I just finished rebuilding the rear axle for my '39 Ford 1/2 ton. Pinion preload, gear backlash, gear mesh all perfect. I fabricated a spring stretcher and stretched the spring out far enough to attach the shackle dog bones. That's when I noticed the shackle mounts on the axle tubes were at a slight angle and not parallel with the spring shackle bolt. I was able to get one dog bone on each end of the spring, but due to the angle on the axle tube shackle mounts, the other dog bone was about 3/4" away from lining up on the shackle bolt. I looked at another set of axle tubes that I have and the shackle mounts are straight and not angled. Am I going to have to start all over and disassemble the rear axle to replace the tubes or does someone know a trick to attaching the spring to the angled mounts? I also have my original '39 axle tubes and the shackle mounts on those are angled also. I know the spring came off of these tubes, but it seems like it would be in an awful bind if I could get it attached. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
It sounds like you have a 32-34 banjo, the springs were shaped like a banana. You can heat and bend them so they are paralell to each other.
Thanks for the response, but I guess I'm missing the point on the springs shaped like a banana. Aren't they all shaped that way? If I heat and bend the shackle mounts on the axle tubes, will that affect the hardness making them susceptible to breaking?
On a plan view of the rear spring (looking down) 32-34 rear springs are also arched from that view (arched in two views)
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