71 scout shimmed and level now........

rip_lightnin

rip_lightnin

New member
So after installing some shims between the spring and axle on the passenger side front and rear to get it leveled out, do I need to weld the shim to the spring mount now, since there is no button on the shim for the mount to lock into , . Ive driven it back and forth to work for 3 weeks now with no issue of the springs moving around or anything, so was just wondering if the spring mount needs to be locked into the shim with a weld or maybe weld a new button onto my shim.... Or am I okay with letting it ride the way it is..
 
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You are ok. The once in a blue moon time I've seen the rare factory shims, they were not welded at all.
 
I would not weld the shim to the axle, if needed just weld a "button" on the shim. Better yet just get some factory shims.

I have some factory shims that look like they used a press while hot to make a spring center bolt head into the 1/2" thick pad.
The whole goal is to keep the spring pack centered.

I'm sure Jeff has like a dozen or more of them.
Mine are spoken for if Matt every checks his text messages. Lol

edit: I should mention the factory shims are 1/2 " thick and flat, not angled to help with caster. If your shims are for caster correction, a quick call to the shop will yield a wealth of info
 
rock tractor said:
yes weld them, you do not want anything that is free floating between your leaf spring and axle.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I did on my front axle. Cut 1/2" thick flat bar to match spring perch, then drilled hole to fit spring pack bolt head, then welded the 1/2" shim to spring perch on axle. Leveled out my Scout nicely. No issues what so ever on road or off road.
 
I have a 79' and the body isn't sitting level. If I jack the frame up about a half inch on the rear passenger side all is well. There is a shim on the rear passenger side that is about the same thickness and I was thinking of removing it and seeing if this helps. The shim is on the top of the spring therefore I think it is keeping the spring from pushing down harder on the ground. Is this going to mess up my rear alignment or anything / is this a bigger problem and the springs just need replacing? The truck has 37k original miles on it so im not sure the springs have already gone bad.
 
I took the shim out and it was way too much the other way so I made my own shim that was half the thickness of the original one. That made it much better but I think I need to make it a 1/4 the original thickness and it will be perfect. All that being said though is it just hiding a problem?
 
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