Nissan D21 pickup - Broken leaf spring | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

Tue 24 Aug 2010 19:21

Nissan D21 pickup - Broken leaf spring - Tommk4

Hi everyone, Yesterday the top leaf of the rear suspension on my truck snapped.

Today I took it to a garage, they said that the best thing to do would be to fit a complete new set, but that if you are changing one side its best to change the other and all the bushes as well (which I agree with) but this comes to over £500 (which I cant afford). So I called firm which deals with leaf springs specifically, they said that they could supply the top leaf alone but could not fit it, so I asked the first garage if they could do it and they said no, they woundnt know how and doubted they would have the facilities to do so.

So, I have two questions. Why would the place that offered to sell the individual leaf not fit it for me? and How hard is it to DIY it? Also can you think of any other options? I need the truck for work but as I said £500 is too much!

Thanks.

PS for reference the setup is almost identical to that of the Nivara

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Tue 24 Aug 2010 20:02

Nissan D21 pickup - Broken leaf spring - gordonbennet

The biggest headache is going to be corroded bolts, D21 is a few years old now.

It is possible to fit a new single leaf, you need an old school mechanic who will use heat to free things off, and it will be the cheapest option, prepare for unexpected costs for sheared bolts though.

If you want to get new complete springs at reasonable cost try ''Milners'' or ''Roughtrax'', budget for new U bolts too anyway as they will likely shear off.

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Tue 24 Aug 2010 20:22

Nissan D21 pickup - Broken leaf spring - Tommk4

Good info thanks a lot....Now to find a old school mechaninc. Anyone reading this know of a good one one in the Middlesbrough/north yorks area?

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Wed 25 Aug 2010 20:24

Nissan D21 pickup - Broken leaf spring - gordonbennet

If you haven't aready found someone a rural workshop that fixes agricultural equipment would be an ideal place, used to leaf springs and fixing older stuff for farmers cheaply...can't abide seeing farmer's on bike's..;)

A town workshop's staff especially if younger may never have seen a leaf spring, and won't have the foggiest how to replace a single leaf. By the way ignore my suggestion of Roughtrax they specialise in Hilux parts, but Milners will be as good as any if you want complete springs.

By the way you'll need new bushes for the ends of the main (long) leaf if indeed that's one the one thats broken.

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