Rear Spring?

Yes, many have, including for speedsters which are lighter, use the search bar (in the black bar) above, many hits you will receive.
 
Please listen to what I say. Buy a good spreader for the spring. THE SPRING CAN KILL YOU! Look for posts involved on spring work and be very carefull. Others will help you!
 
Indiana A. Lover said:
Please listen to what I say. Buy a good spreader for the spring. THE SPRING CAN KILL YOU! Look for posts involved on spring work and be very carefull. Others will help you!
Click to expand...
Thanks but;
I have already removed and reinstalled my rear spring, sanded and painted it a few months ago, my question is not about removing it, I just want to know if anyone has removed any leafs for a better ride.
 
Yes, I made an eight leaf out of a ten leaf that was in my 31 sport coupe. The stance looks better and it rides good. I've never had anyone in my rumble seat. It might be too soft.
 
FWIW: Per the very excellent and most thoughtful Warning mentioned in reply no. 3 and no. 4:

Every single time we see "rear spring" in a rear spring question or comment, at least we "all" can agree how thoughtful it is to warn any uninformed person of the dangers when dismantling a Model A rear spring, or even a front spring.
 
I've been a long time lurker on Ford Barn, but I finally have a question and not just searching and reading!
If your going to remove say every other leaf, but plan on keeping the main leaf, can't you keep the main leaf attached to the axle (effectively a spring compressor), put the frame on jack stand and jack the axle to remove the center bolt and clamps? Then the jack can be let down and the main spring would stay since it's retained by the axle and the rest of the spring pack would slowly release the energy?
I'm having a hard time understanding using the spring compressor if your not removing the main spring? Or do you have to remove the main spring to remove leaves??
Thanks!
Aaron
 
Aaron51Chevy said:
I've been a long time lurker on Ford Barn, but I finally have a question and not just searching and reading!
If your going to remove say every other leaf, but plan on keeping the main leaf, can't you keep the main leaf attached to the axle (effectively a spring compressor), put the frame on jack stand and jack the axle to remove the center bolt and clamps? Then the jack can be let down and the main spring would stay since it's retained by the axle and the rest of the spring pack would slowly release the energy?
I'm having a hard time understanding using the spring compressor if your not removing the main spring? Or do you have to remove the main spring to remove leaves??
Thanks!
Aaron
Click to expand...

It's when the main leaf is spread and installed that the spring has the most danger and power behind it. Try to remove the center nut and it will just about explode on you. I was removing the complete rear spring and axle assembly, and when I was removing the last of the 4 nuts on the 2 U bolts, the frame jumped a couple feet in the air because the center bolt broke from too much rust. Luckily my head was just to the rear of the crossmember.
 
Last edited:
Aaron51Chevy said:
I've been a long time lurker on Ford Barn, but I finally have a question and not just searching and reading!
If your going to remove say every other leaf, but plan on keeping the main leaf, can't you keep the main leaf attached to the axle (effectively a spring compressor), put the frame on jack stand and jack the axle to remove the center bolt and clamps? Then the jack can be let down and the main spring would stay since it's retained by the axle and the rest of the spring pack would slowly release the energy?
I'm having a hard time understanding using the spring compressor if your not removing the main spring? Or do you have to remove the main spring to remove leaves??
Thanks!
Aaron
Click to expand...

I didn't get this at first either until someone posted a pic of all the leaves, dismantled and lying sideways on the floor roughly in position relative to each other. What you immediately see is that each leaf has a different curve. They don't take on a uniform curve unless the centre bolt forces them into shape. Therefore there is a lot of tension held by that centre bolt.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
It's when the main leaf is spread and installed that the spring has the most danger and power behind it......I was removing the complete rear spring and axle assembly, and when I was removing the last of the 4 nuts on the 2 U bolts, the frame jumped a couple feet in the air because the center bolt broke from too much rust. Luckily my head was just to the rear of the crossmember.
Click to expand...

An old timer, who has since gone from my life, Was a mentor of mine, kept a length of chain with a hook on it about 15 inches long, he would wrap it around the top of the crossmember and the leafspring while he undid the U bolts I never saw it happen, but he said the exact same thing that you did.

Funny thing is though, he never used a spring spreader. :-). I guess that part of the operation didn't scare him. 😳
 
I did this recently...1929 ccpu.

It had 13 leaves in the rear spring...extra heavy and made for a rough ride.

I reduced it to 8 leaves, cleaned and lubed (with John Deere graphite spray) everything, put it back in and it rides real nice.

Maybe almost too soft for a pickup. It bounces a little through road intersections but I don't have shocks(yet!)

When I started to take it apart and realized what tension it was under I was glad to have the chains etc. in place.

The picture shows it about halfway through the disassembly process..I did it a little at a time moving the clamps and chains further towards the ends as I loosened the center bolt.

The center bolt shown is a new replacement so it is much longer than the original. When I had everything clamped and chained I removed the old center bolt and replace it with the new longer bolt.

More here:

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182182
 

Attachments

  • P1090264.JPG
    P1090264.JPG
    205.1 KB · Views: 62
  • P1090301.JPG
    P1090301.JPG
    197.8 KB · Views: 55
Last edited:
If your going to remove say every other leaf, but plan on keeping the main leaf, can't you keep the main leaf attached to the axle (effectively a spring compressor), put the frame on jack stand and jack the axle to remove the center bolt and clamps? Then the jack can be let down and the main spring would stay since it's retained by the axle and the rest of the spring pack would slowly release the energy?
I'm having a hard time understanding using the spring compressor if your not removing the main spring? Or do you have to remove the main spring to remove leaves??
Click to expand...

I don't see why it wouldn't work if one was to take the centre nut off FIRST, then undo the U bolts before jacking the vehicle up. Reverse procedure to reinstall and put the centre nut on last. Might have to put some extra weight in the back of the vehicle to compress the spring.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top