The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Rear leaf spring questions 1936 1/2 ton

as I've gotten my truck back (it was in a storage 120 miles away for past 5 years) I've been tinkering on a few things and looking at some areas that will definitely need some attention. The rear leaf springs are definitely one of those areas that need attention. On driver side most rebound clips are broken or missing and leafs were fanned out like a 7 card hand. The leafs actually have grooves worn into them from being in this position (appears that way to me). From what I've read everyone seems to fabricate their own rebound clips, the two I ordered from speedway will only accommodate 3 leafs.i jacked it up and persuaded them back into formation as best as possible.
Driver side shackle is also a mess. One of the grease fittings is snapped off partially inside shackle, the center threaded pin that goes in the bushing is completely off center exposing a good deal of thread and they both look pretty tweaked.
The stance of the truck, with empty bed, sits low in the rear like a gasser. Would it be wise to just save up the money and swap out everything for new springs and shackles and front mounts verses rebuilding mounting hardware and tackling rebound clip fabrication? Also I have noted that nobody is selling the u bolts for this year, just 37 and above. Should I find casting number to determine what year rear end is in case it's not original?
Thanks for any input.
Cheers
Christian

Here is what I did on the '37. My truck came from the Flint Hills of Kansas. It was used a plumbing and heating truck. The springs and all the attaching points were worn, much like yours. I replaced the shackles and bushings with new from one of the venders on this site. The front bushings were also replaced. I was replacing the rear axle, so new u-bolts were purchased from a local spring shop, nothing real special. The leaf springs were grooved from the rough use, so I tore them apart. I used a grinder to remove the sharp edge of the grooves, and rounded over the mating edge of the leaf under it. I did this on each leaf so they would have room to move when bouncing. I was careful not to cut any deeper. The clips are made from simple 1/8"x 3/4" strap steel and a soft rivet. I found the rivet at my local hardware store. They are concrete anchors I cut down to length and peened over with a heavy hammer. Before assembly, I added teflon strips between each leaf. Grease or paint will not last, the liners has been in for ten years now with no problem. The liners made a drastic difference in ride and noise once installed.

Its nothing thats to hard to do, just time consuming. If you decide to use new springs, I would still pull them apart and add the teflon strips. I replaced my front springs and tried them as delivered. The ride was so harsh, I removed them that afternoon and bought more liner material to add to them. Since then, I have removed 3 leafs from each corner of the truck for an even softer ride.

Joe

Joe, How many leafs do you have at each corner now?

On the front I have 4 leafs out of the seven it started with. The two top longest ones, then every other one. On the rear, I have 6 out of the nine. The two top longest plus very other one. This is how the spring shop suggested I do it, and since they have been in the same family since 1920's, I figure they know something about springs.

I run a 250 cubic engine, which is about 20% lighter weight then the older stock engine, so this is why I can get away with only four. Fronts are new springs, the rears are still stock '37.

Joe

Thanks for your info Joe. Where did you purchase Teflon strips?

I will add to this , after putting teflon strips in my springs , I had to put modern shocks to control the axles .

I got my Teflon strips from Yogi's a couple years ago. $15 a roll and shipping. Total 37 bucks for two rolls an shipping. You may find some close by? Maybe truck shop if close by.

I also got mine from Yogi's.