leaf springs

[Kaucher]

I'm going to remove some leafs from my '54 Ford's rear springs. I've never messed around with leaf springs before, are there any tricks to it? Is there any preload on them with no weight on them?

[haring]

Leaf springs are not like coil springs. They do not have stored energy at rest.

The best advice I can give is to solidly support the car by its frame with good jack stands. Think carefully about where you are supporting the car so that there are no surpises once you remove the rearend.

[metalshapes]

Depending on the length of the shock there can be stored energy in the spring, after the car is put on jackstands on the frame, with the axle at full droop.
Be very carefull with that...

[geemann51]

I'm interested in doing this to my 51 Ford also, how many springs are thinking of taking out? Do you discard the smallest first and work your way up, start from the middle and stagger em?

So to be a thread hijacker, just curious.....

[FnDIRTYGREASER]

im going to be doing the same thing aswell... on my 54. i just put in some 3 inch lowering blocks and still need it a bit lower. what i was thinking was to remove the 2 smallest ones and leave the 3 longer ones there. any suggestions hambers?? one thing that that i was advised was, that when u try and remove the bolt thats holding them together, it might be rusted to the point it will not come off,or break.. and you will have to grind it off and install a new bolt and nut. im going to drench it in wd40, in hopes that it will losen it up a
litte.
manny

[Barn-core]

I'd suggest taking out the bottom load bearing spring first, if you don't plan on doing much hauling. That should start you off, then i'd keep takin out till you get where you want to be, but i would leave at least three.

[Kaucher]

That's what I thought. I'm going to take the springs completely out of the car. Thank's for the info.

[Kaucher]

I'm going to remove all of them and then mount an air bag above the perch. It's a down and dirty quick way to bag the rear. It'll do me until I install the 4 link.

[Kaucher]

There's a company call Gearwood that makes abolt in 4 link with bags for '65-'68 Mustangs. I've been talking to him about reworking it to fit a shoebox Ford. Here's a pic of it.

[haring]

The Gearwood unit is interesting, but I've never (ever) seen an airbagged Mustang.

I have my '61 Falcon on airbags. We used one main leaf and it works well, but axle wrap-up is a real problem. You have to ease on the gas or risk bottoming out the rear on acceleration. Next step is to make some kind of slapper bar or overload leaf to control the flex on takeoff.

[atch]

May I respectfully recommend you DON'T remove leaves like you're suggesting. About ten years ago I removed every other leaf from the rear of Clarence. That is what it took to achieve the "look" I was after. Unfortunately several things happened:

1. This reduced the capacity for carying "things". About all it took to make it sag too far was a couple of duffle bags and a sleeping bag. When I put my toolbox in I could see the rear drop.

2. Just about any bump or pothole makes the rear bottom out. You just never get used to the bang you feel & hear when that happens.

3. The springs eventually sagged even more. I assume due to the increased load that each one now carries it has induced dearching.

4. The right rear mainspring broke last summer. Again, I assume that this is due to the additional load per leaf.

I've acquired new springs to put back in. Entire spring packs. I'll be doing this before rod run season starts. I'll make other modifications to achieve the stance I want, but it won't be by removing leaves.

I can't count how many folks advised me against leaf removal, but I did it anyway. Now I'm having to do it over and do it the right way this time.

[TooMany2count]

like atch said don't do it, ya might get away with taking one or two out, BUT beyond that I wouldnt try it. The safest way would be to have your stock springs de-arched & have reversed eyelet's put on them. You may have to may the top spring a tad shorter, because the flatter the spring is the longer it'll get, just wanted to remind you of this so you can take it into consideration IF ya do it this way......joe

[abe lugo]

I have a 57 ford , think the rear setup is about the same through 59, I took two leafs out, and the the thing sits low, although I do plan on getting some new springs back there. The rearend would bottom out a lot so I cut the driveshaft tunnel and made room for the rearend hump. But If you look at the springs now they are pretty much straight.

[Kaucher]

Thanks for the advise Mike. This is only a temporary, I'm installing a four link with bags later.

I'm mounting air bags above the perches any way so loads and bottoming out should be a problem.

[Munson]

My truck (leaf front and rear) has been on jack stands for 2 weeks since 40-50 y/o leaves don't like coming out easily.
I've done considerable research on this topic since safety is more inmportant than looks.

You can, reverse the eye on the main spring (flip it over)and that will give you ~3in.

You can, remove 1 or 2 leaves (nomore than) and see where you're at after...

Blocks, are always an option.

Or take them to a spring shop and have whatever you decide done profesionally, (de-arching, reversing eyes) They will tell you if your springs are wornout and safe. I've been quoted $55/spring to de-arch, and $15/eye to have them reversed.

Good luck, and be safe.

[FONZI]

When it comes to lowring a car's ass the one thing people don't talk about much is axle clearance. It sounds like most of you want your cars to sit pretty low. You can pull leafs and put blocks, or bags, etc. However, you can only go so low. Then u are sitting on the bump stops = shitty ride. So u wack the bump stops. Now u got that annoying axle to frame thump....Just sayin keep axle clearance in mind when loweing the rear. If u want it pretty damn low plan on at least a "C" notch to the frame for clearance.


FONZI