Here's a question for the machinists' out there. I have both rear springs removed from the truck. Driver's side was a piece of cake. The passenger side took a long time and left a trail of broken tools in its wake. Since it's all apart, I now know why. Four out of the six spring pins are brand new looking. The last two however, look great on the ends but the middle three inches or so are a rusted out, ridged mess.
When I get my replacement pins do you think it would be worthwile to get a channel machined in them, from the grease hole out, to help the grease spread around the bushing better? I was thinking something like the way newer uerethane spring bushings come with cuts in them for the grease? Don't have a clue if this would work, just wanted to get some thoughts.
Mike

 

The new spring pins on my 56 had a spiral groove in them for the grease to follow. The joint lube up nicely. Sounds like a good idea to me.

 

My only concern would be that the corners of the channel may tend to cut away at the brass bushing material. I'm not sure but I think the bushings have a channel cut into them?

 

This can absolutely be done. The grooves can be made straight along the pin (easiest way ) with a small end mill or they can go around the pin if the machinist has a lathe and a threading or groove tool. If the edges are deburred properly they should run without digging into the bushings. I think though to make sure I would go as far as putting a small 45 degree chamfer on the edges.

 

I'm still a little bit away from buying the new parts so I'm not sure if they come that way or not. Thanks for the replies. I'm going to call the shop that I got the new spring estimate from and see what they think. Like everything else on it, I only want to replace these things once. I've got no problem doing the periodic maintenance, just looking for a way to make it better.

 

Mike, as I wrote to you, I wouldn't bother, just grease them when you do routine maintenance. You have to remember what you have - a 55 year old vehicle, LONG past what was considered it's useful age. Couple that with the fact that the pins were probably NOT maintained, 20 years just sitting, etc, etc, and you'll get what you found. Rust and ridges. Now, take that same pin, replace everything, keep it maintained, and it will last another 50 years, probably a LOT longer, if maintained and greased. I wouldn't go through any added expense, spiral-cutting or anything. I think you'd find, that if they HAD been greased regularly, they would have slid right out, and probably been reusable, even, if they weren't too badly worn. That's my opinion. I have found some things on MY truck, that had been maintained, that are just like new - the fan bearings, which are just oiled with 30 weight, then the oil allowed to run out, and the drag link, which was greased regularly. So, maintenance and age are the key. I wouldn't personally try to re-engineer, what will work with proper maintenance. The problem with spiral-cutting, is that the grease will go into the cut, and possibly NOT be spread out across the whole bearing surface. Path of least resistance, and all that. It's the slight clearance, that forces the grease to spread evenly throughout the bushing.

Just my $.02 worth...

R

 

All the bushings I've seen have the spiral grooves in them.

 

Just went out and checked my new pins for my F1. They are completly flat with only the hole in the centre for the grease. I would agree that you shouldnt have to do any more machining on them. Most of the wear was due to lack of lube. Poor quality lube and roads that where a hole lot rougher than todays roads.( Well in some spots).Regular maintaince and a good lube should make them last.

 

They (whoever the heck they are) have also come a long way with Grease formulation since the '50s. I think you'll be just fine as is if things are clean and high quality grease is used.

 

Thanks guys. The spring shop agreed with not cutting any grooves in it. Not because it would hurt but because it wouldn't add any benefit. They suggested, if I wanted to, to have the grease hole chamfered. they also mentioned how much better todays synthetic grease would work its way around the bushing on its own.
Mike