Leaf Springs nightmare

[PatMcCoy]

I think this is the worst job Ive ever done on a car
It took me a day to get drivers side off and replace it,with a new greased and wrapped in denso tape and making some gators and fitting a shock
Then took me 2 days to do the same on other side
It took longer because the bolt in the bush had seized and i had to cut off with a disc cutter
And the exhaust had to come off to get the bolt out for the new shock
Must admit car sits nice now no sagging on one side
But never again
PS There was 2 of us doing it

[Phil Nottingham]

Done that and got the teeshirt

[PatMcCoy]

And before any one starts about Authenticity
I bought these two weeks ago from Barry Kent and they still have there tag on, 1969 and part number
And have nylon disc's in between the leafs
One of the ones i took off the car didn't have these
Funny enough that was the side that was sagging

[Phil Nottingham]

The original type are the best and will probably see you out!

[lagain]

While putting 40 year old springs on is probably fine you do need to be a bit careful with old stock. I bough some shock adsorbers some years ago which were dated 1967, older than my car, they were totally useless !
Old stock tyres are probably the most dangerous. A tyre has a life of 10 years if it is on the car or being stored, after that time they cannot take the stress and can literally fall apart.

[PatMcCoy]

He had a few sets
He has a lot of gear
He in the take five mag
And is at rushden about 25 mins off junction 15 m1

[Deleted]

When I changed mine I jacked the car up as high as possible,disconnected the prop shaft -undone the rear brackets then dropped down the whole axle onto the ground-loosened the front bolts (broke the exhaust in two after taking the very rear support off under the rear valance!)-then just rolled the whole thing out from under the car-no problem!
However putting It all back was very different-had a scissor jack between chassis and spring,widened it to push the back off the spring far enough to engage with the rear bracket whilst a friend jacked up the whole axle -easy peasy

[glennr]

Any comments on the WEFCO gators you can buy?? I lilke the look of them but not the price.

[lagain]

Are those the leather ones that are made to measure ?
If I remember I paid about £200, and that was years ago. They are certainly a quality item and mine have not deteriorated at all. There is no point having grease nipples put in them, just well grease the springs before you put them on. The last set of springs I put on I took apart first and greased each leaf ! They never squeek

I have always found changing the springs very easy. Certainly only do one at a time. With the rear chassis legs on axel stands to support the body put another pair under the axel to take the stress off the springs, remove the nuts from the 'U' bolts, put a trolly jack under the centre of the spring and put on sufficient pressure to take any stress off the Y bush. Put a long thin rod in the Y bush, lever down and release jack at the same time to drop bush from mounting. Then slide out mounting bolt. (well, they did on mine !) at other end of spring. To fit, reverse procedure and then do other side. Then off to the pub for lunch ;D

[glennr]

Yes they are. Thanks for that, another job on the list.

[glennr]

I need advice on re greasing the rear leaf springs. Will they have to be removed off the car? Couldn't find anything on search.

[PatMcCoy]

With them off the car
I took the leafs apart Got a tub of grease and a paint brush
Wire brush them ,and paint grease all over the leafs
Build them back up again
Put back on car,Wrap denso tape on them,them place a gator over them

[Phil Nottingham]

Alternatively use a cold chisel to force the leaves apart and squirt in spray on grease.

There was a special tool to do this very job in the 1930's

[glennr]

Anybody got a special tool that they used in the 1930's? ;D