LEAF SPRINGS

[Dick Koch]

Or find another set of 63 springs and keep as spares!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dick.

[rogerh]

Dick, The shackle diameters are the same for '59 and '63.
My problem is with the leaf spring bushing, at the front of the leaf spring. The '63 uses larger O/D bushings, with 5/8" thru-bolt. If I could find a larger O/D bushing with 1/2" thru-bolt, I would not have to do any drilling. Summit's on line catalog does get specific enough to tell me the thru-bolt size on their parts, but I assume they are exact 1963 replacements (i.e. 5/8" thru-bolt). There is no listing for '59, maybe because the 1/2" thru-bolt is not a very common application?

[Dick Koch]

I understand, what about a piece of steel or Stainless steel tubing that's 5/8" OD x 1/2" ID cut to proper length and inserted into the rubber bushing. I would hate to see you drill the mount unless you absolutely have to.
Dick.

[rogerh]

Nice to hear that comment, Dick, because the idea did occur to me, but I wasn't sure it was "do-able" or even reasonable. I REALLY don't want to forever change the front perch hole size. I guess I will venture down to the hardware store to see what I can find for sleeves!

[Dick Koch]

Even Brass or copper.
Dick.

[rogerh]

I went to my local independent hardware store. They had no pipe of any kind that would be the right size, altho 1/2" copper Schedule M was extremely close. They also had a selection of bushings in brass, steel and nylon. However, they had only one brass one in the size I needed (1/2"x1/2"x9/16")... $4,39 each!. The steel ones were too large O.D..
The nylon ones were 59c each. I bought 4 nylon bushings. Although they are only 3/4" long. I'll put them to work. As little as the car gets used, the nylon ones will probably sufffice.

[rogerh]

white nylon bushings on a 1/2" bolt fill a 5/8" bushing

[Dick Koch]

Absolutely fantastic = They should last as long as the rubber but just in case check em out in about 5 years and replace if needed. A little silicone spray now and again won't hurt. Where there's a will!!!!!
Dick.

[rogerh]

thank you for the cheer...I certainly can use it!

[Nighthawk]

Well done, great perseverance Roger!!

Bob

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

Roger, I agree... Good job making it all work. I do agree with the part on the silicone spray. do both inner and outer portions of the nylon bushing. This will allow the bushing to float or rotate and not start wearing down one point of the bushing.

John Q.

[rogerh]

Well, I don't wish this task on anyone!
Switching out leaf springs aint easy.
Lining up the front bolt so that it would go thru the bracketry was a pain! Use of a flashlight was the key. After the front bolt went thru, I bolted up the shackle. Then I put a jack under the leafspring and began to raise it up to meet the axle, but the centering stud would not meet up, so I cut a 2x2 to length, propped it against the opposite shock base, and pushed the leaf spring over to the point where the centering stud finally popped into position.
Tomorrow, I will bolt the shock base to the axle with "U" bolts, then start on the OTHER side! ( I am excited that these springs appear to be the correct length, etc)

[rogerh]

Auto parts store supplied exact replacement bushings (old on left, new on right)

shackle fitted with new bushings

[rogerh]

Before I start on the other leafspring, I will take some tool (sander or grinder) and take a smidge off the ends of the front bushing, as the fit into the frame bracket was SO tight it really made things difficult to install/line up.

[rogerh]

Yesterday I accomplished replacing the driver's side leaf spring. It went much easier than the former, now that I knew what I was doing! Everything fits and lines up. Most noticeably, the shackles are not pushed all the way to the rear like before.
The extra leaves (6 instead of 5) initially seem to be making for a less "cushy" ride than Tom Fox demonstrated with his Belv cvt., when he pushed down hard on the rear of the car, to make it "bounce".
Now I must mess with the torsion bar settings, to make the car set right, as it appears to be leaning.