Rigid suspension?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
From: Davis, CA
Rigid suspension?
Hello,
I just realized why the back of my truck has felt like a hard tail (ie no suspension).
Here are pics of the rear spring attachment points.
Front Attachment.
Rear Attachment.
If there is no swing hanger, can the spring flex? No wonder they are broken!
Is this the correct Shackle body to install so that my new springs (still to be ordered from LMC with free shipping) will flex? New bushings, of course!
At the front or the back?
Thanks,
Steve
I just realized why the back of my truck has felt like a hard tail (ie no suspension).
Here are pics of the rear spring attachment points.
Front Attachment.Rear Attachment.If there is no swing hanger, can the spring flex? No wonder they are broken!
Is this the correct Shackle body to install so that my new springs (still to be ordered from LMC with free shipping) will flex? New bushings, of course!
At the front or the back?Thanks,
Steve
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 409
Likes: 7
From: Oregon
I have a a pair of shackles off my 51 if you need some. I went a different direction and I just have them laying around, My original springs were broken also but probably from age so I just changed to something different. PM me if your intrested. Will give them to ya if you pay for shipping. Ron
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 224
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From: Davis, CA
Ron, Thank you for the offer. I have two of the hangers that I took a picture of. Danny gave them to me with a set of springs. Unfortunately, these springs with cursed with the same broken leafs. The hangers will need new bushings, if they are the correct ones. I have no reason to think that they are not, but I wanted to make sure before beating the bushings out to replace. I will let you know if I have to take you up on your offer. Ciao.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 224
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From: Davis, CA
I just thought of another question. Is there any chance that the frame has been compromised with this rigid suspension? I am going to scratch all over the spring hangers and attachment points for fatigue cracks. Should I worry or is it suitably Henry over-engineered?
Thanks
Thanks
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,095
Likes: 655
From: Brentwood, TN
I bet that the PO was real proud of how much he could load up the truck without it sagging!
These stories never cease to amaze me...
These stories never cease to amaze me...
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NM
It could well be bent, just depends how long it was driven that way, and how hard. Do you know the PO?
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 224
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From: Davis, CA
No. I am not sure that the guy that I bought it from did the butcher job. If it is bent, would it be pulling away from the frame? Is there a way to check? Is the spindle supposed to be perpendicular to the frame rails? Can I measure the distance between spindle edges front and back on the frame side compared to the outside?
Thanks for the heads up.
Steve
Thanks for the heads up.
Steve
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,300
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Not sure what you are describing w/r/t "spindles" but if you measure from the ground to the bottom of the frame several places ahead of and behind the rear spring front pin, you should be able to tell if the rear of the frame got bent upwards. The factory chassis measurements are all over this site, do a search. If it were bent badly enough you'd see wrinkles in the frame vertical flanges.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,965
Likes: 261
From: East KY
Based on those pictures, it looks fine to me. I agree with Ross. Any significant damage would be very apparent in my opinion. These old frames are pretty tough, and those rivets are very tough and hell to remove even with an air chisel or grinder. I'm in the middle of a spring job myself right now on my 50 F1. The bed is off and I have full access to whatever measurement you might want to confirm if yours is bent, etc. Just let me know.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Davis, CA
Rear Hanger
Hello,
I cleaned up the rear hangers off the other set of springs and removed the upper bushing. The upper bushing is so worn that it was semilunar and just fell out. It appears that the steel is worn. I have attached the photo. Is it so worn that new hangers are in order? It looks pretty worn. The other is better.
Status of reconstruction....my neighbors are loving me!
I got the rear pins out on both sides with just a large punch/drift and a 2# cross peen. It went pretty well. I am now trying to get a clear shot of the front hangers for the rear springs to knock them out.
Thanks for all of your help!
Ciao,
Steve
I cleaned up the rear hangers off the other set of springs and removed the upper bushing. The upper bushing is so worn that it was semilunar and just fell out. It appears that the steel is worn. I have attached the photo. Is it so worn that new hangers are in order? It looks pretty worn. The other is better.
Status of reconstruction....my neighbors are loving me!
I got the rear pins out on both sides with just a large punch/drift and a 2# cross peen. It went pretty well. I am now trying to get a clear shot of the front hangers for the rear springs to knock them out.
Thanks for all of your help!
Ciao,
Steve
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 693
Likes: 6
From: N E Ohio
Looking at the hole in your picture, I wouldn't put a new standard bushing in there, it would just deform to the hole eventually and give a sloppy fit. What I have done with parts like that is go to an industrial supplier or bearing supplier and get a bronze bushing with the right ID and length, but a larger OD. I enlarge the hole in the part , just large enough to get it round, and then cut the OD of the new bushing to get a tight fit in the part.
I have also seen a standard bushing put in, and the void between it and the worn part of the hole filled with Devcon Plastic Steel Putty or Devcon Titanium Putty. It works out pretty well and seems to last long on machinery I have seen it done on.
I have also seen a standard bushing put in, and the void between it and the worn part of the hole filled with Devcon Plastic Steel Putty or Devcon Titanium Putty. It works out pretty well and seems to last long on machinery I have seen it done on.