Rear Spring

The greatest advice anyone could receive in regards to rear spring removal is to purchase a professionally made spreader do not fool with the spring. latecomer
 
The timing of this thread could not have come at a better time! I just finished the front spring and was blessed to have the loan of a brand new spreader from Brattons. I wish I would have used a grade 8 center bolt (there is NO reason not to). The judges can't see it. I just finished prepping the new shackles for the rear spring (only replacing the shackles) and I will be ordering that $130 spreader. I'm thinking replacing a shackle one side at a time with cross member bolted in place to crossmember will be easier? This thread really got my attention. Mike
 
Dennis, I severely misjudged the strength of the rear spring. The front was ok. I was very new to Mod. A s at the time and I just couldn't see the spring having that much force. These freakin things are deadly! If that thing had hit me, it would have been like a piece of shrapnel. It would have meant lotsa time in the hospital! Maybe my experience will save someone else's legs or what have you.
Terry



Dennis Pereira said:
Terry my tool is a lot safer than yours but they both need to be used as anchors . Your lucky to still be with us .
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After going over this thread i decided to buy a spring spreader for the rear. It made the job a lot easier, I have removed the springs before by taking it down to the main leaf and struggle from there. This tool was a good investment.
 
I saw (and bought) this spring spreader on eBay quite a while back. Also bought the front spreader from the same guy. It is a real robust spreader and has been used successfully by several members of our club.
 

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Yep, quality tools pay for themselves. Your C clamps look like quality older American made tools, but NEVER use the cheap junk ones from Harbor Freight, as they have the strength of a wet noodle.
 
I agree with the c clamps and vice grips some things you have to step up and get the quality tools for. I didn't trust the center bolt so the c clamps were for my peace of mind.

That intake keeps following me around the car last week it wanted to hang out with the transmission, it is a scrap part that i just haven't pitched yet so it is keeping the rest of the car company for now.
 
My home made spring spreader had been working good for me for 48 years, until this last fall. The spreader's ends didn't have the horse shoes around to fully corral the spring's eyes. I had the rear axle out of the A pick up and the axle was laying with the torque tube straight in the air. My spreader had fully expanded the spring and I was hammering out the rusted in spring shackles with a driver. I only swung the hammer once and then things happened so fast that all I can do is to guess what happened next. One end of my spreader came unhooked and the spreader shot out of there like a large steel arrow from a gigantic cross bow. The rear leaf spring almost broke my ankle (ankle took three months to heal from a bone bruise) and to the right arm swinging the hammer, the spreader skinned my forearm to the bone as the spreader shot by. It took about three months for my forearm to fill the void of flesh in my arm and to finally grow new hide. Don't screw around with half assed spring spreaders as they could very easily kill you. You don't heal up from being dead.
 
Just a reminder, even the bottom leaf alone is under a good deal of tension. I took a spring apart down to the bottom leaf that was still attached to the perches, when I punched out the shackle on the one side, glad I was not standing in the way!!!
 
There are a number of good testimonials in this post about the dangers associated with the rear spring on a Model A Ford.

Since I have a cottage industry rebuilding Model A differentials/rear axle assemblies I have heard a number of horror stories over the years from customers tangling with the rear spring.

When ever I see a post about the rear spring on this forum I get up on the soap box. It may prevent serious injury or save somebody's life.

My advice:

Obtain a proper spring spreader from any of the suppliers.

Make sure it is properly installed before beginning to spread the spring.

Never remove a rear axle assembly from a Model A with the spring attached.

If the task is to restore the spring use the spring spreader to remove the shackles while all is installed in the car. Once the rear axle assembly is out of the way collapse the spreader and remove it. Then and only then uncouple the spring from the frame and remove it. Install it back in the car in the reverse order.

Never attempt to install new bushings in the spring eyes while the spring is under tension and held by the spreader. Hammering could dislodge the spreader. Collapse the spreader and remove it first.

The two dangers involved are an improper spring spreader launching like a cross bow and the spring itself exploding when the center bolt comes apart.

Tom Endy
 
My new tools arrived today but I'm still not to excited about working on the springs . The front spring tool looks just like the one I made only a larger all thread .
 

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Dennis Pereira said:
My new tools arrived today but I'm still not to excited about working on the springs . The front spring tool looks just like the one I made only a larger all thread .
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My tools arrived last wed and I tried them out today one front spring out and one rear spring out with no problems . Now to reinstall front is new and rear reworked just moving from one frame to another . Good rainy day project .
 
Question #2
So what kind of spreader do you use for a reverse eye spring?


This has been a very informative post.
 
MoJo's A said:
Question #2
So what kind of spreader do you use for a reverse eye spring?


This has been a very informative post.
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You'd have to make some clamp on jig for each end of the spring so the spreader has something to push against. Two hunks of bar stock clamped on each end of the spring. I'd bevel the edge that the spreader pushes against, so it has a firm grip.
 
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