Crazy question about rear leaf spring
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham AL
Crazy question about rear leaf spring
I've got a pretty remote question about the rear leaf spring. I've noticed that the replacement leaf springs all have some clamps on both sides of the spring. I assume these are there to keep the leafs from rotating sideways. You can see a marked up pic here:
When I took off my old spring to recondition it, the old owner had put some exhaust clamps on the same position. THe problem is I can't find anywhere to buy these clamps as shown in the picture. Anyone have any ideas on this? Are they necessary and where can you get these buggers?
When I took off my old spring to recondition it, the old owner had put some exhaust clamps on the same position. THe problem is I can't find anywhere to buy these clamps as shown in the picture. Anyone have any ideas on this? Are they necessary and where can you get these buggers?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
I just installed a replacement spring that had those clamps installed. I removed them to paint the spring and had trouble reinstalling them so I am leaving them off for now. The purpose is to keep the spring leafs from shifting since only the bottom spring is actually is kept from moving around by the spring bolts. I don't think it will hurt to not use them but you should inspect your springs everyone now and then to ensure they have not shifted and are lined up nice and neat. My previous spring did not have the clamps so the previous owner used some heavy duty plastic wire ties. I've had the car for 6 years so I can say that the wire ties lasted that long.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 3,959
From: Connecticut, USA
You can use it with or without the clamps. I usually take them off but have seen cars with them on that had many miles on them without a problem.
The bigger problem with all the aftermarket springs is they are not arched correctly and the car sits up 2" higher then stock. I think I tried all the companies and they're all the same.Then you end up using 8" bolts to bring down the body.
If you use an HD cover, the bolt pattern may be off on them. Everyone of the HD covers I used they were and you have to radius the spring for the bolts to clear. I had a brand new,clearenced spring for sale at Carlisle that 95% of the people who looked at it had no idea why it was clearenced,even when I told them.
Gary
The bigger problem with all the aftermarket springs is they are not arched correctly and the car sits up 2" higher then stock. I think I tried all the companies and they're all the same.Then you end up using 8" bolts to bring down the body.
If you use an HD cover, the bolt pattern may be off on them. Everyone of the HD covers I used they were and you have to radius the spring for the bolts to clear. I had a brand new,clearenced spring for sale at Carlisle that 95% of the people who looked at it had no idea why it was clearenced,even when I told them.
Gary
