Leaf spring rebuild

[good2bea9]

Not sure what to call these, but where do I find new ones. I just noticed that one is broken, so I might as well pull the rear springs and refurbish. With that being said, where do I get the anti-squeak material that goes between each leaf? Is there a place to buy new U bolts and such? Thanks in advance.
David

[jakdad]

Take them to a spring shop. Have them tempered and rearched. They should be able to replace the broken leaf.

[good2bea9]

So how much does that normally run (roughly) and are one of those shops listed in the PB under springs? Thanks.

[jakdad]

Should be in the YP under springs. Then look at the sub catagories. There shoul be a spring shop in S.A.

[azjake]

Those are spring clamps used to keep the spring leafs from rotating. Universal clamps are available that are two piece. You slip the bottom part up and through the piece on top of the spring assembly. Then the ears are bent over back over the top piece and onto itself.

Here is an example.



http://thesuspensionking.com/catalog/pr ... biqod6jab7






Jake

[good2bea9]

Found two spring shops here in SA and going to call later today when I get time. I like the universal replacement, but I wonder how strong they are and how long they last.

[ICEMAN6166]

So how much does that normally run (roughly) and are one of those shops listed in the PB under springs? Thanks.

cost me $300 last time i took a highboy to the spring shop. 2 new front leafs and rearch along with bushings and related parts.

[Max]

I paid around $150 for mine here in Houston at Heitman a couple of years ago. All 4 spring sets re-arched and new U-bolts bent while-you-wait.

[stronger66ratfink]

I also took mine to Heitman,
they ask you right off the bat how you want them?

Factory, lowered, raised!

for the $150 you pretty much get a bran new set back

[azjake]

I installed many, many of the universal clamps in the 18 years that I worked at a shop in IL specializing in alignments, brakes, springs and frame straightening and do not remember any failing. Just use a strong c-clamp to hold the two pieces tightly in place when bending the ears over.

[montego69]

Guys,

I paid close to 400 bucks for u-bolts and 4 springs rebuilt. The rebuild included re-arching the stock springs and adding a leaf to each to beef them up. I was changing a 2WD into a 4WD so he looked up the difference in spring rates, qty of leafs, and arch between the two versions. The guy I deal with has been doing this type of work for probably 40 years.
The books he has tells him stock lengths from center bolt to spring eyes, stock and optional spring rates, measurement of arch, etc. Very cool.
A good spring guy can re-arch your springs to hit a requested ride height. My 69 Merc's new rear springs sat the car too low. I brought them in for a 2" rise. The car sat pretty high after re-arching but they settled down to almost exactly what I wanted. Amazing.

Nick