Hi, all...me, with another question, AGAIN!!

Anyway, the leaf springs on my '51 have some broken pieces - the straps that hold them together, plus the "clamp"s, for lack of another word. I know they are under tension, but was thinking of making a tool, to pull the springs back together, and putting my own strap. There's no place anywhere close, that does that kind of work, plus I do NOT want to pull them off the truck.

Has anyone ever attempted this? I have replaced springs before, but never this big. And I really don't want to take them off the truck - did I mention that??

I know I can make a tool to pull the springs back together, where they sit, but wonder if I can make a strap that would hold. One end of one side is good, the other end, all that's left of the clamp is the stuck bolt, and the strap is busted. The other side, straps bent loose, the bolts broke in the clamp, and the other end has the clamp, but strap has both "L" shaped ends gone. Here's pics - I know how you folks like pics!!









Oh yeah, I don't want to pull them!! I'll weld them together first...nah, just kidding!

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

R

 

I am a novice at this but call Eaton Springs maybe they can help by getting you new straps. As well I am sure you know the springs are probably over 50 years old they probably need replacing they look very used. You can be cheap on many things but suspension and brakes are not the areas to be cheap. When I purchased my springs Eaton supplied everything including the shackles and U bolts but this will involve removing the springs. This can be done after the truck is completed and maybe after it is on the road. Sorry for the lecture just want to see you in a safe ride.

 

Roger, If your truck is an F-1 the springs with the wrap around band were not original and were added at some time as helper springs. In that case I would remove the helper springs unless you plan to overload the truck. If the truck is not an F-1, someone should be along to help.
Shackles like the original springs with the 1/4 " bolt thru them should be available from spring businesses or just google on line for spring shackles. I have removed leaves from my original rear springs such that I need to plug weld the original 1/4 " (or is it 5/16") holes and redrill the shackle for a snug fit holding the leaves together.

 

Unless you plan to haul some really heavy stuff with the truck I get rid of the overload springs altogether. You could make you own straps out of some 1/4 inch flatbar if you just like doing things the hard way but any spring shop will probably have the straps.

 

Roger, JMO, but I think if your truck had those helpers and STILL broke some parts, I think someone was abusing the truck's capacity greatly. I would not use the truck until I took them all apart and inspected them closely. This isn't a good place to scrimp.

 

Good Lawd thats a lotta spring!!!

The spring wrap dookickeys can be had from most vendors or you can fab up your own easy enough, heck, they aren't much more than a flat bar bend into a "U" shape. Some have a bolt that goes through the ends, others are just wrapped over the springs. Their main purpose is to keep the individual springs lined up with the main spring.
I've seen the guys at the spring shop fab them up for spring packs that have either had springs added or removed.

It's possible to do this on the truck and I can fully understand why you might want to give it a shot (sometimes getting shackles apart is a real pain). I've added and removed leaves from my spring packs several times without pulling the springs from the truck.
What I typically do is to jack the truck up off the ground and support the frame on jack stands. You want it high enough tolet the suspension hang without touching ground. Now with a floor jack under the axle you can raise or lower it as needed. This allows you to loosen and/or remove the "U" bolts and even the spring pack center pin as necessary.

Its a bit more of a fight to wrestle everything around as opposed to having the spring pack out on the bench but its not too bad. If you do end up removing the springs, here's my tried and true steps for safe and easy spring pack removal;
OK, first things first.....

1. find an old sailor and get a few lessons on cussing. You will need lots of "salty" language. After you get comfy with spitting your new vocabulary in a loud long 3 to 5 minute rant then you are ready for the next step.

2. look around in and under your truck until you find some decent rusty, scaly dust. Gather the dust until you have at least a cup of it. Now, holding first one eye open and then the other get a handful of the scaly dust and rub it into your eyes generously.

3. Once both eyes are stinging and watering without and end in sight. Grab a large wood rasp and drag it across the back of your hand and knuckles

4. Take your large hammer (BFH) hold it tightly, make a fist with your other hand and repeatedly smash the hammer into your fist (preferably on the knuckle of your index finger that you just pulled the rasp across)

5. just for good measure, while laying under your truck try sitting up several times so as to smash your forehead into a crossmember (preferably a scaly, rusty, dusty section)

6. Now that your hands are bloody, knuckles are sore, head hurts, eyes are blurry go get yourself a frosty beverage

7. Repeat steps 1-6 (In severe cases you may proceed directly to step 6)

Bobby

 

Yep, you must have worked on springs before, all true.

"Being wrong keeps me humble"

 

My truck's an F2. From the diagrams in my book, the helpers came on it. I think they give it "character", plus, I LOVE bumpy, grindy ride...





It's strange, as the rest of the truck, bed included, is in really great shape (except the rear of the cab floor). None of the springs are broken, that I can see, just the shackles and straps. Maybe a huge load of hay? Or constantly on rough country roads? I won't be hauling anything.

Again, there aren't any spring shops close, that I've found, but can look again, and ask around. I'm sure there are some heavy duty truck shops around.

I really don't want to get this involved, replacing springs and such. I can replace the straps and shackles, even if difficult. I have way more time and skills, than money. If the truck were going to be a daily driver, it might be different, but it's going to be a sunny day, go slow type of truck. I just have to draw the line someplace. If I thought they were dangerous, with broken springs, etc, or they break when I'm pulling them together, I might reconsider. Plus, I can inspect them regularly.

Thanks for the info and suggestions, guys. I'll have to see how it goes...if I can at least "stabilize" them, I can always take them to a spring shop, down the road.

Anybody have ANY idea what having a shop re-do them might cost? I'm already looking at a $500 radiator recore, plus all the paint, interior, etc, etc. Someplace I have to draw the line. If I were doing 100% resto, I could see it, but I really don't want to die, with a 75% complete truck in my shop.

R

 

There's what I was waiting for!...another Bobbytnm tutorial, and just in time for the 3 day weekend ...Thank's!

I was thinking of performing this task on my buddies truck this Holiday...but I need to make a run to the local hardware store for a
good gnarly wood rasp first!!...Lol Have a Great Weekend guys an gals!

Rodger, since your building a ride for just crusin around,may want to consider some new "cushy" springs..something to give you a nice soft ride. I know you've heard it before but,.."since you've got it torndown this far"....
Your just like the rest of us, and will be kicking yourself later...Later!

 

Mertz - a Sur-form will work just as well, or, lacking that, a nice cheese grater will do...



I don't think I'll be kicking myself on this one. I keep getting further and further into this truck, which is fine, and every time I think I possibly could/should do something, I go ahead and do it. Such as rebuilding the tranny, all new wiring, etc, etc. But, I haven't even contemplated pulling the springs to have them redone. Especially since none of the springs appear broken. I can always do them down the road, or, as I'm inclined, pay someone to do them. Of all the things on a vehicle, there are only two things I've never done. Automatic trannies, and leaf springs. I've done rear ends, motor swaps, king pins, manual trannies, interiors, body work, etc, etc. Just NEVER messed with springs. And the automatic?? Far easier/smarter to take to someone who KNOWS what they are doing!

Oh yeah, another reason for not doing it, is at that point, the truck, for the most part, becomes unmovable, until I get the springs done. And I really don't like that idea. At least now I can move it around.

R

 

Again, anyone who has had this done, SOME idea of cost??

R

 

Your truck may be an F2,

But that picture below (WH, TH) is for an F6/600, B/C-600

It doesn't appear that an F2 ever came with "Auxiliary" springs. Someone back before I was in Kindergarten, may have put a set of rear springs and/or axle from an F3 in that truck.

The chassis parts book doesn't appear to indicate part numbers for aux springs on the F2 (D) ..... It looks like they started offering aux rear springs on the F3/350 (Y) and above.

So the first thing you could do is pull the helpers off. That would give you the option to maybe adapt springs from a much newer truck to your truck.............

Springs are of course, NOT CHEAP.

I did price a set of springs for my F-600 (front) when I considered putting a Cummins 6BT in it. It was going to be VERY expensive. A set of back springs would be equally expensive especially if you had to replace the "helpers".

Here's a place you can start. ESPO Springs 'n Things - Coil Springs, Front End Suspension / Chassis Parts

Cheers,



Rick

 

$ 14.00 for two at autozone.

IMVHO take off the overloads.

"being wrong keeps me humble"

 

Roger,

I wasn't suggesting having a spring shop fab up the new keepers, I was suggesting you do it. Go out and rummage around the scrap steel bin and find yourself some flat bar and get to work

Bobby

 

Bobby - I understand that. I was asking costs involved with having a shop give me everything new. If I can make and change out the straps without pulling the springs, I would try. If I have to pull the springs, then I might as well just bite the bullet, and replace them. I got a quote from Eaton for $470 a pair, eliminating the helpers. I will probably get rid of the helpers, regardless.

Here's what Eaton said:
Thanks to Rick (HT32BSX115) for pointing out that the picture was for F3 and above. I hadn't noticed that, saw what looked like mine, and assumed...

I'll have to measure and see what length clamps I need. The original springs are mighty tall, coupled with the shock mount. That might be the tough part to find.

Oh well, I stopped work on the cab, to blast the frame, while I decided how to tackle the cab body work, now this with the frame - don't know whether to jump to the box, or go back to the cab, or start on the springs. We have rain today, so blasting is out, at least 'til tomorrow...

Thanks again, all!

R