62 Leaf Springs

[Eric E.]

I have been reading a number of old posts and wanted a consensus of what I have found so far. It looks like for a "driver", re-arching original springs is not the solution. The ones I have are somewhat saggy and have some surface rust and all the post lead me to believe that these are not suitable for use unless trailered. Is that still the thought or can someone shed a new twist to this?

thanks, Eric

[Joe L.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

I have been reading a number of old posts and wanted a consensus of what I have found so far. It looks like for a "driver", re-arching original springs is not the solution. The ones I have are somewhat saggy and have some surface rust and all the post lead me to believe that these are not suitable for use unless trailered. Is that still the thought or can someone shed a new twist to this?

thanks, Eric

Eric-------


How do you know the springs are "saggy"?

As far as rust goes, if it's only surface rust, that's no problem, at all. The problem occurs if any of the leaves have PITTING type rust.

[Eric E.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Hi Joe.

The springs are in my shop back home, I am stuck in Atlanta with a weather delay to my flight otherwise I would post a picture or two. They both are off the chassis and have minimal arch. I have the set of replacement springs that came on the car when I bought it and the arch is considerably more when sitting side by side.

As for the rust I will need to disassemble them and brush them down to see how the surface condition is. One leaf is broken but I do have a replacement.
Eric

[Terry D.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Eric
Most of the replacement springs I have seen have too much arch and the car sits a little high in the rear. You could send your springs to Eaton and they will re arch them the right way and you will get them back just like new. I believe they are the original makers of those springs.

[Gary B.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Terry,

According to John Hinckley, Eaton Detroit Spring was not an OEM supplier to GM. But they have been around for more than 65 years and they know what they're doing. Although in the case of their C2 reproduction springs, they differ cosmetically from original GM C2 springs.

Gary

[Loren S.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Here's a link to a great article on the subject from John Hinckley, which will download in PDF:

http://www.camaros.org/pdf/eaton_spring.pdf

[Pat H.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

I believe that Rockwell was the OE manufacturer

[Eric E.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Here are some pictures of the 62 springs. As you can tell, the condition and arch are a mess. The two sets have different free height and one has a broken leaf. The replacement leaf I acquired is bent.
The pictures also show the some of the surface condition but I won't know the extent of the corrosion until they are pulled apart.

Got to love these odd, short run parts! Eric

[Bob R.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Not all old springs can be saved or re arched. I sent the spring from my 63 to Eaton and they returned it to me with a note that it could not be re arched as it had too much corrosion I thought my spring looked much better than yours.

[Pat H.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

I called Eaton regarding my springs and they said if there is still an arch in them, you are better off to leave them alone. There is no guarantee that the re-arched spring will be any better than what you have. I was also warned that sandblasting may cause the spring to further weaken. I used a 3" scotch-brite type disc on a air angle tool to take the rust off. They were actually in pretty good shape, so new liners and re-bounded them and they have been fine for the last 6 years. The Corvette Central band kit is a close as you will get to the original.

[Eric E.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Thanks, I think I will take them apart and see how bad the corrosion is. I wouldn't doubt the surface between the liners is in worse shape than the exposed. Ultimately, I will see what I find for condition, find specs and see what I would need to replace. Eric

[Joe L.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Thanks, I think I will take them apart and see how bad the corrosion is. I wouldn't doubt the surface between the liners is in worse shape than the exposed. Ultimately, I will see what I find for condition, find specs and see what I would need to replace. Eric

Eric------


Usually, the upper and lower surfaces of the springs will be the worst for wear. Pitting type corrosion is what you have to be the most concerned about.

[Eric E.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Eric------


Usually, the upper and lower surfaces of the springs will be the worst for wear. Pitting type corrosion is what you have to be the most concerned about.

Thanks Joe, looks like a little disassembly time is coming!

[Frank D.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

I called Eaton regarding my springs and they said if there is still an arch in them, you are better off to leave them alone. There is no guarantee that the re-arched spring will be any better than what you have. I was also warned that sandblasting may cause the spring to further weaken. I used a 3" scotch-brite type disc on a air angle tool to take the rust off. They were actually in pretty good shape, so new liners and re-bounded them and they have been fine for the last 6 years. The Corvette Central band kit is a close as you will get to the original.

Essentially what I did on the '61 as well; I had some corrosion/pitting but not terrible; my free arch was actually right on spec and so I used the Paragon rebuild kit to put new liners, rebound clips and the little metal dots back in their proper places. A bit of work but the springs have performed well for the last 4-5 years after the rebuild.

I emulated the factory crimp on the rebound clips as closely as I could with the off-the-shelf crimping tool I used; not perfect, but close...

[Eric E.]

Re: 62 Leaf Springs

Hi Frank, where re did you get your specs?
Eric