The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1941 1/2 ton Model AK - Front Suspension

I have a 1941 1/2 ton, model AK, that I’m trying to rebuild the front suspension on and I have a few questions.
1- Are there supposed to be two different spring packs? A 7 leaf on the left and an 8 leaf on the right?
2- I have two different bump stop retainers. Left is correct, I think. The right has a hole in the center of a square recess which is offset from the base.
3- The lower shock mounts are different lengths.
What components are correct for this model?
Also, does anyone know where I can find the shims for setting caster?
Attachment:
The lower mount and retainer at the top were with the 7 leaf spring.
Any help would be appreciated.

CuzzFuzz - 1st off, I've moved your topic to the Driveline forum as that's the best place for the topic.

More in my next reply.

Cuzzfuzz - Your picture you have linked in your post did not get saved into the Attachment Manager, so doesn't display and can't be viewed by clicking on the link either.

You'll need to try and post the picture again and see if it will display.

Meanwhile, here's a great source for the front axle spring information in GM's 1941 Chevrolet Truck Data PDF. Below is an extract on the spring details for a starter point to answer your questions.

In looking at the resource info above, the 8 leaf spring is probably from a 3/4 ton truck. Perhaps a shade tree mechanic fix from days gone by? They both used the same length and width front springs, just 7 leaf for 1/2 ton and 8 leaf for 3/4 ton. I 'm thinking the 8 leaf right spring probably has the associated 3/4 ton bump stop retainer and lower shock mount as they are different than the 1/2 ton versions.

The shims listed for your AK are GM# 474682. It's the same part number for 1936-40 COMM & UTIL trucks (except FB and COE models), plus 1941-55.1 Series 1/2 & 3/4 tons (except D-D models). General description indicates they are 1-3/4" wide x 3-7/8" long, with a tapered front thickness of about 3/32" to 9/32" thick on the tall end. That's approximately a 2.8 degree shim wedge.

General Spring KC offers a wide variety of shims sets, to find your desired degree. They offer only 1 set that is the correct 1-3/4 wide, but that's a 4 degree set which may be too high for your needs. They do offer several other sets that are 2" wide, in 2, 2.5, and 3 degrees. You would just need to trim their width down to properly fit your springs and u-bolts. I seem to recall other previous posts where folks have done just that.

Here's the link for the General Spring Shim listing page.

Thank you for the info.
For some reason the website won’t allow me attach the pictures to the post.

Could be they are too large or the wrong file format. If you're using an iPhone or iPad to take pictures, you need to change your phone camera settings to save the pictures as "Most compatible" instead of High Efficiency.

Otherwise, if the file sizes are more than 5mb, try sending the pictures to your self via email. Often when you do that it will automatically resize them smaller and you can then post those smaller sized pictures to get past the too big problem.

Has anyone installed the tube shock conversion kit that Chevs of the 40’s offers on a 41 1/2 ton? They’re saying that the kit will fit a 41, but there is no template for drilling the holes for the upper mount.

My '37 has a frame very similar to your '41, it had these brackets welded to it when purchased it in the '90s, it had sat since the early '60s before that. You can get an idea of where the top mount needs to be. I added a plate to the top which makes the shocks lean forward about 10 degrees to soften them up some. It helped the ride. If I could find non-gas shocks in the length I need, straight up right would be OK, but the gas shock work to good and needed a little angle to them. If the kit doesn't come with shocks, be sure to get a common one that's easy to find from multiple manufacturers, it will save some head aches down the road. I think mine are Ford Pinto rear shocks!