10 leaf rear springs
- Thread starter Pmsqrd
- Start date
Joe K
Well-known member
One has to break down the springs into the elemental leaves, and then measure the leaf thickness leaf by leaf.
Marco has a chart which outlines the thicknesses which you might see.
There actually were not that many individual variants on leaves. 12 comes to mind. And even less variant on thicknesses (4) but from this Ford made up spring packs for everything from roadsters to pickup trucks.
See https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16271
It is possible to measure leaf thicknesses off the ends of the spring-ends using a depth micrometer and generous intuition regarding tip wear/grooving of the leaves.
Should you decide to break down a spring-pack so that you can measure more accurately with a micrometer, BE WARY as you undo or cut with a grinder that center bolt. There can be considerable pent up energy even in a "removed" spring, and the upper half of a spring pack has been known to "jump" when the bolt is cut.
My parents dining room floor joints took a jolt when my spring pack "took flight" from where they were being held in my vise in the basement. Parents weren't home, fortunately, and I myself was startled but unhurt in the surprise. (called lucky!)
Others report no problemo here but the difference may be the difference between a roadster spring and a pickup spring, this latter being my experience.
Replacement center bolts are provided "long" so that one may safely restore this pre-loading during assembly.
It is not a bad idea to replace a center bolt in restoration simply because an occasional center bolt is found "broken" which complicates servicing and removal of a rear axle later.
Joe K
Marco has a chart which outlines the thicknesses which you might see.
There actually were not that many individual variants on leaves. 12 comes to mind. And even less variant on thicknesses (4) but from this Ford made up spring packs for everything from roadsters to pickup trucks.
See https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16271
It is possible to measure leaf thicknesses off the ends of the spring-ends using a depth micrometer and generous intuition regarding tip wear/grooving of the leaves.
Should you decide to break down a spring-pack so that you can measure more accurately with a micrometer, BE WARY as you undo or cut with a grinder that center bolt. There can be considerable pent up energy even in a "removed" spring, and the upper half of a spring pack has been known to "jump" when the bolt is cut.
My parents dining room floor joints took a jolt when my spring pack "took flight" from where they were being held in my vise in the basement. Parents weren't home, fortunately, and I myself was startled but unhurt in the surprise. (called lucky!)
Others report no problemo here but the difference may be the difference between a roadster spring and a pickup spring, this latter being my experience.
Replacement center bolts are provided "long" so that one may safely restore this pre-loading during assembly.
It is not a bad idea to replace a center bolt in restoration simply because an occasional center bolt is found "broken" which complicates servicing and removal of a rear axle later.
Joe K
Last edited:
Charlie Stephens
Well-known member
I use a roadster spring (7 leafs if I remember correctly) in my '31 RDPU. Better ride and the tire is better centered in the fender.
Charlie Stephens
Charlie Stephens
Jim Brierley
Well-known member
If you are not going to use it as a work truck, do as Charlie did, you'll be happier.
1930 coupe
Senior Member
Marco's spring chart in the above post is not complete.
Download the PDF file to get Marco's complete spring chart that includes witch spring goes on witch body type.
Download the PDF file to get Marco's complete spring chart that includes witch spring goes on witch body type.
