Front Leaf Spring Replacement..

[1955cj5]

Having been distracted by the bigger issues I hadn't noticed that the front leaf spring pack is completely without any spring action....

The bottom of the front bumper is 15 3/8" fromt the ground...Les Andrews suggests it should be more like 18 1/2"......

It's interesting that at some point someone added a couple of leaves, for a total of 12, to probably keep the drag link from rubbing on the tie-rod...it does not rub now but there isn't much clearance.

So a new spring pack will be ordered, along with shackles, bushings, spring clips and center bolt.

I'm leaning towards Bert's because he is much closer than the others...it's not a show truck nor do I intend it to be.....

Any other experiences with front springs?

Thanks!

Randy

[CarlG]

A Springs (may be what Bert's sells, not sure)

[Larry Jenkins]

My front spring was a little flat when I got the car. Was going to replace the spring.

What it turned out to be was a broken bolt, causing the "flat" look. Took it apart; ground out all the "dishing"; cleaned it up and put in a new bolt, and the spring is right back into arch specifications that can be found in a lot of Model A Parts catalogs.

You might have the same condition.

Larry

[1930artdeco]

I took mine out, had it reached and greased. greased the shackles and put it back in. Not hard to do and helped quite a bit.

Mike

[1955cj5]

While looking through the Snyder's catalog I noticed that they sell a long rivet for the spring clips...they mention that Ford started using rivets in early 1931...my front spring clips have rivets.....so the front spring was replaced at least once!

Just a thought....maybe my 12 leaf spring came from a 31 AA just as the transmission did....the judging standards show a 12 leaf AA spring pack.....

[CT AV8]

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Originally Posted by CarlG

A Springs (may be what Bert's sells, not sure)

I agree with ordering from A Springs in Hartford, CT. Top drawer work with bronze bushings and it meets restoration standards, if that's important.

[Bob C]

They made a 12 leaf front spring A-5310-B.

Bob

[1955cj5]

Thanks for that...very interesting...
I can only measure the first four leaves as they are still in the truck..but they are different from your post..

#1=.242

#2=.200

#3=.200

#4=.167

And on mine #6 has the holes for the spring clamps.....This pack has no doubt been rebuilt from whatever was available at the time....

[Tom Wesenberg]

Interesting that the shackles appear to have been kept lubed, but the spring leaves are all rusty. My 29 Tudor was also dry and rusty when I bought it, and it rode like a lumber wagon. Just squirting oil on the front and rear springs, and all suspension points made a world of difference. Oil won't help with the sagging spring, but will help with ride quality.

[1955cj5]

I got a spring pack from Bert's, along with the bushings. I took it apart, beveled the ends, and rounded the top spring, lubed and painted and it went in just fine using the method in Les Andrew's book..no spreader needed.

Th old pack did have 12 leaves, but it had the same arch unloaded as the new 10 leaf pack. But I gained about 3/4" at the axle.

The nuts now go on the u-bolt far enough to add the cotter pin, and I now have an active suspension..!

[Neil Mylar LakewoodCA]

Nice job.
Congratulations.

[1955cj5]

Thanks Neil,

I just came back from a 10 or 15 mile ride and it is noticeably smoother, better over the bumps of course but there is a lot less vibration and it just feels better now that the front end has got some suspension movement....and it sits flatter..before it was down in front and up in the back as you might expect...

Overall worth the effort!

Randy