im putting the front end together tonight on my 29, and I had front spring trouble......i got a new spring and shackles and perches, but have you ever had to c-clamp the one shackle to get the link to fit on? I feel as if my spring has almost no play in it when I stand on it and bounce?
Hmmmm - years ago I had the same problem with a T bucket rear spring. To this day it still rides like a damned buckboard. I'd like an answer too.
To function properly a Ford transverse spring must be pretensioned when installed. Some of you may have heard the term "Springspreader", well, that's what you have to do is spread the spring that last inch or so, then slip the shackle in place and ****on it up. On a spring over front axle 28-34 setup, you can simply jack up the frame of the car, install the shackle into the spring and perch on one side, then place a length of 2X4 under the spring eye on the axle and let the weight of the car spread the spring. When the spring eye is spread to the correct distance slip the other shackle into the eye and the perch and ****on it up. The rear spring are the same install but what are you installing it in? Any T or A roadster will probably need a leaf or 5 removed from the spring to get a good ride. Keep the main leaf(duh), and leaf number 2 and remove the odd numbered leaves. Most T or A roadsters will end up with 5-7 leaves when you're finished road-testing and get it right. The "secret" to getting a Ford transverse spring suspension to work well is pretensioning the spring, adapting the leaf count to the load, and working shock absorbers(that means no friction shocks), making sure your suspension is free traveling without bind or tweak. Do the old standard test on your car. Mash down on the frame at front or rear (do both) and the frame should rebound once or twice and settle. If it does does not move or you have to jump on the frame your spring is too stiff and/or you have a bottom-out or bind in your suspension. You are using modern lever arm or tubular shocks, not friction(fiction) shocks, aren't you?
Thanks, yes I am using those shocks(no friction shocks for me) i got it to work by c-clamping it but the 2x4 idea sounds better and safer than what I stuggled with. I have all the springs on and will probably have to remove a few as you were saying because its so damn stiff right now i cant move it by standing on it.....although I dont weigh what a 350 does by any means as well.....ill put it under load this week and see where im at. Thanks
http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/0201sr_leaf_springs/ found this link. The same info is found in the Speedway and Posies' catalog with only slight differences. I appreciate the advice as I am getting ready to set my front end up with a 37ish unmodified axle. Jim
It doesn't look like you have a problem. When the spring is fully loaded, the shackles should angle down about 45 deg. :
The Jalopy Journal
