Need some help identifying some parts. 46 1/2 ton rear end. Came with the helper spring kit. Have removed all of the suspension and am installing a single spring pack. On the housing are these “pads”. I believe they were to locate the spring perch collars. They are riveted through to the interior of the tube. My thought is I need to reuse the collars as my perches. I haven’t come across much, if any info on these helper spring kits. Otherwise I remove the pads, weld up the holes, and weld on new perches? Thoughts or information? TIA.
"it's only old if you can't find a use for it; otherwise it's cool and i'll use it."
I had my axles apart this past winter and learned that if you are keeping the torque tube, these collars allow the axle to rotate when it goes up and down. If you are going to an open driveline with a U-joint at your pinion, you may not need them.
Last edited by UtahYork; 05/05/20253:25 PM.
~ John in Utah 1946 1/2Ton w/4-speed manual transmission w/1960 235 engine Here We Go Follow in his DITY Bay
- If you think about it, it has been one year ago today!
If you're going with an open driveline, you HAVE to somehow fix the axle housing to the springs after setting the pinion u-joint axle. Either remove the collars and weld on spring pads or some other method to keep the axle housing from rotating.
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.
If you are keeping the torque tube, Utah York provides an important note about the collar function. If you do stay with the torque tube and still want to eliminate the helper springs, you will need to locate another axle with the correct 2 piece collars. You'll also need new shorter U-bolts. The non-helper spring collars were side specific per the 1929-46 Chevy Parts Book.
Seat w/cap, Left GM# 600175 (373345 cast on cap)*
Seat w/cap, Right GM# 600176 (373346 cast on cap)*
* Both parts listed to fit Chevrolet 1936-46 ALL 1/2 ton Commercial trucks
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
