet tall or you hit it going better than 20 mph. If your want to drive on it for a little bit use a torch and cut off the parts that are bent down.

ZMANN · #6 (**permalink**) 11-14-2012, 09:33 AM

I can't believe it actually bent .. spring steel doesn't usually do that

the bottom flat long spring is really a way to keep the upper springs at a decent rate and then when they start to de arch under load it spreads the the leveling of the spring evenly

I don't see an issue with driving it until it's fixed