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Technical Leaf Springs 101

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Flat Six Fix, Jun 30, 2021.

  1. Flat Six Fix
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 1,270

    Flat Six Fix
    Member

    Hey all, gotta redo leaf springs and shackles bushings.
    Front drivers side pack of 8 springs flattened right out.
    Rears 1 side looks good, but other side has combo of stock and later looking springs.
    Thinking, of going to 80s 90s chevrolet truck leaf springs from the rears for both my front and rears.
    I'm still surprised how well my truck rides and tracks down the road with these springs...
    Any of you, go with non stock leaf springs on your old trucks?
     
  2. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Most of the early truck springs before 1960 at least were pretty narrow compared to the later springs. The springs on my 48 are 1-3/4 wife and I don't think the Dodge's springs are any wider. I'd have to go out and measure but am pretty sure that the mid 70's truck leaf springs I have are 3 inchs wide.
     
  3. Flat Six Fix
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 1,270

    Flat Six Fix
    Member

    Yes Dodges same 1.75 wide .25 thick.
    If I retrofit moderns, will have to mount in New shackles to accommodate.
    I'm hoping to find stock type donor springs if I can..
     
  4. TA DAD
    Joined: Mar 2, 2014
    Posts: 1,107

    TA DAD
    Member
    from NC

    No spring shops around you ? I know they are about extinct. I have had 2 we dealt with over the last 40 yrs and they hard to beat.
     

  5. Newer truck springs might work on the rear, but not likely on the front as they are most likely too wide and too long. No reason you can't use the stock springs, just tune them up! Pull them apart and clean em. Re arch or de arch as needed. Or find a spring shop to do it.
    My F-1 has the stock springs that I de arched and removed some leafs for lowering. Rides as good as you could expect from an old pickup...
     
  6. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Take it to a local spring shop and have them rearched. They put in an extra leaf and replace the sliders and bushings at the same time. Costs about $200 - $300 and you are set for the next 50 years.
     
    TA DAD and Flat Six Fix like this.
  7. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,126

    mlagusis
    Member

    Have you checked with Posies? I bought a set of new rear springs for a 50 Chevy and seem to be nice springs.
     
    Flat Six Fix likes this.
  8. the oil soup
    Joined: May 19, 2013
    Posts: 277

    the oil soup
    Member
    from Tucson,AZ

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  9. Flat Six Fix
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 1,270

    Flat Six Fix
    Member

    Yes we have 3 big shops near my area in Winnipeg Canada
     
  10. TA DAD
    Joined: Mar 2, 2014
    Posts: 1,107

    TA DAD
    Member
    from NC

    Myself I like to use a local shop if at all possible.
     
  11. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Amen! Local whenever possible; but locale isn't anything when the original proprietor sold out to some 'new guy' that's gonna make his fortune.
    Nice when they know about case hardening, eye rolling (not the WOKE kind) and re-and-de-arching, let alone measuring!
    Other than that, anybody can do it...:rolleyes:
     
    loudbang and Hnstray like this.
  12. My ‘57 Fargo has the stock front springs with the two maybe three bottom leaves removed, the rear leaves are from an F body (Aspen). Won’t carry much weight but should ride decent
     
  13. Flat Six Fix
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 1,270

    Flat Six Fix
    Member

    Hey 57, how did you hang the rear springs ?
    You enjoying the heat? Gonna be 100 here Saturday.
    Gotta get drivers side front spring pack.
    They are flattened and bending down a bit on front side of it.
     
  14. They are the F body hangers and shackles on custom brackets bolted to the frame, it was probably 25 years ago now, if I remember tomorrow I can take a few pictures. It was a hair over 100 here today. I think I sweat a kidney out block sanding the rear fender This afternoon!:)
     
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  15. Flat Six Fix
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 1,270

    Flat Six Fix
    Member

    Stay Kool you know how us Canadians live on igloos and how snow skiing year round....lol
     
  16. You too I think it’s supposed to start cooling off up here now, time to fire up the dog sled soon.
     
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  17. blue 49
    Joined: Dec 24, 2006
    Posts: 1,820

    blue 49
    Member
    from Iowa

    I used S-10 rear leaves on the rear of a '49 Chevy pickup I used to have. I had to make new front hangers and shackle brackets because they were wider, but that let me make it work with the factory spring saddles on the Ford rear I used and also center the wheels in the fenders.

    Gary
     
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  18. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 2,603

    lumpy 63
    Member

    I contacted Posies last week about rear springs for the 49 Stude pickup I'm building. They replied that it would take 14 to 16 weeks to build em. I'm pretty sure Dodge springs would be on the same waiting list. I have decided to go with a Chassis Engineering rear spring kit.
     
  19. Clik
    Joined: Jul 1, 2009
    Posts: 1,965

    Clik
    Member

  20. Clik
    Joined: Jul 1, 2009
    Posts: 1,965

    Clik
    Member

  21. low down A
    Joined: Feb 6, 2009
    Posts: 500

    low down A
    Member

    esco spring there website springs and things check them out the performance muscle car guy's rave about there spring's and service
     

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