55 rear spring

[Don S.]

There are 5 leaf springs and 4 leaf springs in the various catalogs. How do you know what yours should be to be correct for judging. Did they change from a 4 leaf to a 5 leaf and if so when. or was it from a 5 to a four. Why is there a groove in the 4th leaf of a 5 leaf spring. You just cannot go and get a spring made because it will not look like the original without the groove.
Are the repro springs anywhere close to the originals

[Roy B.]

Re: 55 rear spring

Your 55 is four, and it's just the way they were made, repro I dont know

[Don S.]

Re: 55 rear spring-Roy

My springs are 5 leaf and the supply houses sell 4 leaf or 5 leaf as 1955 replacements. The problem with my 5 leaf springs is that one of the springs has had one leaf replaced with a thick piece of metal which is not correct. Unless I can find an original leaf for the 5 spring, I am going to have to buy a new set of two springs. You are saying that the 4 spring is correct for my car even though it is a late 55. Are you relatively certain there was no running change.

[Wayne P.]

Re: 55 rear spring-Roy

Just remove the added leaf and see where your car sits. If it's too low, have them rearched.

[Mark B.]

Re: 55 rear spring

Don, I just replaced the springs on my 59 with aftermarket types from General Spring of Kansas City. I went with the 5-leaf types which are not NCRS correct as the steel with the recess is no longer available. My original springs that I removed were negatively arched badly on the front spring perch. My car sat about 1-1/2 inch low in the rear. It's my understanding that 5-leaf springs were an HD option on the C-1's. I spoke to a salesperson at Eaton Springs in Detroit who educated me about the re-arching process. I chose to go with the aftermarket springs due to price and availability. They were a perfect fit and the car now sits at its correct height. I do not find the ride objectionable, but it is a bit on the rough side. The repro springs do not look like the original springs as they do not have the liners or the groove in the bottom spring. Since my car is not NCRS correct, I chose to go with those that were readily available. Good luck.

[Dave Suesz]

55 #518 has

the original 4-leaf springs still in place. I used to worry about them, even contacted Dale Pearman about re-arching them, since they appear to have a negative arch. However, since the rear end sits within 1/8" of stock height, it seemed a waste of time.

[Don S.]

Re: 55 #518 has

Dave & Roy--Thanks for the info. I just reread the part in the restoration guide book and Noland said all the 53-4-5 cars had the same springs. I guess that I should not have doubted Roy ---and Dave, your post confirms the use of 4 leaf springs --Thanks again Guys