I took a front leaf spring off and the back bushing (on the front spring) was so worn it had worn through the bushing and into the leaf spring hole. A half moon bushing remained. The front bushing was worn enough to feel substantial movement, but not as bad as the back part of the front spring bushing. The rear eye bolt was pretty worn out too, about 20% missing. I found my road jerk/wander problem. Taking the spring apart to clean it, the retaining straps broke like copper tubing, but there was little wear in the leafs, but abundant rust. I see the price of shackles, both sides, and new springs both sides, and eye bolt rear, but is there a way around this $400 hit, considering the situation. KentC
Sheckles for Shackles Hey KentC, I had the same problem and there isn't much you can do except new springs if the eyes are worn. You might find some one with a good set or originals which is a better way to go than repops. You can get just the top leaves from the vendors but they are half the price of a new spring so I went with new ones. My new ones from Jim Carter came with new bushings already installed so if you are replacing the shackles also you can just get individual components from Chevs of the forties, our host or some of the other vendors and rebuild yours for less cost than complete new ones. A word of warning here as I bought new front kits from Jim Carter and I'm not happy with them at all. it seems the tapers aren't right on the pins and they go in to far next to the threads, or it could be the taper or lack therof in the bars. I checked my original worn ones and they seem to have a step at the end of the taper and they stop on the side bars allowing room for the seals next to the bushings. Unfortunately they are too worn to reuse. If I tightened the cross bolt on the Jim Carter ones down I would smash the seals to bits before the side bars stopped. I still need rear shackles so I'm loking for a forum recommedation for a vendor with good ones. Hope this helps a little. Craig
New Springs IIRC , JC Whitney carries Diamond brand springs cheaply . Eaton makes 'em too and top quality those brands are . Look in the posts for guys near you making Hot Rods and buy thier old leaf springs as they're going to junk them anyways ..... Once you find primary leaves with good eyes , you're most of the way there . use a wire brush to remove the rust , no sanding nor chemicals ! . Re-paint with good hard paint like POR-15 then slather grease or teflon strips between the leaves before you re-assemble them . Teflon strips will make the truck ride like it's on a cloud , no B.S. .
I f s Sence its gonnaa cost $400 anyway you may as well do the Mustang ll front or a front clip if you are handy with metal work. I consider my self lucky not knowing. if I knew 1/2 way all my stuff would suffer.
Since your not too far from Dallas you might check with Truett-Worrall Spring and Alignment. (214-637-1230) They will make you up a set of main leaves for I'm sure less than a hundred bucks.
A company called spring services in Charlotte can make them to your spec.s,and their rates aren't as expensive as you might think..
Front leaf springs Thank you all. I have been offered some free used springs within driveable distance (3 hours) in Amarillo, and I was wondering if I could take those springs, better than mine no doubt, and take one of my long spring plates (like the one next to my main) and add to the freebe, for a total of 8 leaf springs instead of 7 normal. Any thoughts on what this would do for my ride, assuming the used ones are weakish. If I do this, how do I strap them back together and is there a type of retaining bolt I might use, a special tensile strength? KentC
Springs Sounds like a plan ! . Add one leaf to the bottom of the spring and use new , longer U-bolts and spring center pin . It'll make the truck ride better and if you buy some Teflon strips and insert between each leaf , it'll ride smooth too . Of , smear graphite grease between each leaf .
Front leaf springs OK. What is the best way to take the retaining straps off new? Do you bend them off, as they surely cannot be slid apart, at least I could not with the old ones - sliding the subjected leafs from the ones with the retaining strap. Thank you. KentC
You're asking the wrong person . The original straps are riveted on , replacements ones are soft tin and worthless so they may not be 100 % necessary , I don't know . sometimes , once the center bolt is removed you can slide the leaves apart and not need to touch the straps . In general , you're not supposed to add extra leaves that match the same length as the existing leaves but some builds come with the shortest leaves in multiples and matching so I don't see the harm in doing that . for sure , take the old and new (used) springs apart and lay out , pick the least worn ones first (you may find 1/8" wear grooves, avoid if possible) then try to match up two springs with matching curvates , if one winds up deeper than the other , install that one on the driver's side . For me , spring building was a last ditch , " Hail Mary " poorboy learn on the fly job but it did work . Work carefully ! you can use a BIG C Clamp to pinch the center of the leaf stack to-gether whilst you insert the center bolt .
Front leaf springs Nate, you said: It'll make the truck ride better and if you buy some Teflon strips and insert between each leaf , it'll ride smooth too. Of , smear graphite grease between each leaf . The CD Poly Ride Liner strips are $45 to do 4 leaf springs. Are you saying do either the strips or use graphite grease? I suppose you would just loosen off the retaining bolt and squirt the graphite grease between each leaf? KentC
Leafe Ease I'd go with the Poly strips , no grease . yes , you can seperate the leaves and squirt in Graphite grease but , failure to clean out the old crud and wire brush the surface means the new grease with old dirt will act like grinding paste.... Heck , I'd just sprayed oil along the sides of the leafe stack whilst having BIG Bubba bounce the spring a bunch (on the truck dig) to wick it in , this works well for a season and stops squeaks .
Stop that ! I'm not supposed to give out " Farm Fixes" here , I want you guys (? Al Y'alls ?) to have nice trucks , not the same trash I've been using since 1962....
Leaf Springs Thank you. It would be nice to have the money to buy everything new. But most of us cannot, it being cost prohibitive. I would not mind having a brand new 4x4, 4-door full size pickup, gotten stuck 3 times this past 2 years out here in the boonies (I carry a shovel and hoe in my pickup for such cases). Maybe in my dreams. I appreciate the advice. Kentc
Gimme A Break ! I've carried my Ho in my '49 many times , she..... OOPS ! See what you made me do ! What I MEANT to say was : I'd rather have my crummy old 1949 3100 ShopTruck than any new 4X4 .
Your truck is _NOT_ crummy! And then there is that video of those early F*#%s rolling down those dirt roads(?)! I hated to "spring" for my new Eaton springs, but I'm sure it will be a smooooth ride when it's done. ...and I did it myself!
