Leaf spring question
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 86
Likes: 2
From: Lucas TX
Leaf spring question
As I started to get ready to put the leaf springs back into my 76, I ran into something I don't understand.
I counted the springs and get 8. I found specs for 7 and 9, but not 8. When I looked closer, the top (smallest) one looks different. It is thicker and not tapered and curved on the ends. Is it possible the PO added this as a spacer to adjust the ride height? Any other ideas of why this was there? Any recommendations on putting it back or leaving it out when I install the springs?
One more easy question. How long should the liners extend beyond the end of each leaf? The old ones were in such bad shape I could not tell how they were supposed to be installed.
I counted the springs and get 8. I found specs for 7 and 9, but not 8. When I looked closer, the top (smallest) one looks different. It is thicker and not tapered and curved on the ends. Is it possible the PO added this as a spacer to adjust the ride height? Any other ideas of why this was there? Any recommendations on putting it back or leaving it out when I install the springs?
One more easy question. How long should the liners extend beyond the end of each leaf? The old ones were in such bad shape I could not tell how they were supposed to be installed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
Spring
The spring in the pic is not complete. From what I can see the shortest leaf is incorrect too. It should look like all the others except much shorter.
Should have 9 leaves. 6 long and 3 short albeit they are all different lengths.
As a side note you may want to consider painting with cold galvanizing spray. The original paint was high in zinc to help the lubricity between leaves as they move between each other. Cold galvanizing spray is very high in zinc too and as a bonus it approximates the original gray color.
The liners are about 1/2" longer than when the leaf is under load meaning the wheels are on the ground with roughly a full tank of gas.
Bill
Should have 9 leaves. 6 long and 3 short albeit they are all different lengths.
As a side note you may want to consider painting with cold galvanizing spray. The original paint was high in zinc to help the lubricity between leaves as they move between each other. Cold galvanizing spray is very high in zinc too and as a bonus it approximates the original gray color.
The liners are about 1/2" longer than when the leaf is under load meaning the wheels are on the ground with roughly a full tank of gas.
Bill
Last edited by 1974ta; Sep 7, 2013 at 06:00 PM. Reason: add
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,172
Likes: 4,250
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi cw,
Bill's right your spring isn't a typical combination of leaves.
Here's the typical 9 leaf combination. Note 3 straight leaves.
The top leaf in your picture looks like a cut down leaf since it shows no taper as the typical leaves do.
Regards,
Alan
Bill's right your spring isn't a typical combination of leaves.
Here's the typical 9 leaf combination. Note 3 straight leaves.
The top leaf in your picture looks like a cut down leaf since it shows no taper as the typical leaves do.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Sep 7, 2013 at 08:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 86
Likes: 2
From: Lucas TX
Thanks. I think the top piece is too thick to be part of a spring. Did 76 have a 7 leaf configuration? Without the top piece, would this be a correct 7 leaf spring? It seems the 9 leaf is more popular. Is there a difference in the ride that would cause me to want to replace it with a 9 leaf?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,172
Likes: 4,250
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi cw,
I believe at least until 77 the stock spring was the 9 leaf and the hd spring, (F-41), was 7 leaves.
I 'm sorry but I'm not sure how many straight leaves, (if any), the 7 leaf spring has.
Regards,
Alan
I believe at least until 77 the stock spring was the 9 leaf and the hd spring, (F-41), was 7 leaves.
I 'm sorry but I'm not sure how many straight leaves, (if any), the 7 leaf spring has.
Regards,
Alan
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