Replacing leaf springs on your light commercial or heavy-goods vehicle can seem challenging. Common questions we receive about replacing leaf springs include, ‘how easy is it to replace leaf springs?’ and ‘do leaf springs come off individually?’. So, our experts at Midland Road Springs created this guide to explain everything you need to know about replacing leaf springs.

What will I need to fit replacement leaf springs?

Having the right tools when fitting replacement leaf springs is essential to ensuring your vehicle can continue performing optimally. The tools you need to fit your new leaf springs include:

• – A floor jack
• – Jack stands
• – A socket set
• – Torque wrench
• – A mallet or hammer
• – A ratchet or impact driver
• – A set of box-end wrenches

Before replacing the springs, you should also refer to the vehicle owner’s manual to check if there are any additional tools you need for your vehicle’s specific make or model.

Step 1: Prepare the suspension

Preparing the suspension a few days ahead of fitting your new leaf springs reduces the risk of scratching various parts in the vehicle’s suspension system. If the springs are corroded, you must take extra care when removing them from your van or truck. Loosening your vehicle’s suspension system by rubbing oil around the brackets, nuts, and bolts can make accessing the leaf springs easier.

Step 2: Jack the van or lorry

Once you have prepared the suspension, ensure the lorry or van is on level ground before lifting the trailer with a floor jack. You should lift your light or heavy-goods vehicle high enough that your tyres are off the ground. After you have lifted your HGV, place the jack stands on the front and rear axle. Doing so gives you access to the truck’s rear and front leaf springs.

Step 3: Remove the tyres and shackle bolts

Remove the tyres from your vehicle with a ratchet or impact driver, removing the nuts and bolts from each wheel. After removing the wheels, remove the shackle bolts that attach each leaf spring to the suspension system with a box-end wrench and a mallet. Once you have removed the shackle bolts from the suspension system, inspect the threads for visible damage. If the threads or bolts are damaged, they must be replaced with new ones.

Step 4: Remove the U-bolts

The leaf springs are secured with U-bolts connected to the axle beam. When removing the U-bolts, remove the nuts and washers on the springs. Once the nuts and washers are screwed off the U-bolt, remove the old leaf springs and U-bolts from the suspension.

Step 5: Install the new leaf springs

After removing the old leaf springs, install the new springs on your vehicle’s suspension system. Place each leaf spring on the axle, ensuring the spring clips are in place and reinstall the U-bolts and shackle bolts on the suspension. Repeat the process with the rear or front axles for the leaf springs and check they are securely fastened to complete the leaf spring installation process.

Leaf spring replacement services

If you prefer to get your replacement leaf springs installed by a specialist, our friendly experts have fitted thousands of springs. You can request a quote for your leaf spring installation by contacting us online or calling us on 01675 463787.

Replace your leaf springs with Midland Road Springs

Do your leaf springs need replacing? Midland Road Springs inspects, fits and replaces leaf springs for light and heavy goods vehicles. We have almost four decades of experience replacing and upgrading leaf springs for hundreds of commercial lorries, trucks and vans. Browse our light commercial and heavy-duty leaf spring collection online, or for more information about our leaf springs, contact our expert team today.