Leaf spring rebuild

[riprock01]

I decided to rebuild my extra set of leaf springs that I had laying around. I'm planning on rebuilding my spare axles and bolting them up, so the old springs need to go. I unbolted the leaf pack and removed all of the rust. Then I primed and painted the leaf pack with rust preventive paint. I finished one of the front leaf springs today using all grade 8 bolts with a dry graphite spray in between each leaf. I still need to replace the bushings (which I have). Has anyone else ever done this? I was planning on buying new springs, but all of the usual sources were out of them.

[Duane]

I did it, when my Fire Dept built my truck, they received 2 m715s from DRMO, they decided more was better, so they took all the springs apart and doubled all the leaves, (there are pics of the spring in my photos in my profile) I disassembled them, put them back to stock, new center pins, new bolts on the clamps, and it worked out great, I didn't put any slip coat on them, because the spring place we use from work told me they are made to have friction between the leaves, but I really don't think it would have hurt.

Duane

[riprock01]

I used the spray to help with the creaking

[jeepdan]

Wow, it's a shame that the stock of NOS springs are drying up.
ABlinn had them so cheap ($100.00 a pair), it wasn't worth overhauling your old springs.
Did you try VPW?

I replaced the bushings in my front springs with new bushings from NAPA.

The easiest way to remove them, is to burn out the rubber with a propane torch,
then use a new sharp hacksaw blade and slit through the steel outer sleeve.
To avoid nicking the spring eye steel, make your cut at the space where the end of the eye wrap meets the spring.
Then take a chisel to curl the sleeve up and drive it out.

Polish up the inner surface of the eye, and press the new bushing in with a large C clamp after lubricating the eye with Never Seeze.

[riprock01]

I think I spent about $40-$50 to rebuild each spring. It would've been nice to have NOS springs, but the only place I found wanted $75 a spring plus freight. Right now I have a little more time than I do money, so it wasn't too much trouble.

[Duane]

didn't someone that had a bunch of the NOS springs scrap them?

[67U20]

I did it, when my Fire Dept built my truck, they received 2 m715s from DRMO, they decided more was better, so they took all the springs apart and doubled all the leaves, (there are pics of the spring in my photos in my profile) I disassembled them, put them back to stock, new center pins, new bolts on the clamps, and it worked out great, I didn't put any slip coat on them, because the spring place we use from work told me they are made to have friction between the leaves, but I really don't think it would have hurt.

Duane

The spring shop told you the basic truth, that friction acts as a shock absorber so they don't flex too fast. Lubing spring leaves can make them exceed their rating and eventually cause them to break.

[Mikel]

The spring shop told you the basic truth, that friction acts as a shock absorber so they don't flex too fast. Lubing spring leaves can make them exceed their rating and eventually cause them to break.

Lubing also keeps corrosion in check. Probably not a big factor where you live, but here in New England you can hear trucks rust.

[67U20]

Lubing also keeps corrosion in check. Probably not a big factor where you live, but here in New England you can hear trucks rust.

Chuckle...I know the feeling, I grew up in the Catskills of New York. New car/truck literally disappearing before your eyes. Took a '57 English Ford Anglia back to my father in the late 60's. One year later it was little more than Swiss cheese...

[WildBill86]

did anyone ever find the part number for the shackle bushings?