I'm in need of replacing my Front Leaf Springs and I found a website that offers custom made fiberglass leaf springs. I was woundering if anyone has used these and how well they work?

 

I hanen't tried them although i have heard of them let meknow what you find out i think i might be interested as well

 

It doesn't sound to me like fiberglass would hold up under the stress and strain of daily driving. Let us know what you find out or give us the addy and we can do some research for our selves.

 

On the contrary Walkhaulsey, there have been truck size vehicles out there for a long time with fiberglass leaf springs. I've been driving one for nine years - can haul heavy loads (piano), and can tow up to 6000 lbs with it.

A number of places offer mono springs for Ford trucks also - Sacramento Vintage Ford, Classic Performance Products. Detroit Eaton Spring will make springs for anything also. All have good websites.

Kris

 

I can honestly say ,that i have never heard of fiberglass springs for trucks. I would sure like to see some of these in action.They are actually made of 100% fiberglass or are they a mix of steel and fiberglass?

 

look under a Corvette.

 

I read an evaluation on the Fiberglass springs and it said that they , (1) are subject to damage from being hit by objects thrown from the tires , (2) heat affects the spring rate or load carrying capacity, and heat from the exhaust pipes can damage them as well , (3) they are subject to the cumulative effect of the above mentioned factors meaning that they don't recover from damage so everything adds insult to injury as they say.......I think I'll just stick with my Rusty old steel springs......Also , they cost significantly more than regular steel springs.......fd

 

WARNING: I'm going to mention another make of vehicle - children should leave the room - those with heart conditions may wish to stop reading now - proceed at your own risk.

Most if not all Chevy Astros and GMC Safaris run fiberglass rear springs. My Safari is 11 years old, has 165,000 miles on it, tows up to 6000 lbs with no problem (even before I swapped in the 350), has a pretty stout payload (engines, pianos, refrigerators etc), and hauls up to 8 people and all the luggage. Fiberglass springs seem to be holding up well - I don't even get wheel hop when I'm teaching the local ricers respect for their elders on Saturday night.

Okay please don't anybody get mad at me for mentioning another brand - we were just talking about springs - that's all.

Kris

 

Hey Kirs This site is for FORDS Do you own any fords?

 

Oh yes - I have a 61 Unibody. It was my Grampa's truck. He bought it new and I got it when he died in 1982. I'm just now getting it back on the road - hot rodding the little 223 - well as much as you can hot rod those engines. I had a 79 F150 supercab which I loved and wish I had never gotten rid of. Sold it and bought an 88 Ranger which was a sharp truck too but the 2.3 4cyl was short on power. That would have been a great truck to drop a 351 into! Maybe I'll still do that.

Anyway, I forgot that when they stood up the new forums all the little gallery pictures dropped off. Guess I need to rebuild that. I can see now where my post might have sounded wierd - I was just used to the picture of my truck posting over there all the time. Have a good one.

Kris

PS I just checked and my gallery is still there "utvol1984" pics of my truck in there