Ken/Alabama
Well-known member
Whats best to use on our early Fords for spring lubricant. I have my spring apart and cleaned but want to lube it before I reassemble it. Also looking for a new square head tie bolt, mine is broke in half .
Spring lubricant
- Thread starter Ken/Alabama
- Start date
Hey Ken,
As long as you have cleaned out all of the old (and no doubt dried / crusted) lubricant from between the leaves I'd suggest you do NOT use any type of grease. It will not get through those paths that were created for lubricating the spring leaves - simply a poor design. Plus, once the grease becomes contaminated it will cause further attempts to lubricate the leaves even more futile.
The authentic lubricant was very similar in properties to the current STP Oil Treatment. I would suggest you load up your grease gun with that product and use it.
If you can't find a new bolt, let me know the length and I may have a replacement here.
Ken/Alabama
Well-known member
According to the Lincoln book wraped springs didn't come along on Zephyrs till 40
Vic Piano
Well-known member
The spring that was on the Columbia (when I got it) was wrapped. The Columbia was in a '39 LZ Coupe but it could have had a '40 or later spring on it...
Ken/Alabama
Well-known member
Thanks Kube for your input. I have the leaves clean an completely free from any old grease or crude. I did spray them with some DP90 epoxy primer. I have this can of Ford spring lubricant but didnt really want to open it if there was something else suitable to use. Do you suggest using lubricant but dont use grease ?I can understand why grease would be a bad idea. Will it hurt anything to leave them dry or just go ahead and open the can of spring lube I have ? What would you suggest if you were in my shoes ?
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Hi Ken,
I would, without question, lubricate the springs if you intend to drive the car.
I powder finish each leaf and lubricate prior to reassembly even though the cars I restore rarely, if ever get driven. Better safe then...you know the saying
I used to have a two gallon pail of Ford Spring lubricant. Long ago used up. The closest I've found is the STP Oil Treatment.
If you don't want to open the Ford can, get some STP.
ford38v8
Well-known member
Ken, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned fifth wheel grease. (Tractor-trailer coupling) This stuff is waterproof, never freezes, sticky and gluey as hell, and never dries out. Get it at truck supply and RV trailer supply houses. Fifth wheel grease is also great for mechanical brake cables for the same reason it works well for springs.
About your springs, you've got them clean, now go back and deburr them at the points where they've worn from riding next to each other. Slather on the fifth wheel grease before assembly. No paint, no *powder coat. After assembly and wiping down the excess, you're good to go. Forget the zerk fitting, it was a bad idea then and it didn't get better with age.
*With apologies to Kube, this is the way to prep a set of springs that is actually expected to be put into service.
About your springs, you've got them clean, now go back and deburr them at the points where they've worn from riding next to each other. Slather on the fifth wheel grease before assembly. No paint, no *powder coat. After assembly and wiping down the excess, you're good to go. Forget the zerk fitting, it was a bad idea then and it didn't get better with age.
*With apologies to Kube, this is the way to prep a set of springs that is actually expected to be put into service.
Kurt in NJ
Well-known member
A dry spring will be stiff ---hard ride,
Yes, the leaves will wear against each other.
If you have bad or no shocks a dry spring will make the car drive better
If you have a supple lubed spring and good shocks it will be a joy to drive.
The original spring lube for pumping into the fitting on the hollow center bolt ---
77-1/2% ice machine oil (about the viscosity of 80-90 wt gear oil)
20 % talc
2-1/2% pulverized asbestos
Yes, the leaves will wear against each other.
If you have bad or no shocks a dry spring will make the car drive better
If you have a supple lubed spring and good shocks it will be a joy to drive.
The original spring lube for pumping into the fitting on the hollow center bolt ---
77-1/2% ice machine oil (about the viscosity of 80-90 wt gear oil)
20 % talc
2-1/2% pulverized asbestos
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Robert/Texas
Well-known member
I have a '37 with the Zerk fittings. When I bought it 2-1/2 years ago the springs were dripping with grease. I've been lubeing them with the regular chassis grease in my grease gun. The grease seems to ooze out from between all of the leaves. I just wipe them off. They collect a lot of dirt but the car has hardly any squeaks. This probably wouldn't work out well in a show car.
