Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

I want to try to improve ride and correct a slight lean by lubricating the springs without removing them. I know the "right" way is to take the springs out and check them, but I don't want to spend the time/money.

Since I haven't done this before, I was hoping somebody could take a look at this planned sequence and tell me if I'm missing anything or creating problems. I'm planning to do the whole sequence once for the front springs and once for the rear.

1. Detach shock arms and brake rods
2. Jack up the frame maybe a foot
3. Jack stands under the frame on both sides
4. Remove hanger nuts to detach the spring from the frame
5. Remove visible grime from spring leaves
6. Apply generous treatment of Kano Penephite, possibly using a screwdriver head to get between the leaves
7. Reinstall hanger nuts carefully using a torque wrench in a cross pattern
8. Lower everything back down
9. Install oiled spring cover (from Snyder's)
10. Reattach brake rods and shock arms (good time to check the shocks too)

Does this look OK? Any improvements?

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

Where is the containment step in your sequence? C-clamps, or logging chain would do the job. I would do with step 4.

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

Do I need to clamp the springs even though I'm not taking them out of the spring perches?

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

Don't take the springs apart.

> Have someone rock the car side-to-side and spray the springs on both sides with SAE 10 oil. Do this a few times after driving the car;

> Buy a set of spring covers and saturate the felt pads with 140 gear oil. Install the pads, and annually replenish the gear oil.

An immediate ride improvement can be had by reducing the rear tire pressures to 28 psig, and the front tire pressures to 30 psig.

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

There may be some confusion, I'm not planning to disassemble the springs. I'm just trying to lift the frame away from them slightly so that I can get up as close as possible to spray them with the lubricant. They're not coming off the axles.

I know there's a lot of cautionary tales out there about the stored energy in the springs, hence the recommendation of a spreader for the rear springs. What I'm trying to figure out is, am I OK just lifting the frame off them briefly without the spreader? Or do I need to do the lubrication with the frame in place, per Bob Bidonde's suggestion?

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

Do not detach anything. Put the car on jack stands just high enough to take weight off the tires maybe an inch take an old screwdriver and drive it between the leaves. spraying between each leaf.

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

OK, so that is now two votes for "don't take the U-bolts off." Good to know.

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

The center bolt can fail at any time, the best time would be when the spring is contained.

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

Sounds like I should just eliminate step #4, and in step #7 just tighten the hanger nuts, make sure they're even.

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

Alex,


Why all the work ??


1. Jack up the car placing jack stands under the front motor mounts.


2. Remove front wheels.


3. Lower the front axle until the shocks bottom out.


4. Soak the relaxed leaves with your favorite penetrating oil.


5. Jack her up & reinstall front wheels.


I used the same product, worked great for me.


JB

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

I like this method, guess I should decide whether it's more work to take the wheels off or just to jack the frame up another foot, seems like it would have the same effect.

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

Be Very careful of the springs! I'm sure that in the history of model A s, someone has been killed by the rear spring. I almost lost a leg to one. DO NOT LOOSEN the SPRING UNLESS YOU HAVE IT CONTAINED!
To return to the subject at hand, here's what I would do; With the body in place, loosen the center nut on the spring. Back it off no more than two turns. Now flood the little gaps between the leaves with motor oil in a squeeze can.Maybe jack the frame (not the wheels) a click or three and get as much oil in between the leaves as is possible. Then let it all down on the ground again and retighten the center bolt of the spring. This is far easier and less dangerous than messing around with the spring.
Terry

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

How about using one of these gizmos.

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

Not familiar with that gizmo, what is it?

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

I just jack one end of the car at a time up high, enough so that jackstands under the frame will let the wheels and spring hang as far down as it’ll go. Then I use like a motorcycle chain lube or Teflon silicone, or a penetrating type oil squirted all around the leaves.

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

I use a simplified method--- take oil can, fill with atf, squirt on springs. Go for drive---- don't forget the oil hole in the hand crank bearing

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

Penephite is designed to travel horizontally.

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

Is that... bad? Isn't that the reason to use it on leaf springs?

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

I'd just put some old motor oil in a squirt bottle, spray the spring packs and take it for a ride. Come home and wipe up any mess.

I had my rear spring apart The leaves don't relax until you remove the center bolt and start loosening the clamps.

Re: Sanity check on lubing springs in place
 

It is a tool to lubricate leaf springs.