Steel leaf spring/trailing arm question

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Sep 10, 2006 | 01:33 PM

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From: Springfield MO

St. Jude Donor '07

Steel leaf spring/trailing arm question

Is the "cup" on the rear leaf spring for the spring cushion the same one that was used on the trailing arms? I have a trailing arm without one (it was bought as a replacement for a too-bent original arm. If it is the same, I could just grind the staked-over part off, stick it in place on the T/A, then weld it down.

Sep 10, 2006 | 03:30 PM

chris73cpe

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not sure about the originals, but the spring bolt kit i got from ecklers had 4 new cups and they're all the same

Sep 10, 2006 | 04:43 PM

...Roger...

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From: Dayton, Ohio

At first I thought you meant the frt end of the arm at first but if you mean the back -yes exactly the same-the trailing arm doesnt come with one-put it in there but no welding is needed-maybe it does come with one but no matter its the same

Sep 10, 2006 | 06:21 PM

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St. Jude Donor '07

My original trailing arms had the cups, both neatly pressed into place. They have to be original. My good used replacement didn't have it, but I ground the old ones out of my now-trashed leaf spring. I'll weld in one of the cups when they finish their vinegar soak.

Sep 10, 2006 | 07:43 PM

MYBAD79

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St. Jude Donor '05

with above, don't weld the cups.

Sep 10, 2006 | 08:11 PM

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St. Jude Donor '07

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedBad1979

with above, don't weld the cups.

The ones in my original trailing arms were essentially rivited in place (the center shaft part was swedged over once the cup was set in place) so that they couldn't move, the same as it was done on the spring. Since I had to grind part of that section off when removing them from the spring, I'll just weld them down to the arm and then clean up the weld. Not much different than the original method.

Now I've just gotta wait for the vinegar to do it's magic on the rusty old spring cups.

Sep 10, 2006 | 08:24 PM

MYBAD79

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St. Jude Donor '05

Not sure why they crimped the cups as they did.... once the whole thing is assembled the cups are not going anywhere... they probably only wanted to make the assembly easier.

Sep 11, 2006 | 01:23 AM

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St. Jude Donor '07

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedBad1979

Not sure why they crimped the cups as they did.... once the whole thing is assembled the cups are not going anywhere... they probably only wanted to make the assembly easier.

Thanks for the advice. I figure a couple of small blobs of MIG weld will make it easier to assemble everything. Now I just need to get a big square of 1/2" steel to make a press plate so I can install my new T/A studs.