Leaf Spring Replacement
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Leaf Spring Replacement
I just replaced a composite spring with a conventional 9-leaf spring. The ride height went up at least 3" and is too high for my liking. Also, there is a visit to the muffler shop in the very near future, to clear up some clearance issues with a new exhaust system that went in when the composite spring was installed (Yellow circles).
I torqued the spring's retainer plate (4 bolts-70 ft/lbs.) with weight-on-wheels, and installed the spring's left end bolt nut to the shallowest depth on it's shaft that the cotter pin could be installed, with the right side to go.
Now I haven't installed the tub/spare tire yet, but other than riding around with a few bags of rock salt on the rear storage deck, is there any other way to lower the car's height a little more with this new spring? Thanks in advance.
Steve
I torqued the spring's retainer plate (4 bolts-70 ft/lbs.) with weight-on-wheels, and installed the spring's left end bolt nut to the shallowest depth on it's shaft that the cotter pin could be installed, with the right side to go.
Now I haven't installed the tub/spare tire yet, but other than riding around with a few bags of rock salt on the rear storage deck, is there any other way to lower the car's height a little more with this new spring? Thanks in advance.
Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,109
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi C,
That APPEARS to be a replacement spring of some type. (It's a little difficult to tell from this distance.)
Do you know what it's 'specs' are? All springs are not created equal.
The 2 shipping bands are still on the spring; they can come off which may help a bit.
W's longer bolts suggestion will certainly help cure the 'symptoms', but not the cause.
Regards,
Alan
That APPEARS to be a replacement spring of some type. (It's a little difficult to tell from this distance.)
Do you know what it's 'specs' are? All springs are not created equal.
The 2 shipping bands are still on the spring; they can come off which may help a bit.
W's longer bolts suggestion will certainly help cure the 'symptoms', but not the cause.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Hi C,
That APPEARS to be a replacement spring of some type. (It's a little difficult to tell from this distance.)
Do you know what it's 'specs' are? All springs are not created equal.
The 2 shipping bands are still on the spring; they can come off which may help a bit.
W's longer bolts suggestion will certainly help cure the 'symptoms', but not the cause.
Regards,
Alan
That APPEARS to be a replacement spring of some type. (It's a little difficult to tell from this distance.)
Do you know what it's 'specs' are? All springs are not created equal.
The 2 shipping bands are still on the spring; they can come off which may help a bit.
W's longer bolts suggestion will certainly help cure the 'symptoms', but not the cause.
Regards,
Alan
Shipping Bands Alan? Wow, I assumed those bands on the far outter ends were a permanent part which held the longer leafs in alignment. Ha.
How are they normally removed?
Steve
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,689
Likes: 174
From: Deerfield Illinois
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Cav
First Alan71 sees everything, I'm surprise how many guys here see stuff right off the bat on a photo,
Second, was just curious why you went back to the steel spring when the ride and handling of a composite spring is far superior?
First Alan71 sees everything, I'm surprise how many guys here see stuff right off the bat on a photo,
Second, was just curious why you went back to the steel spring when the ride and handling of a composite spring is far superior?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
I'm somewhat of a traditionalist, so that's one reason I switched.
Second, a friend GAVE me a 4-bolt main long block, which she knew I was looking for to construct a 383, which I'm currently running.
She is rebuilding a '71 right now, and I wanted to pay her back someway for that engine. At least in a small way, I'd like to think I'm attempting to do that.
That's about it.
Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,109
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Steve,
I REALLY don't know if removing the bands will help. They are a clue that the spring is a service replacement or a reproduction.
To be truthful I don't know they come off.
I've never really looked at the bands.
Is it a metal strap like shippers use on heavy crates that needs to be cut ? Is it supposed to be slipped off the end before the spring is installed?
Regards,
Alan
I REALLY don't know if removing the bands will help. They are a clue that the spring is a service replacement or a reproduction.
To be truthful I don't know they come off.
I've never really looked at the bands.
Is it a metal strap like shippers use on heavy crates that needs to be cut ? Is it supposed to be slipped off the end before the spring is installed?
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 126
From: San Diego California
Hi Steve,
I REALLY don't know if removing the bands will help. They are a clue that the spring is a service replacement or a reproduction.
To be truthful I don't know they come off.
I've never really looked at the bands.
Is it a metal strap like shippers use on heavy crates that needs to be cut ? Is it supposed to be slipped off the end before the spring is installed?
Regards,
Alan
I REALLY don't know if removing the bands will help. They are a clue that the spring is a service replacement or a reproduction.
To be truthful I don't know they come off.
I've never really looked at the bands.
Is it a metal strap like shippers use on heavy crates that needs to be cut ? Is it supposed to be slipped off the end before the spring is installed?
Regards,
Alan
To me, it looks permanent. I was going to ask if a Dremmel cutting wheel could do it, or should I break out the big air wheel? To me, it looks like it stays there. It's no packing box band material. It's a thick gauge steel, with clean well-formed angled edges.
But this spring deal IS my 1st rodeo.
Steve
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 297
From: Midlothian VA
Alan,
To me, it looks permanent. I was going to ask if a Dremmel cutting wheel could do it, or should I break out the big air wheel? To me, it looks like it stays there. It's no packing box band material. It's a thick gauge steel, with clean well-formed angled edges.
But this spring deal IS my 1st rodeo.
Steve
To me, it looks permanent. I was going to ask if a Dremmel cutting wheel could do it, or should I break out the big air wheel? To me, it looks like it stays there. It's no packing box band material. It's a thick gauge steel, with clean well-formed angled edges.
But this spring deal IS my 1st rodeo.
Steve