Are you ready for some proooooooooggggggggrrrrreeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssss?!?!?!?!
![](http://i2.wp.com/www.uselessdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Michael-Buffer-DmmBdHJnFYnm.jpg?resize=360,240)
So when I last visited WeldTec Designs in April, I bought my bumper, steering stabilizer and their 2nd add a leaf to their now two piece set. I took care of the bumper and steering damper already, last night I did the add a leaf.
I was present when Jeremy at WTD did my first add a leaf. I paid attention. I thought I remembered how to do everything, and now that I have two floor jacks, I thought I had all the tools necessary.
I recall needing to get the van up in the air really high, because the axle needs to drop pretty low to get the center pin of the leaf pack out. I have normal sized jack stands. Jeremy had awesome jack stands that he made, because, you know, he owned a fabrication shop. I can also fabricate stuff. With wood.
![Untitled](https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8645/29583905935_3a24b6a1d7_k.jpg)
![Untitled](https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8397/29473969322_c29b80e321_k.jpg)
As soon as I undid the U-bolts and dropped the axle down, and it pivoted and rolled forward a bit, I felt like I was going to be in over my head.
![Untitled](https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8454/29473968642_a785b82532_k.jpg)
At this point I was confused as to how I would have the room to actually drop the center pins from the spring packs. I was already at the limit of the brake hose. I had to resort to the ultimate tool for the inept mechanic.
Youtube.
I learned two things. I needed to put a jackstand under the opposite side from the one I was working on, to get the necesary clearance. Additionally, I needed to use a floor jack and a block of wood to flex the spring up enough to get clearance. This also put the spring pack together enough to get the bolt through. Somewhere around here I also wished I had taken a "before" height measurement. Too late.
![Untitled](https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8150/29503314881_13c274e80b_k.jpg)
When looking at the center pin with the leaf pack together, I could see enough threads were there to accommodate the additional leaf. But would there be enough sticking through to thread the nut on and pull the pack together? I should go get a back up bolt while Lowe's is still open. Glad I pulled the Corvette out of the garage before I made the Motovan into a barricade.
I closed the garage door and turned the lights off. I walked towards the Corvette and looked at all the tools I had lying next to the Motovan. I decided to not pick everything up and throw it securely in the garage. Instead, I opened the garage door back up, turned the lights and radio back on. Now it just looked like I was inside grabbing a beer instead of away at the hardware store.
Lowe's did not have the hardware I needed. I needed a 3.5" bolt with an Allen socket head. I opted for a 3.5" grade 8 bolt and new nuts. Just in case the ones I had weren't long enough. They were already longer than stock from the first add a leaf. So it wasn't totally naive.
I put the old center pin in and compressed the leaf pack. There were a couple threads sticking out. I threaded the nut on and tightened it up. The bolt almost made it all the way through the nut. Check the grade 8 bolt I bought for fitment into the axle perch. No, of course it doesn't fit. To the belt sander. I knocked some material off each point of the hex. It fit. I assembled.
![Untitled](https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8283/29583903735_e064476e57_k.jpg)
I managed to move the axle back far enough to be in position and raise it up into the leaf spring. U bolts on, loosely.
Next side. I was damn near tempted to crack my first beer at this point since I figured I had the procedure down. I didn't. Just in case.
I needn't have worried. It went together pretty smoothly, now that I knew vaguely what I was doing.
![Untitled](https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8399/29473964912_8e13757c61_k.jpg)
Before:
![Untitled](https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7565/29512771936_4c291f30b5_k.jpg)
After:
![After](https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8374/29481528732_d06660bcdb_k.jpg)
I gotta admit. I have a lot of respect for the people that do real work like this for a living. I was sore by the end of this. I wish I hadn't worked quite so hard in the weight room earlier that day.