The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Front leaf spring removal question

What size wheel and tire is that?

75R15

Is it just me or is the main leaf short...the shackle looks like it's angled the wrong way.

Measure the springs, they should be 38" center of eye to center of eye per the GM information kit.

Mike B

Well Mike, apparently you have a good eye. I just measured my springs and I get 36.5 inches. So what does that mean? Do I have incorrect springs? How could they have been shortened?

Mike, is that 38" straight across from eye to eye or do you measure with a seamstress' tape along the curve?

Otto, it's straight between eyes on the spring.

Yeah, it looks like they overdid it a bit on the spring re-arching. That would shorten them up a bit. The shackles on my replacements are angled to the rear of vertical, although the chassis is bare at the moment.

Does the old shackle pin stick through the shackle plate? The pins are tapered to match the tapered hole in the plates, in the last picture it looks like the plates may be installed backwards. The pins should be sticking through farther.

Doug,

You are 100% correct.. Major difference between new springs and old "worn" ones. It will settle a bit, but not flat like your old ones for another 60+ years or so.

Just a note that you may want to check your front spring shackles as they look to be a little on the loose side in your last picture. The ends of the pins should be at least a bit proud of the side plates when it's all snugged down properly. See the picture I attached from the Shop manual in my reply above.

Dan

EDIT: OOPS - Looks like I came to the party a bit late. Sorry!

Well I guess I'm going to learn a major lesson here. I got the springs back from service and I trusted they did what they were supposed to do! I'm going to have to remove them and get them back in the shop. The truck didn't sit right when I installed them. I will let you all know when I get them back in.

That's why I come here, to learn from people who have done this before!

Before you leave the shop check the arch
It looks like they have too much arch

Specs for Leaf Springs 22-184
Length (A): 18-7/8 Inches
Length (B):19 Inches
Width:1-3/4 Inches
Location:Front
Number of Leaves:8
SRI Number:22-184
OEM Number: 3702793 47-55 ½ ¾ Ton 1st Ser.
Arc (C):3-1/2 Inches
Pack Thickness (D):1-7/8 Inches
Capacity:850 lbs.
Front Bushing:Included / TB-6
Rear Bushing:Included / HEB

That's great info Jim! Would the "A" dimension be the front or rear half of the spring set?

Doug, it also looks like the center bolt is not centered, so when you're bolting it back together you need to make sure the left and right sides are the same or you could have alignment issues.

Mike B

Mike, can you please elaborate? Are you talking the center shackle bolt?

No, Mike is referring to the pins that go thru the springs and the frame brackets. They are tapered on the ends, and the shackle side plates are tapered as well, and have to be installed to match the taper. If the side plates are installed reversed, they would only contact the pins on a small ring, and wouldn't go on as far as when installed correctly. Your picture of the front shackle looks like the pins don't extend far enough thru the side plate on the visible side.

[On edit] that was Joe H that brought that up. See my post below on the center bolt position.

Gotcha Kevin, thank you!

Mike, what are you looking at that makes you think his center bolt isn't centered. I couldn't make that out in his pictures.

The center bolt of the spring pack (on both front and rear springs) is not in the middle of the spring, so if you put one long end forward and the other rearward, it would make the axle cockeyed relative to the frame (not perpendicular.) But it would be pretty obvious. The bushings are different front and rear too, so you could only do that if you pressed in the bushings yourself. Not an issue with new springs with bushings already installed, but it is possible the supplier put them in wrong.

[on edit] I don't recall which way the short end goes (front or back). I'd have to go out and measure on my chassis.

Typically the front of the spring (A) is the Short End (SE) and the rear (B) is the Long End (LE).

Gotcha. All this is very interesting. I'm going to measure all my stuff just for my own edification.

I think the posts above covered it, the bolt I'm talking about holds the stack together and keeps it locked on the axle spring perch.

I was not aware of the spring eye bushings were different, so that should make it fool proof!

Mike B

Well now I'm curious, this could open up another set of problems. What is the correct specifications for the rear springs eye to eye?

54" eye to eye GM data book

Specs for Leaf Springs 22-195

Length (A): 25-1/8 Inches
Length (B):29 Inches
Width:1-3/4 Inches
Location:Rear
Number of Leaves:8
SRI Number:22-195
OEM Number:3683317 47-54 ½ Ton
Arc (C):6-3/4 Inches
Pack Thickness (D):2-5/16 Inches
Capacity:1,150 lbs.
Front Bushing:Included / HEB
Rear Bushing:Included / TB-6
Spring Construction:8/291

Thank you sir J!

Is the 38" eye to eye measurement the unloaded measurement before the springs are installed on the truck, or is that measurement taken with the springs on the truck sitting on the ground?

Whether or not this is helpful, who knows? Is it interesting? Maybe.

I just measured my 73 year old, somewhat flat, springs and they appear to be 38 1/2" eye to eye. That's only 1/2" longer than the 38" Kevin posted.

I believe that would be "as manufactured" measurements, not installed.

Mike B

Well guys, after a couple busy weeks at work, I was finally able to get my springs back in. I pulled them out after our last discussion and took them back to the spring shop for re-work. This was the end result. It looks a lot better in my opinion.

That looks a lot better. It looks like my truck.