I recently experienced a problem with my 1997 F150 4X4 extended cab pickup. The middle, right rear leaf spring broke and was ejected with great force from under the truck. I am the original owner, and I remember receiving a recall notice from Ford in August 1998 detailing this problem. I took my truck to my local Ford dealer, earnhardt Ford, on October 10, 1998, and the dealer installed clips on the front portion of both springs. I retrieved the ejected piece of the broken spring from the side of the road, and I noticed that the break was rusty. The truck has been in Arizona or Nevada since new, so to me this indicates that the spring probably had been broken for some time. Also just prior to the spring ejecting, I had been involved a very minor rear end collision (the car that hit me only broke my hitch cover). I theorize that somehow the force of the car hitting the back of my truck must have repositioned the broken spring in such a way that placed stress on the front retaining clip shearing it and allowing the spring to be ejected. I use my truck for commuting which is hardly severe duty use. Leaf springs should not fail after only 87K miles, and if they do break, they shouldnT eject. Fortunately, I was in the right-hand lane and the spring ejected into a vacant dirt lot so no one was hurt and no property was damaged. I had both rear leaf springs replaced at gaudin Ford, in las vegas on April 25, 2003. I asked the dealer if Ford would cover the cost of the repair. Their answer was no. I believe that Ford should step up and cover the cost of my repair. This was not an inexpensive fix. What happen to me is exactly what Ford warned against their August 1998 recall letter. Rear leaf springs should not fail after only 87K miles of normal use, and fact that the middle spring was ejected shows there is still a safety issue. I still have the part of broken spring that I retrieved from the lot.

- Henderson, NV, USA