I don't know what to do to solve the problem. The std suspension rear leaf springs commercially available are J U N K. I'm so damn mad at my latest one that I'd like to shove it down whoever made it's throat. I've fought the battle for years, but was told that somebody finally had a decent, correct, replacement. So I put the 67 on the ground for the first time tonight and even after rolling it, the rear is probably 4" high. It looks like it's got air shocks. I just can't figure why in the hell somebody can't build a decent spring. I REFUSE to put a glass spring under the rear of an otherwise original car. Does anybody, anywhere have a reasonable solution?????
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Re: At my wit's end on midyear leaf springs
Have you called Eaton Detroit? They make pretty good stuff for other cars. I am sure someone will have a better answer.
I have a spring that needs a bit of help myself. I intend to get it rebuilt as it just has one cracked leaf but is otherwise in pretty good shape.
-Mark. -
Re: At my wit's end on midyear leaf springs
Clean-up and repaint the old spring adding one leaf of the new spring. This is typical of new springs!Comment
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Spring color
I know the spring should be a light gray, but does anyone have a recommendation as to the name brand of paint and the specific color.
ThanksComment
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Re: Spring color
The original material Rockwell used was called "Ionoclad" - don't know what current material is similar.Comment
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Re: Spring color
Quanta sells the original formula Iconoclad paint. It is VERY heavy...I believe it is lead rich. It comes in pint cans, and they weigh more than a quart of most paints today. It can be brushed or sprayed, and is exact in formulation as used by GM....CraigComment
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Re: Spring color
I just completed the restoration on my 9 leaf rear spring and used the spring gray paint from Quanta. The paint sratched easily, so I applied a coat of PPG DP-90 primer as a protective undercoat.Ray Carney
1961 Sateen Silver 270-HP
1961 Fawn Beige 315-HPComment
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Re: At my wit's end on midyear leaf springs
Norris-----
Did you drive the car after installation of the new spring? You must roll the car at least 15 feet, or so, to normalize the suspension. Until you do that it will be at an abnormaly high ride height.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: At my wit's end on midyear leaf springs
Yeah, Joe, as a matter of fact I drove it around the block and even whacked a few speed breakers to make sure that relatively fresh paint wasn't sticking in the neoprene isolators between the leaves. This has actually been an ongoing problem for me for years. I had a shop in the 80's and did a fair amount of Corvette suspension work as well as chassis out on 3 of my own cars. It's a problem I've just never been able to solve to my satisfaction. The supplier that I bought this one from said that the age old problem was solve with the new batch, but this one may be worse than the others I've bought in the past. There are all kinds of ways to get the car to the right height but I've never found one to get it dead right with correct appearance. As far as this car, I'm not even considering long bolts for the new spring, short bolts for the old one, extra leaves, fiberglass spring, or any of the other bandaids. I'm thinking of replacing some leaves from the new spring in my old spring and trying that way, maybe just by replacing the long one first, then maybe the next one also if that's not enough. It'd just be nice to get it right the first time instead of several trials. At least the car's side exhaust which makes it easier. There was a place in Atlanta that re arched, but I can't find them now. I just don't understand why somebody can't make a correct spring. I know other people have the same problem.Comment
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Re: At my wit's end on midyear leaf springs
I had the same problem with a new spring during my 71 restoration. I took it to a spring shop and they reset it.Comment
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Re: At my wit's end on midyear leaf springs
I have the opposite problem. My 65 Roadster had what looked like a recent replacement spring. The spring showed no arch and the car sat about one inch low in the rear. After several conversations with one of the suppliers I bought a new spring from him. I took it all apart cleaned it and painted it light grey, I installed it and have exactly the same problem I started with. I too am looking for a new supplier, does anyone have one that is just right??
Thanks in advance,
George
#36809Comment
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Re: At my wit's end on midyear leaf springs
George, I've never, ever heard of a steel replacement spring letting the rear of the car be too low. Is the new spring 7 leaf (as in F41)? If so, it's normal for the car to be lower with it. If not, I wonder if you don't have another issue, such as someone having changed to longer than stock bolts at the end of the spring to the trailing arms.Comment
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Re: At my wit's end on midyear leaf springs
Norris,
Thank's for the response. It is STD suspension, 9 leaf. The bolts are standard length, 6.25 inches if I remember correctly. When installed and the weight of the car is sitting on all 4 wheels the spring has no visible arch. I think if it was bolt length as you suggest there would be a greater than normal arch, whatever that might be. The car has side pipes so I can't measure the ground clearance as posted in the AIM, but the rear cross member is about 7 inches from the ground.
Thanks again,
GeorgeComment
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