F250 rear spacer blocks in an E250

[Vanimal]

The repair is not as easy as you think because the shaping of the mount and welding it is as difficult because of the limited clearances, but you never learn how to do things until you try so have at it. Try AMP Research Browse Our Wholesale Truck Accessories at AMP Research electric steps, they are pricey but if you fix the mount yourself you can afford them and beef up where they mount seeing that you get a lot of salt spray. I have a set, long on the pass. side and shorty on driver side. I never installed because I want to make sliders for mine with removable steps (15 years now). You mentioned lowering it. You can remove one spring from your pack and if need be add air bags for when you catch that big one!

[arctictraveller]

Looks like you have a bit of rust going on already. Any plans to slow further rust once you fix the current issues? I love beach driving, but it's hell on the undercarrage. I was in Montana in December, and what ever they use on the roads corroded my undercarrage badly, and it was only for two weeks. I try to flush and pressure wash under the van after every exposure and then treat and paint the rust at least twice a year. I can't imagine what regular driving on the beach will do. (well, yes I can actually)

[Lenny]

I power wash and use Fluid Film https://www.fluid-film.com/automotive-applications/ at least twice a year.
You can buy it in spray cans or by the gallon and use your own sprayer.
Years ago we used WD40 and that helped also.
If it does nothing else it at least make the salt and whatever wash of easily with just a good hosing.

[flyr6105]

As far a rust goes, I have spent hours under the van wire brushing as much rust as possible and then I have coated most areas with Corroseal. Somewhere back when I was first started researching what to do about rust, I decided on Corroseal instead of POR15. I am happy with the results and plan to coat the entire underside with 3M rubberized undercoating. I can't do that until I replace shocks, stabilizer and brake calipers and rotors.
So today, its back to trying to get the rear wheel spacer bolts off so I can work in the brakes and shocks. I bought a 3 foot piece of 1-1/4 pipe last night to aid my 24" breaker bar. If I can't get these off myself, then I've got to pay $$. I just read a post yesterday about a vanner's trials at getting front rotors and axel parts off so I am prepared.
Yeah, I still would rather let the pros splice a piece to fix the front mount rust out. The shop may not be able to get to it until late April or May which is a pain. Won't be driving Beach Buggy to the Outer Banks any time soon. Thanks for your comments and help.

[TomsBeast]

Originally Posted by flyr6105

...So today, its back to trying to get the rear wheel spacer bolts off so I can work in the brakes and shocks. I bought a 3 foot piece of 1-1/4 pipe last night to aid my 24" breaker bar...

PB Blaster (penetrating oil for rusty hardware) is the absolute bomb!

If you can't find that, acetone and transmission fluid, 50/50 mix

They both have wicking properties, find their way between threads, like I'd never seen before. Both work 3x better than Liquid Wrench, and 10x better than WD40

[flyr6105]

I finally triumphed with the help of PB Blaster and my cheater bar extension. So the nuts are off and I have removed the caliper from one side. The only problem is that I can't get the spacer loose or maybe the caliper and spacer assembly. Haven't had any luck with you tube since this is such a non standard set up. I'll shoot Quigley a note on Monday and ask them. Since I have the replacement rotors, I know where there SHOULD be a joint, but I may be missing something.

[flyr6105]

Finally got the spacers off and the new disks and calipers on. Since I was deep into the suspension, I took apart the leaf springs and removed one leaf. My thoughts are that the van is never going to be loaded with stuff so I don't need the capacity of such a big spring pack. I ended up putting a PowerStop set of rotors and calipers before I found out about rusting problems with the rotors.