Just wondering if I take a couple leaves out of an A spring can I get away with ***embling it on the shackles/axle without spending money for one of the special tools? Seems like if it's attached on one end I might be able to just use the hook end of a good crowbar under the other end with the bar turned sideways to apply pressure to spread it and do more or less the same thing the tools look like they do. But for all I know that might be like using the same crowbar to raise a sitting elephant. Maybe I could even use the weight of the car frame to apply some pressure to it? I'm ***uming to spread it I have to move the eyes further apart by opening the arch of the spring some. I don't have one handy that's all together to measure and compare just how far it has to open, or I might have some of my own question already answered. Just putting this together as a roller/mock up, but I thought it would be nice to get it attached on both sides in case I want to move it. Also, what year did Ford go to rear bones that hang the spring out behind the axle 3 or 4 inches? The rear I have for this thing has an A spring but the way it's set up the rear wheels are in the wrong place. Been too long since I was building the model cars to remember what years look like that, the rear may be a '40 so I suppose the rest of it could be too.
Take the spring apart, put on the bottom leaf first. They spread pretty easy like that and you won't need any special tools. Then take a long bolt or all thread that goes through the hole and stack the leaves on it. Take your time and make sure everything stays square as you tighten the whole ***embly. When you get the bolt tight put the biggest c clamps you have on the middle right next to the bolt leaving just enough room to get your long bolt out. Then install the short spring pack bolt and tighten. Make sure your C-clamps are good and tight though. There is alot of energy in the spring pack and the very least problem is starting over. Be careful and good luck. After the center bolt is tight remove clamps and install spring and axle together. Tim Rears are probably '36-'37's with the cool sweeping spring perches. If not and the hangars are on the bells it's 42-48 style car where the bone mounts to the backing plate area.
I'm not entirely sure what you mean exactly.. but i'm ***uming you want a roller / mock up with possibly only the main spring.. Is this what you effectively want?
I ***ume you are working on the FRONT spring as to your Headline. A Model A Front Spring is NOT under Pressure and should be able to to Just "Put It On". I have Never worked on a Front Spring for a Model A that had to be stretched enough to need any tools or spreader. Unless the spring has been Re-Arched ... Like the one i had made for my G***er Project. As far as Rear Mounted Rear Springs, They started in '35 & went to '48.
I picked up a new center bolt for the spring and I think to sit right it's going to need more than just one leaf in it, but I remember reading some guys take a couple out to lower the front end anyways. Sounds like starting with the main one and going with the C-clamps is the way to go, though. This spring pack may not even have a pack bolt, I'll have to look it over again. It's a pain in the *** when it's 75 miles away. I did get a new center bolt for it and I wasn't even sure what U-bolts to get (solved that problem anyways). Most of that hardware seems to be cheap enough to order, though. Edit: Yeah, the front spring; the rear is all together and I'm going to leave it that way for now. I was browsing the hardware stuff with some online vendors and they list this tool but don't mention which spring you need it for. I'm more or less learning as I go, I'm a little amazed how simple these little cars really are, this being the first A I've tried to put back together from a pile of junk.
FWIW our experience has been the front springs are pretty forgiving as far as ***embly and spreading. We've removed 1 or 2 leaves in the pack to soften the ride a bit with no problems. As far as ***embly you should just be able to use the center spring bolt to pull the leaves together or you can use a couple of C clamps if necessary. The rear spring, well that's another issue....................
When I changed the axle on the grease******* I worried ahead of time that I would need a spring spreader, but mine just fit back on the shackles with very little pressure. Front end seems OK, haven't driven it tho....
I just got done trying to install my rear spring on my 1938 ford pickup. I got a piece of all thread, stuck it through the holes and started to tighten it down. As soon as I got to right where it would have been fully compressed the all thread bolt snapped!! Smashed my finger between the crossmember and the springs, and leaf springs just flew everywhere. Im so lucky it didnt hit me in the face. Im gonna give it a go tommorrow again, but I think as im tightening down the all thread bolt. Im gonna throw a C clamp on there just to be safe, or maybe i'll just try using a C clamp the whole way. Any more advice? Thanks, Jared
As noted in this thread, you need to clamp rear springs. Why not buy a correct center spring bolt for it? They only cost a couple of bucks.
I did it how TERPU said to do it. I used a piece of all thread with a nut on each end and tightened them together...right when they were about fully compressed the bolt snapped. I was planning on taking the all thread out after clamping it and putting the regular bolt in. I guess what im gonna do is..use the all thread along with a C clamp and tighten them both as I go along.
Make your own spring spreader if you are worried about it. Heres a picture for you to go off of. Very simple in design and kinda self explanatory to anyone with fabrication skills.-Weeks
No need for a spring spreader for a model a front spring. A 5 year old girl can hold the spring pack together without the center bolt. It has no pressure. As for rear springs, make a spreader or use vise-grip type clamps and work your way to the center gradually until you can put the center bolt in.
TERPU has the right idea as far as spring install, i've always done it that way front and rear. But, I always use a pair of vice grip welding type clamp set fairly loosely to slightly compress the spring before I tighten the center bolt. lots of energy stored in those leaves ya know. remove the clamps only after the center bolt is tight! As far as the rear end question goes all fords after 1932 had the spring behind the rear axle. '32-'34 had fairly short perches because they ran a spring that had a mild front to rear curve in them. I believe these perches are aprox. 3-4" behind the axle centerline. from '35-'48, the rear spings became straight from side to side, and the sring perches grew in length to 7.5" behind the axle centerline. '35-'36 Can always be identified by the fact that the spring perches are part of the wishbones, and can be unbolted from the rear axle. '37-'41 have the perches cast as part of the axle housings, and are the common finds out here in the west these days. Hope that helps.
I was pretty well satisfied with the answers I got on June 5th, I'm not sure why someone bumped this post back to talk about working on the rear spring instead of starting a new thread, but thanks for the info.
Because its generally the same question and I dont see the need for starting a new thread when I can ask about generally the same thing here. Sorry if I took over your thread, but I thought it would just be easier this way instead of starting a whole new thread. Thanks for the advice anyways.
I have a 34 Roadster and I'm replacing the old steel leaf spring with a new Posie leaf spring. Everything has gone well with the mounting except for the left side of the leaf spring is 1 1/2 inches short and I can't mount my shackle. Anyone have a suggestion on how to pressure the spring to mount my shackle?? Just joined up because you all seem to have an answer Ted
The Jalopy Journal
