I am restoring a 1950 Chevy 3100 that has been in the family since 1951. I want to keep it stock with the original rear axial and torque tube. I am replacing the leaf springs this week, and discovered that there is something called a rear leaf spring seat that mounts the leaf springs to the axial. There is a rubber bushing in the rear leaf spring seat, but I canning find this part anywhere. I am looking for suggestions.
Darren Current Project - 1950 3100 5 Window with a rebuilt 216 and 3 speed trans
Are they really that bad that they need to be repaired/replaced? I would think that only if the rubber was nearly completely rotted away I would worry about replacing them.
Steele's service for this part is the only thing I've found. I haven't eyeballed mine close enough to see if I need to spend that much money on them.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Make your own. Do a search on liquid urethane rubber and click on one for "casting". The ride will be firmer but not harsh. Like all urethane bushings they will push in place with finger pressure rather than pressed into place like butyl or other rubbers. Many are two part with half pushed in from each side. All the street rod suppliers offer urethane bushing as a suspension upgrade. The mold for that bushing could be made by Ray Charles in a dark room.
You can use Flexane 94 to make new bushings like this, motor mounts, transmission mounts, body mounts...all sort of things. There also used to be a softer product...Flexane 80, but I'd use 94 for this.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
Evan has a good idea. Contact Energy Suspension with the dimensions and see if they have something that will work. You'd need the length and OD of the steel bushing, and the ID of the outer forged part.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
I am not on a real computer, but, here is what I get for a 1950 Chevrolet 1/2 ton truck:
“YEAR/MAKE/MODEL Year: 1950 Model: Truck Make: Chevrolet Sub Model: 3100 [] Body Type: Standard Cab Pickup [] Body Type: Cab [] Show Universal Parts
There are no products to list...”
I’ll check this tomorrow and post results.
They probably don't have specific items, but I'll bet there's something that they have that will fit. That's why I suggested calling them with dimensions.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Whether they needed to be replaced is a good question. But after coming this far, it had to be done. Found a friend to make them up for me. Thank you for all the great input.
Darren Current Project - 1950 3100 5 Window with a rebuilt 216 and 3 speed trans