been looking on google for an hour....got a phone number that don't work....anyone have any idea of an address or better still an web site for them...Need the Durant site and not just a supplier as the one on my A snapped last week and I'm gona complain some what!!
This one came up in a search: JAMES J. DURANT ENTERPRISES 949-673-5625 Manufacturer Of Steel Monoleaf Springs For Street Rods And Cl***is Trucks
These mono-leaf springs must be breakage prone. You're the third report I've heard of for a broken one.
These are suppossed to be great springs,but the one I put in my '40 coupe broke,too. Durant made good and new one at no cost. I put about 30K miles on that spring with no trouble ,then I sold the car to a guy in Fla. and the first cruise night he took it to in Daytona,the spring broke right in the parking lot.
Are they breaking through the centerbolt hole? There could be a stress riser or spring clamp bolt/tightening install issue...
Yes, please tell us where they're breaking. I'm using one on my Deuce 5W Hiboy, and it's not on the road yet. Certainly wouldn't want it to break at speed!
Look at the Eaton Spring website on tech info on one piece springs. Very enlightening and frightening.
I used to sell them at my old job, We had only a few break, and mostly at the bolt hole, one of the main complaints was the amout it lowered the car or truck, they were inconsistant at times. John
Eaton apparently does not encourage use of mono-leaf type springs. Here's a quote from the site: Contrary to what has been written in magazines by people who only sell springs, not make them, mono-leaf springs are inherently dangerous. Remember, all springs have a finite life, that is one day they will break. Well now. The simpler issue first. Camaros and Novas both used mono-leaf springs if I recall correctly. What is the HAMB experience with these? GM is not likely to have used this form without considerable testing. Hopefully before releasing to production! So the first claim seems a bit strong. I would certainly find out, and follow all procedures re: their installation requirements. As to all springs having a finite life, here is a presentation from Rockford Spring, on the cycle life of extension springs. It covers the basics well. http://www.rockfordspring.com/springfatigue.asp In design, there is a stress in lbs/in2 for steel which if you stay below. is termed an "endurance limit". This behavior is the primary reason why 1. steel is a favorite material for simply ****ysed (or un-****ysed, you, in the back, raise your hands! ) systems, 2. a number of rat, and even regular rod drivers are still with us! The ability of steel to withstand high # of cycles and varied loading without catastrophic failure is a godsend. Endurance limit says that if you stay below that stress level, you will likely not ever see a failure. The Rockford site gets into additional ****ysis methods, but the 95% rate is telling. This is for extension spings, but the science here is relevent. It says that you want to be buyer #95 or less...not the statistical point outside of the deviation chosen. (you just broke the leaf...standby for unexpected events! ) So, the HAMB folks who have good experience, as well as those who have had problems w/any form of mono, could help us all. Hope I've added some light...not heat, to the conversation. JP
Mine broke at the bolt hole. I don't know how long I'd been driving it like that. I didn't know it was broken until I took the front end apart to rechrome the axle.
I too had one break.After years of good experiance on two other cars,and many friends cars,I feel they are a good product. The one that broke was in the center bolt,and Im not sure how long it was broken as the discovery was made on unrelated dis***embly.The car had settled slightly but no other sign of failure. My own ***essment of the cause was the stamped model A style crossmember has a rather large radius in the corners and even though the bolts were very tight the spring was only seated at the edges. On the replacement I made a radiused spacer to seat in the crossmember before installing the new spring. So far ,so good.
I tried to lower the front my '47 Ford coupe with them, and they did not do the job, even after trying a second setup. Did the old school de-arched, reversed-eye, remove two leaves method. Rode great with Tokico shocks that are listed for the rear of early Vettes. Orig springs never broke.
i have used a couple by the owners request , as far as i know no problems yet with them...but i have seen several break at the centerbolt hole
A panhard rod might be interesting here. Its the suicide style front end that also comes to mind as a concern. The vette either uses, or used, a urethane mono, it saved a lot of weight. It helps to have a quorum and make more informed decisions on this subject. Search is a great feature on the HAMB, but I appreciate that Paula-UK started this thread.
I know of two that broke while driving. '36 roadster went to the left into a guard rail, '32 roadster went to the right into the ditch. Both broke out by the end. They were lucky, no one was hurt. There was a post with pics 3 or 4 years ago.
FWIW I have one on the front of my '47 Ford Sedan. When I installed it I made sure that the top of the spring laid flat on the bottom of the crossmember to avoid any stress risers. I have heard of some folks installing a spacer between the top of the spring and the crossmember to "fine tune" the height- that scares me as it put major stress risers on the unit. Put quite a few miles on it over our "smooth" New York area roads with no issues. I have one waiting to be installed in the rear of the '47 and will probably get to it in May or June. I have mixed feelings on the whole mono-leaf deal. Would I use one? Well obviously the answer is -yes. However when installing it I think it's important to make sure the installation is done so as not to introduce any future problems. Now I'm not saying that anyone here installed it wrong I'm just making a general observation. I agree that mono-leafs have been around for a long time. Between GM in the 60's to later model Corevettes to some pretty cool composite springs I see that are not in the auto industry. It is a viable option but it has to be done right. As with anything else in life - your mileage may vary....................
I have one under my roadster,,,,never a problem. I have two under the 32 pickup,front and rear,,,and I pray there won't be a problem with them. HRP
I have one in a 37 Tudor. It is the second one. Mine broke about half way between the center and the spring eye. I attributed that to shocks that were bottoming. I was only going about 25 when it let loose so no major problem. I just had to haul it back to Michigan from Louisville. I like the look and the ride so I put another back in. Durant replaced it free. They told me the failure rate was about 2%. But the question is as always 2% of what? Don
Hey, the original question was how to contact Durant. I did a search and can not come up with a Durant CO. # - anyone buy direct that has a contact/complaint number?
Durant Enterprises PO Box 7278 Newport Beach,Ca. 92658 949-673-5625 Their add is always in the Goodguys Gazette.(sorry,but I love the pictures). I just bought a pair for the back of my '49 Merc. My buddy recomended them. He's had a pair on the back of his '40 Ford pick-up for years,and swears by the ride. Maybe the front,single springs are a different matter. Haven't installed mine yet.
sorry to resurrect a 7+ yr old thread but I just got off of the phone with jim Durant, he answers the phone btw, a true gentleman and very willing to help. also info above is current
I had one on my 1st 32 Ford 14 years ago, Ran it about 3 years. It was too stiff for me, Didn't break but replaced it with a multi-leaf and the ride was much better. Ago
It is interesting that some had a spring that was broken and doing nothing, and they did not notice the ride was rougher. I rode in a great A roadster with onebut put my arm on thr door top. Tar strips in the road were directly transmitted and my arm hurt.
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