1952-59 Ford Rear leaf springs

what does everyone use for rear leaf spring bushings? Would a universal kit work okay or should I look for factory style bushings?

 

Urethane.

 

is that just coming you would get through a parts store or actually using macs or someone else?

 

You might be able to get 'em through a parts store if you know the size and style you need, otherwise order online. Here's a link: http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/universal-link-flange-type-bushings.asp

Be sure to get t he special grease or they'll drive you batty with the squeaking.

 

guess ill have to do some measuring unless anyone has the dimensions off hand

 

Do you have a spring shop in your area? They may have some you could use for reference.

 

I'm getting an entire shackle/bushing kit for my '59. If I don't like the bushings, I'll match up some from Energy Suspension. I just got some of their tie rod boots, mine are new but are self-destructing as it sits. Zero miles and my ball joint boots were splitting as well.

 

Highly agravating ! Not easy to change either!

 

I just used standard replacements in mine.

 

I will too. Easy to change, possibly softer ride than urethane.

 

I found the bushings I need. Just a waiting game now until they arrive.

 

When you get them let me know via "Conversations" the inside and outside measurements,I'll see if I can cross them to Energy Suspension part numbers a lot of guys want the improved cornering from them.

 

I am hijacking the thread but it may help others here. I was looking at a '57-'59 rear suspension page in a catalog. There are 2 parts I'm not sure I have on my rear springs. 5741 is a rubber pad, 5736 is a metal plate, 2 each are required per side. I was under my car Sunday changing the mufflers and looked closely at the springs (bushings are shot). I can't see either part. Does anyone know if they have them on their car, if they changed the springs?
Thanks.

 

Yeah. me. found new ones. You need them to maintain the correct size holes for differential location.

 

www.cl***icautoparts.com and Concorse both had them.

 

Thanks, but took a close look at my springs, the bottom shock plate was right on the bottom of the spring. Perch was right on top of the spring, nothing else in the sandwich. Maybe they are missing? The ride of the car itself is bumpy in the rear, but I know my bushings are bad. How much did the McVeigh springs bring it up? He doesn't offer a 2" drop spring.

 

The McVeigh springs are designed as original, so yeah, it's probably going to bring up your back end due to replacing worn out springs.
If the '57's are same as '59's, then you're missing those components, and that would be my guess.....can't see why they'd eliminate them. One sure way to tell (if you don't have a '59 manual is to break everything loose back there and see if the pin on the springs is a bunch smaller than the hole in the spring perch. I'd bet you're going to find a bunch of slop...1/4" or more, and that's what locates the differential.
BTW, if you go with 6 leaf springs,(I suggest you do), once again ***uming '57 and 59 are the same, the 6 leaf will raise the back an additional inch........so if you want it lower, add lowering blocks, or get some springs made to lower.
I don't know where you have a pic of your springs posted.

 

Here's my story on the pieces you are missing. My car had that set up but when I took it apart to swap in a maverick rear I found this one inch sized locator on the " isolater" and the old rear end mounting. I wanted to use lowering blocks so I did away with the top 1/2, kept the bottom 1/2( because it fit the lower plate and I had to grind down the head of the spring bolt because it was much taller than normal. I also read where 57 models could have been built with or without the isolator package. Maybe that happened in later years as well. I don't think the absence of those parts are a problem.

 

I doubt mine was ever apart, looks totally OG. I'll go with the McVeigh springs, worst case I need lowering blocks. Another option is Posies 2" drop springs.

I'll get a shackle & front eye bushing kit. I'll hold off on anything else until it comes apart. Someone from work was behind me and said the car tracks straight.

I can't see adding in other pieces if I don't need them. Plus the car will be raced a bit and I'll need traction bars too.

 

Yes, I was wondering if you might be getting spring wrap up. I'm not voting but with posies springs you might know your final ride heights , not sure about the other.

 

My bushings are all shot or badly dried up and I have a fear of breaking a shackle right now. I have a definite wrap-up issue too, but hard to tell with the shot bushings. I'll see how comparable Posies 2" drop is to the others I'm looking at.

 

Did we get a number on the urethane bushings?

 

My guess is that I'm going to measure up what I get in the kit and match it up with a urethane part number. I will share the information with y'all.

 

I've had a bear of a time getting bushing for this car. Looks like someone went ahead and swapped later 57-79 springs into it. I'll know here in a couple days when I receive one of the bushings I ordered to test. I'll attach a picture of what I received for a 55 leaf