Technical Encased leaf springs?

The leaf springs on the 39 Poncho are encased. This pre-war fat fender technology is definitely new to me.
So...do I open them up? Or clean'em up and tell myself they're fine?

 

I'm going to say, once you take the wrapping from the toy, that makes it used. I'd clean them up and leave the metal wrap alone. My opinion. Which seems to be off the mark lately so you might want a second before deciding.

 

Greased and wrapped. Not overly common, but also not unknown.

If they are not squeaking, leave them alone.

 

The rear spring in my 48 was wrapped in tin like that. The center bolt was a grease zerk so you could grease the spring.

 

Many high end cars (Rolls Royce etc) Used to grease the leaf springs and wrap them in a leather boot to help mitigate their primary shortcoming, namely friction between the leaves and the harshness imparted to the ride. Anyone familiar with Morgans like the one in my avatar knows that they are infamous for a hard ride; "run over a shilling mate, and you can feel if it's heads or tails". When I built it I smoothed the leaves, greased them well, and made fitted boots to enclose them. It made a world of difference in the ride; still firm but no longer tooth rattling. It is much more effective than the anti friction pads fitted to many hotrod springs.
So, if that were my car, I'd take them apart, clean everything up, grease and reassemble and be ready for another 83 years on the road.

 

Ask a spring shop professional about their condition. Ive got one of these setups sitting outside on a spare 39 chassis and it looks fine but looks like you could also spray lube between the wrap and it would be fine...but I'd still refer to a suspension pro if you're driving it. My 10 cents, for what its worth

 

Mine are greased and wrapped on a 40 chevy. Bone stock when I bought it 25 years ago. the wrap is thin gauge sheetmetal. I left it alone otner than a little trimming on the sheetmetal to locate and center up a modern rearend. Work fine last long time. Dave. Ps the grease is still black, sticky & viable

 

My 54 Poncho had wrapped springs like that when I pulled it out of 30+yr storage. The wrap had failed on one side and that spring pack was shot. The other side was intact and springs inside looked new and greasy.

 

I had some early Chevies that had that setup. Once unwrapped I found several broken.

 

Take the wrap off .

you need a special tool to grease them .

when I removed the wrap off mine I had several cracked springs .

the wrap causes moisture to be trapped and lack of grease causes rust .

you can remove the wrap , it all is good clean and paint the springs , you can always rewrap them in sheet metal if you desire .

 

A couple sets of 38 Plymouth springs had several broken leaf's. I vote take it off and inspect. We don't drive on dirt and mud roads like they used to.

 

A lot of English cars have the springs wrapped in leather and laced like a shoe.

 

I have a well made 1940s travel trailer that &as leather around the springs like that.

 

I think if its a good clean car that has been stored indoors they are likely to be in good shape. However...I too have seen many that held moisture and rotted badly inside.