1930 spring shackle question

[Billybob57]

My 1930 Tudor spring shackles do not have Grease zerts. And it appears the bolts have rubber bushings. Has anyone sen this before?

 

[Flathead]

Aftermarket replacements, generally don't last very long. Original style steel is better.

 

[gdmn852]

Hello, I had a 1930 coupe that had those on , as said in other post they were aftermarket items, on mine they had been on so long the blots were wearing into the rubber bushings explained why it had a lean to driver’s side ! Be sure to get a good spring spreader to change them out.

 

[Tom Endy]

I have seen those a number of times. I think they are from the days of J. C. Whitney. They are usually a disaster with the rubber all torn up. Best to install new steel bushings and a new set of shackles.

Beware: Use a spring spreader to remove the shackles. Before you attempt to drive the new steel bushings in the spring release the tension on the spreader and remove it. The last thing you want is to knock the spreader off the spring while under tension.

Tom Endy

 

[redmodelt]

Spring spreader is not needed for the front, but sure is for the rear.

 

[Billybob57]

I see they sell a spring spreader for the front spring. I
If you pull a shackle pin does the spring move?

 

[gdmn852]

Yes it does be careful, using 2x4 blocks of wood between top of axle and under shackle , Will a floor jack you can relive pressure on the spring, remove shackle when spring tension is not holding it . Also check the spring pearches quite often the are worn out of round.The rear spring is a different mater you will need a spreader for it , and use caution even though they are 90 plus years old still have a lot of force. If you can get the red book by Les Andrews that will help.

 

[gdmn852]

Picture of book

 

[Tom Endy]

Be careful with the rear spring, it can be lethal.

Tom Endy
http://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/The-rear-spring.pdf

 

[Billybob57]

I'm planning on buying a rear leaf spreader. I'm hoping not to have to buy one for the front too.

 

[wrndln]

I have a pair of forged aftermarket Bulldog style rear shackles I am selling on the for sale section of Fordbarn. These are the forged old replacement shackles, not the cheesy type sold at most vendors.
Rusty Nelson

 

[Y-Blockhead]

Be careful of some repro shackles. https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/brokenshackles.htm I had one break on my Town Sedan. I decided to replace them with the USA made shackles from Snyder's. Altho they don't look original, I would rather be safe. https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/product.htm?pid=978578&cat=0 These are similar to the later type of shackle used on the V-8's.

 

[Synchro909]

I've had shackles break exactly like those. The first sign that something was amiss was that grease would ooze out right near the grease nipple and none ever got to the back.
Once I worked out what the problem was, all sorts of narrowly avoided disasters flashed through my mind.

 

[Tom Endy]

When we removed the rear axle assembly from my grandson's 1930 Tudor we were restoring we found one of the rear shackles broken. This is an excellent demonstration why a rear spring spreader should always be employed when dealing with the rear spring. Had the rear end been removed from the car with the spring attached the shackle could easily have come fully apart and no telling where the spring would have ended up, or who would have been in the way of its travel.

We had attached a spring spreader to the spring and when we knocked the shackle out was the first indication it was broken.

Tom Endy

 

[Billybob57]

Does everyone buy or rent a spring spreader? And if you rent, where?

 

[Y-Blockhead]

When we removed the rear axle assembly from my grandson's 1930 Tudor we were restoring we found one of the rear shackles broken.
Tom Endy

I found mine when I removed the rear end to install my Mitchell. I have no idea how long it was broken but when I attemted to remove the shackle bar the nut just turn like if was stripped.