The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Overload leaf spring rubber replacement, help!

Hubby bought what he believed to be the correct rubber pieces for the leaf and overload springs for my 1946 Chevy 1/2 ton [based on the information provided by the rubber company's website].

They're square - mine were rectangular.
Their lip is tall - mine was short.

Mine were too badly degraded to get measurements from (and we're not even sure of their exact name, to research), but we definitely had to pry them out of the "rim" around my metal bits. In other words, they were definitely rectangular, and definitely had a short/thin upside-down "T"-shaped lip...like the ones hubby bought (only they're way too thick/fat).

What have you used to replace these four rubber parts?

Is there a proper name for them that will aid in our search?

How tall should both sets be to function properly?

I'm reaching out for help here because, when I emailed "Steele Rubber Products" to tell them the parts didn't fit and ask if they had any rectangular-shaped ones/measurements for rectangular-shaped ones, his last reply was; "Yes, that measurement would be needed. I would have to confirm with our technician at the shop to verify. I work from home so I cannot measure it." These four, small pieces of rubber literally cost six times more than our water bill - Are we measuring? Are we following up? What are we doing? I guess I should have let hubby do the emailing because I feel like this gentleman thinks I'm just being a pain. No, I just want to replace these four parts correctly so we can start putting the rear end of my truck back together.

Photos include:
The parts I'm trying to fit (not exactly sure what to call them).
The rubber part they recommended/hubby bought.
What's left of my originals.
A size/shape comparison of my originals, and what they recommended.
The "lips" that we had to pry the badly decomposed original rubber pieces out of (that their recommended replacements obviously won't fit).

I realize that we could shave off whatever we needed to but at $135 with shipping for four pieces of rubber (and not even being sure of the correct/original height) I'm returning them for a refund vs altering them.
(Yes, my truck has overload springs...that was a question he asked even after I sent these pictures. It's an old farm truck. It will be my daily driver most of the year so I want it to ride/sit properly).

Thank you in advance for any help!!
Maria

Are the pieces you show part of the stock leaf spring mount or part of the overload springs? My experience with Steele Rubber Products is 100% positive. The customer service reps have always bent over backward to make things right. Not knowing what the part name is probably throws a monkey wrench into the process. I can’t help with that. I do know that Steele produces very detailed catalogs of all their products and most are available online. I’m sure someone here will know the official part name so you can jump online and get the right one (if available) on its way. Good luck.

If you show us how they fit on the truck, maybe we can figure it out. They look like they might be bumpers for when the suspension bottoms out.

From your picture could they fit if you turned them over . Steele shows them on there web site,is your truck a half ton

@Martin - I have their little booklet for my make:model/year. The picture Kevinski posted is what they recommend... They look rectangular in their catalog/online, and thinner at the lip (upside-down T portion, than what they truly are.

@ klhansen - They're part of the overload springs. (Hubby said that the two with holes mount with the knee action shocks). He took them off while I was working on something else so I don't have a recollection of exactly where they were.

@ Kevinski - Mine definitely had the lip down, tucked into the metal pieces (I flipped one for photography purposes but the "Too wide" and "Too thick" picture is how the old ones were in the metal. I remember prying them out from under the metal (the the upside-down T that I described). Thank you for the screenshot! The picture is misleading... That's the exact same part that I received/ have labeled "Too wide" and "Too thick". They're actually square, and, the upside-down T portion is definitely too thick to fit down in mine.

Thank you all for the effort! I really appreciate it!

It seems that overload springs were an option. Perhaps your overload springs are from an aftermarket supplier?

Can you take a picture of the overload spring?

@ GordandFran - I bet they were! I hadn't thought of that. He had a couple of Redneck Ingenuity items (like a box with blades, that aren't sharp, that run off the PTO. We're assuming for dispensing feed, but no one, even here, knew for sure). Searching with the word 'aftermarket' may just do the trick. Thank you!

@ Phak1 - I'll have to take one.

I can only attach five at a time, so here's the first set of pix, with measurements...

I tried to get everything that may be helpful. Thank you, everyone!

Another option would be to just remove the overload springs unless you plan on really loading Bruno up! Just a thought!

Phak1, I've considered doing that. I hoped to keep him as original as possible, but some things can't be helped. If no one has an answer/advice then I won't have a choice.

My ‘52 came with overload springs which I think is a pretty rare option. I removed them as they also needed to be cleaned up and were missing some of the pads that protect the frame. If I can find the right parts, they may find their way back on.

I can't tell by the photos on the thickness of the original rubber but you could cut your own out of rubber stall mat - horse stall mat. It's tough as nails and useful for other projects.

I thought I could drop off a section of stall mat 'cuz I'm making a quick drive to Elkhart but I just googled Jasonville and it's not within my time schedule - sorry!

One of the first things I did when I got my 1953 3100, was to take off the helper springs. Not original and not needed.

@ 78Buckshot - I appreciate the offer. I've got an old AF wife friend from Elkhart, and it's a jaunt. Thank you!

@ Leo - It has now become a mission! LoL As he was born and raised a farm truck I want to keep him that way. He has a super cool deal on the side that runs off of the PTO shaft. None of the old farmers around here know exactly what it is, but it adds to his character.

Looks like a grain/feed blower for blowing the grain hauled in the back of the truck into a storage bin or small silo.

Mike B

I've had my '53 3100 loaded to the helper springs a few times, hauling wood, stacked to the cab, and hauling a trip hammer. The whole truck feels fairly wobbly and I keep the speed down...
Karl