Need Advice Installing New Leaf Spring
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Owensboro Ky
HELP-Need Advice Installing New Leaf Spring
When I purchased my 69 it had a trailer hitch mounted to the bottom of the leaf spring. There were two 1/4 in. thick by 1 in. wide by 3 in. long plates that were mounted to the spring plate. It looked homemade to me and didnt think much about using them since I was not going to put the hitch back on.
Heres the problem, when I purchased the new leaf I went ahead and bought a new leaf spring bolt kit. The bolt kit I ordered are the same length as the old ones and they bottom out in the blind holes of the differential cover before I can get them tight against the leaf. Do I have to put the 1/4 in thick plates back in - I dont see anywhere in my manuals were they are used for leaf spring install. By the way I did run a tap in the theads and checked to make sure there wasnt any dirt or broken bolts.
Thanks in advance for advice.
Heres the problem, when I purchased the new leaf I went ahead and bought a new leaf spring bolt kit. The bolt kit I ordered are the same length as the old ones and they bottom out in the blind holes of the differential cover before I can get them tight against the leaf. Do I have to put the 1/4 in thick plates back in - I dont see anywhere in my manuals were they are used for leaf spring install. By the way I did run a tap in the theads and checked to make sure there wasnt any dirt or broken bolts.
Thanks in advance for advice.
Last edited by BDVT69; Nov 21, 2004 at 08:25 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
There are different length bolts for different springs. I'm not smart enough to know which is which, but 7 leaf spring bolts are shorter than 9 leafers. There may be and probably is variation within the 9 leafers.
Many guys don't know this, and keep tightening till you pop through the bottom of the diff housing and gear oil starts running out. The 2 rear bolts go through the back of the rear mount, the 2 fronts are "blind" holes.
SO...somebody smarter than me might tell you the proper length bolt for your application. Chuck
Many guys don't know this, and keep tightening till you pop through the bottom of the diff housing and gear oil starts running out. The 2 rear bolts go through the back of the rear mount, the 2 fronts are "blind" holes.
SO...somebody smarter than me might tell you the proper length bolt for your application. Chuck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 971
Likes: 7
From: roanoke va
out of zips book 9 leaf spring takes 3 1/2" x 9/16" bolt and 7 leaf takes
3 1/4" x 7/16 bolt when i took my 72 apart some one had bottomed out the bolts and broke thru the houseing. by looking at the new and old bolts i think you can get away with takeing 1/4" off of your bolts.and the new shorter bolts are diffucult to get started with a new spring it almost seems to short but it will start and work it.
3 1/4" x 7/16 bolt when i took my 72 apart some one had bottomed out the bolts and broke thru the houseing. by looking at the new and old bolts i think you can get away with takeing 1/4" off of your bolts.and the new shorter bolts are diffucult to get started with a new spring it almost seems to short but it will start and work it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Owensboro Ky
The car was an original "F41" 7 leaf suspension. The new spring is a 9 leaf and the bolts that came with the kit are 3 1/2 in. long. I wanted to ask before cutting the bolts, since the car had that wierd trailer hitch mount. Thanks
