Why do guys wrap their leaf springs?

If you're using a Model A spring up front and it is mounted in tension as originally designed you will end up with about 5-6 leaves in the spring if you're running a small block anything depending on whether the spring is new or used. Model A springs have 10-12 leaves, remove the odd numbered ones, 3-5-7-9-11. You may have experiment to find the right combo. When it is right the ch***is will dip when you push down on it with your foot.
Dis***emble the spring carefully, clamps and chain work for me, and clean all the leaves. Taper file slightly the leading edges that ride on the leaf below of each leaf so they won't "dig" when they flex. Piant to prevent corrossion and grease before ***embly. Make up covers or buy from Model A Parts suppliers.

The same applies to the rear spring, whether T or A.

Use seat springs in your seat too. Available new from Snyder's in New Springfield OH or Car-Line Mfg in Beaumont TX.

The combo of good working springs, hydraulic shocks(tubular or swing-arm but not friction) and seat springs gives the best ride and handling to a T roadster.

 

An old time drag racing trick is to add a spring clamp or two to the front half of the springs (parallel leaf setups). If the front leaves cannot seperate, it's tougher for the main leaf to do the S bend that's ***ociated with wheelhop. Wrapping the front of the spring with a strong material would have the same effect. Sorta kinda vaguely like a traction bar.

As to the load part, I will see your whhhhaaaaattttt and raise you a hhhhuuuuuuuhhh?

 

Rich,

Like a Bijur system? Our '30 Packard had one- pull the lever every so many miles and everything got lubed!

 

Had a '29 twin ignition Nash with the same system 40 years ago. That was my first vintage car.

 

My 40 has the metal covers. Wire wheeled them in the sun, and the lube oozed a bit. Painted them and put them on. I did not dis***emble, because they were held together with bent tabs that would have broken if bent out to remove and bent in to install. Car bounces nice.

 

I've been using teflon or something called UHMW. Great friction material because they both have great wear resistance, epescially UHMW. I bought it from a place online called http://www.iplasticsupply.com/mater...weight-polyethylene-tivar-polystone-sheet-rod.

 

re: friction tape.
i believe in the Murray Farnsworth speed book (model T) he mentions bolstering the front axle with a teardrop shaped piece of wood fitted to the back and wired into place for stiffening. then the whole mess was wrapped with friction tape (technology of the day). i believe the springs were also wrapped for all of the above mentioned reasons.


hence the reference "held together with bailing wire and tape."

i guess "bubble-gum" was a more recent innovation.

 

Was a method of improving leaf springs commonly used until coil overs were invented!

 

I’d bet the practice goes back to the horse and buggy days.

 

My Dad wrapped my front Model A spring with thick wall shrink tube from PG&E!
Actually stiffened the ride, so 'wrapped leaves' can be stiffer ride than a 'Gater'!
Softer than crocs, though...

 

?
Leafs were and are subject to refinements in materials, construction, application and 'tweaks' along with cost cutting just like any product, coil springs included.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvette_leaf_spring
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_(device) pay attention to progressive coil springs here

 

I've got some random Ford springs still wrapped in tin in my pile. Some still zerked.

My old '48 Mercury had wrapped leaves and the leaf spring centering pins were drilled and had a zerk fitting too. Always thought that was pretty rad.

 

That thing is about to tip over ^^^^. !

 

I did that--restacked the leaves with strips of solid 1/8" teflon, had a supply of it. It was really cool at first, good ride, no squeak, etc. but then the teflon kinda "oozed" out from the sides of the springs and made for some really weird sounds and the old ride came back. Neat while it lasted.

 

RUN AWAY!!! RUN AWAY!!!

 

Just curious, as you know Packards. Someone mentioned auto lube system lubing leafs. I believe some Packards had auto lubes, did that system lube leafs?

 

Yes. There were hefty bronze bushings, a forged frame end with a port, the oil was pumped slowly through a filtered (!) inlet fitting. The spring eye bolts had a small bore thru the middle as did 1of the shackle ends. The pump was a Bijur system which started out as a daily pull, later it was operated by engine vacuum. All the spring eyes, the pedal shafts, the slider for the clutch throw out, and later the main rods for ride control (yes, adjustable shocks from inside the car in 1932).

 

Thanks, I knew Packards were quite advanced, but not to this extent. I’ve been able to see a few Packards close up. One was a relative’s 1938 Packard Darrin. It was fitted with a 40 or 41 grill early in its life. Beautiful car.