I'm installing a set of Rancho "soft ride" add-a-leafs in the rear of my 94 standard cab, short bed, pick-up (22re,5spd) I'm planning on removing the 3rd leaf and replacing it with the long leaf from the kit and then add the short leaf to the pack. My question is; what about the "spring isolator" that wraps the spring pack at the spring seat? (wraps around the springs under the U bolts) Do I remove it or reinstall it? Will it still fit with the thicker spring pack? Thanx in advance, Jake.

I just ran into this same 'issue' while swapping a 1990 truck rear axle into a 1985 pickup (for the extra width and bigger brakes) In my case I am also doing a spring swap with a thicker than stock spring pack.

The 1990 (and newer) rear axles have a wider spring perch and wider u-bolts to match. The spring isolator 'clamshells' around the spring pack and the u-bolts fit around the entire assembly.

Looks to me like you must use the spring isolators and the wider u-bolts since the narrow style u-bolts won't fit around the spring perch.

My plan is to just reinstall them, they may not fit completely together on the thicker pack, but it looks like they will still work okay.

Anyone else run into this one?
Greg

If you can make the isolators fit, use them, otherwise ditch them. I think we got rid of them on Don West's '94 pickup when we installed the Rancho leaves. I had to mill out the u-bolt holes (about 1/4"-3/8" wider on each side) in the Rockstomper u-bolt flip kit spring plate to fit the wider spread of the u-bolts.

Thanks, Greg & Rock Crawler. Looks like I'll try to re use them, even if they don't come together with the thicker pack. The Rancho U bolts that came with the springs are too narrow to use with the isolator and don't line up with the holes in the spring plate. I would have to hog out the holes too much to make the Rancho bolts fit and that makes me nervous (possibly to much play) If I reuse the factory U bolts with out the isolator, that makes me nervous too 'cause the bolts will be wider than the springs (and possibly to much play) Greg let me know how you make out. Hows' that Red truck runnin? Talked with my neighbor about his '85 I told you about. He says he's in no big hurry to sell it any time soon. He wants to see what my truck looks like when I'm done and maybe do the same to his. Thanks again for the front diff, just ordered a new R&P for it today and having them installed next week. If any one out there han any more info it would be a big help. Thanx again, Jake.

Sorry, 4Crawler

no big mistake Jake...you just called the TLCA's offical mag's truck teck editor "rockcrawler" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />