Leaf spring -- replace or recondition?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
Leaf spring -- replace or recondition?
My original rear leaf spring on the '79 is starting to "fan" a bit and has some surface rust. I had a mechanic tell me that I needed a new one. But most of the people I talk to (who know what they're talking about) are telling me that I can recondition it myself (ie: take a hammer and pound the sheets back into alignment, sand it down a bit, then wrap it with a new fitting and put it back in).
Without seeing a picture of it, what do you guys think?
Does anyone have any pics of doing this themselves or any stories to share?
Should I rust-coat it after I sand it?
Without seeing a picture of it, what do you guys think?
Does anyone have any pics of doing this themselves or any stories to share?
Should I rust-coat it after I sand it?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
I have a stock leaf spring that I can sell you. Its from my 76 vette. The spring may have been replaced with one from a 79 vette because someone replaced the diff cover with a stock 1979 one.
I just noticed you're all the way in honolulu, so shipping would be a killer from Canada.
I just noticed you're all the way in honolulu, so shipping would be a killer from Canada.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
I have a stock leaf spring that I can sell you. Its from my 76 vette. The spring may have been replaced with one from a 79 vette because someone replaced the diff cover with a stock 1979 one.
I just noticed you're all the way in honolulu, so shipping would be a killer from Canada.
I just noticed you're all the way in honolulu, so shipping would be a killer from Canada.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Rear Spring
My 78 rear steel spring was nosy, I lube it but no change. Took it apart, sanded, painted and installed liners from a Spring Shop(truck repair place). It wooked prefect, but it is 30 years old and now I planning on a plastic replacement.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 929
Likes: 5
From: Marietta GA
I believe you can have the rear spring re-arched at a driveline shop. I have no personal experience using a re-arched spring, but I know it is common practice. I would say though that pounding on the spring with a hammer as a do-it-yourself fix is probably a waste of time.
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 564
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
Metal springs have "memory," residual stresses built into them. Over time, and cycling under load, those stresses to be "relieved," thus, the spring loses arch and spring-rate.
Get a new spring pack.
And avoid these shade-tree mechanics, who don't understand metallurgy.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
So you're saying i should order it from vbp and then give it to Chuck to install? He does good work and all, but don't you think that this is an install that I could handle on my own with a lift, some new bushings, and a few wrenches or am I way off on this? (I've never done this before)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
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From: Honolulu HI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
If your handy with tools you can do the spring swap yourself it's relatively easy to do, just follow the instructions they give you with the new spring. I pulled my 7 leaf FE7 spring and put in a VB&P 360 lb monospring in about a hour.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Honolulu HI
Also, is it true that you need different rear shocks for composite springs?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Shoreline WA