Spring reverse eye

hope

hope

Senior Member
There was a short discussion a while back about reversing the eye on a spring, with some saying you dont get good results.

I would like more" comments" "discussions" and "advise" on the subject please.

Thank You:confused:
 
I've done a few by laying it over the bottom of a Ch$%&y block (it's their best use) and smacking it a bunch of times carefully with a BFH.
Before you start scribe along the leaf with chalk on the floor so you can get it the same but reversed.
Be careful near the center hole...it bends easier there.
 
There was an article a couple of months ago in Rod & Custom (I'm pretty sure) saying, "OOOh- don't do it! It will mess up the angle that the shackles hang at! OOOH- that will ruin everything!" Hot rodders have been doing it for decades without ill effects.
 
My friend and I reversed the eyes on my rear spring by using a simple home made jig and a bottle jack. Took about an hour and was alot easier than beating on it with a sledge hammer.
Matt
 
I have a Posies reversed eye spring on the front of my 40 Convert . The most noticeable difference is that it rides a little stiffer than the stock spring. I havent seen any ill effects on sping hangers or bushings. I guess about the only draw back would be if the spring broke the front of the car would hit the ground . I suppose thats why the stock Ford springs have the 2nd leaf curved over the 1st leaf on the ends.
 
hope said:
There was a short discussion a while back about reversing the eye on a spring, with some saying you dont get good results.

I would like more" comments" "discussions" and "advise" on the subject please.

Thank You:confused:
Click to expand...

The main point of that discussion was the fact the spring will not have the same eye to eye distance once it's reversed, which could cause a problem. :)
 
I have a 34 spring on a Chassis Engineering dropped axle. The eyes are reversed and it all works just fine. I would be inclined to think the naysayers are armchair theorists who've never had a reversed eye spring.
 
Remember you aren't reversing the eyes as such - you de-arch the main leaf until flat, then re-introduce the same amount of arch in the opposite direction. You draw the arch on the floor with chalk then keep working on it until you can lay it back over the arch and the shape is the same, other than the eyes now being reversed.

This is all done cold. I did it in a big vise with a couple of attachments that slip over the jaws. One had two big bolts as fulcrums and the other had one in the middle.

Check out this thread on the hamb - all will become clear..

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2201&highlight=martomatic

Mart.

Mart.
 
There are two ways to do this, reverse the arch or cut the existing eyes off and reroll the spring ends. A Ford piston pin clamped to the spring which has been heated red hot with a torch and then rolled around the pin works fine. This will make the spring shorter which worked well on race cars to take swing out of the suspension and gave a flatter spring. You can rearch by laying the spring on an anvil and beating it with a eight pound sledge across the anvil step a little at a time. If you are working with a 32-4 rear spring, there is another consideration and that is the spring eyes are not at a right angle to the spring.
 
If memory serves me, you can just buy the main reversed eye spring/leaf from Chassis Engineering or Posies and then add the rest of your own leaves for ride height. If my leaves do not have tapered ends, I make them that way. I also use the u-shaped teflon pad/liner between both front and rear springs w/great results in my 40 coupe and my avatar.
 
TomT has the right idea. Buy the new reversed eye mainleaf from Chassis Engineering or any other rod shop and build your own spring from the leafs of your old spring. I have done this many times and it always works. I also use the lipped teflon liner.
 
My friend at National spring , after reversing the arch on the spring would then stick it in the oven, to bring back the tempure on the spring, otherwise they tend to sag later on when you using it on the car.
 
Many shops that specialize in spring building can make a whole new main leaf with the eye rolled either way a person might want it.
 
I have had front and rear main leafs made at a spring shop that services mostly heavy trucks. Gave them the old ones and they made new ones with reversed eyes and correct arch. Also you still have your old ones if you want to change back.
 
I reversed the arch in my "A" front spring with my small shop press. Just traced the arch on the floor and then worked the spring in the press each way from the center,a little at a time, until flat then kept working it until it matched the old arch. I used the rest of the original stack, so the main has plenty of support. I am sure it will drop a bit in time, but most all re-arched springs do. Took about 45 min. to do the job. Worked for me.
 
I have a 34 with over 125000miles on a reversed eye spring, no problems , will not change the ride . eaiser to by one Pete & Jakes or who ever.
Also 40 with reversed eye which rides better because you eliminate the second leaf
David
 
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