Guys, I've been hearing an intermittent squeaking noise ever since I had my truck's fuel pump replaced at a shop the week after Thanksgiving 2011. Starting yesterday, the noise has gotten worse, to the point of whenever I go over bumps, there's a loud metal on metal noise. I looked under the truck today, and I saw the piece that connects the rear end of the leaf spring on the passenger side to the frame rusted apart, and now the leaf spring is slammed against the underside of the bed. Any idea how long the bed can handle the pressure? Any idea how much this would cost to have replaced?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/215/shacklep.jpg/

 

The repair shouldn't be that bad as long as you do the work yourself.The bolt may have to be cut off and take a punch and hammer to get the old bolt out. I had to do that to mine when I installed the new lift springs.

You shouldn't drive it like that now that you know it's broke. The body floor could give way. You would have more problems then

 

I don't have the ability to do this myself. How thick is that support for the bed?

 

you need to park the truck and don't drive it except to limp a very short distance to the nearest garage. you've got too much weight flopping around and letting the axle move and something very bad could happen.

the cheapest fix would be to get a replacement shackle from the junkyard, for oh say $15-20, maybe $25 for the pair. get the bolts too if you can cause you're probably going to need new ones. a shop should be able to replace it in about 1 hour of time. labor rates vary anywhere from $50-100+ per hour. new shackles might be pretty expensive, even though its just a $5 piece of steel.

check the other side too. its probably just as bad. they should be able to change both in 1 to 1-1/2 hr.

 

for comparison, a new shackle from LMC is $45.
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/de/full.aspx?Page=118

 

I agree with dhvaughan - it is not safe to drive in that condition. WOrst case - a wreck where someone is seriously injured of killed. Best case - you tear up bed, u-joints and driveshaft, or differential.

Can't do it yourself? Got a friend whith tools and space to do it?

 

agreed with dh and gd completely.

It's definitely a job that the back does not like. Really hope you can get it sorted.

 

Holy tetanus shot batman!!!!!

 

Sooo glad to be southern after seeing that, sorry dude but I wouldn't drive it, I'd also check the rest of your running gear if it was me. Anybody know if you can sandblast and paint the underside of a truck to prevent this?

 

Yes, you can sand blast and paint the under side of your truck. I do it all the time at work. I live in Pa and in the weather they put salt on the roads and it eats cars and trucks like candy. Rust is a real problem here. I would go as far as sand blasting repaint and then under coat. Layers is the way to go. I will be doing this to my Ram in the summer.