The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Front Leaf Springs, A Hunting we will go!

Any experience with these parts suppliers? I’m thinking of replacing the front springs on my ’50, 3600 and did a little comparative shopping. Turns out there is Quite a spread.
Whitney’s warehouse is just an hours ride south of me. The rest are all out of state and shipping would probably add another forty or fifty bucks. The one place that is, in all likelihood, the supplier to these vendors would be Eaton, Detroit Spring and I’m not able to figure out how to get a price from them short of calling them up.

JC Whitney is listing front leaf springs for my 1950 truck for $95.99 each with 24hr. availability.

Jim Carter is $139 each.

The Filling Station is $175 each.

Chevs of the 40’s is $450 a pair and they show a “shopping surcharge” of $50. What in the world is a “shopping surcharge”?

LMC is $259.95 doesn’t say but I’m assuming that is for a pair?

CPP is $399 for the pair.

So lets hear from the voice of experience.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny,

I'll also be in the market soon for my 1965 Chevrolet 1/2 ton pickup, and my choices are down to Eaton, Jim Carter, and JC Whitney.

I have bought from:

Eaton - when their prices were lowest (10 years ago). Also, you have to ask for the period-correct "spring binders" (otherwise they might use banding strap around a small piece of rubber.

Jim Carter - good price - good springs

I have had no experience buying springs from JC Whitney and hope someone with personal experience will respond.

Tim

I had my old '54 springs re-arched at Fort Worth Champion Spring for about $50 each out the door.

Denny,
I bought mine from Eaton Detroit about 10 years or so ago, and am very pleased with them. Any future springs I need will also come from them. Their springs come with the correct bushings in the eyes, I also got new u-bolts at the same time. I called them when I bought mine, both to get a price and to place the order. They were very nice, courteous, and helpful. Their springs are authorized GM reproduction parts, made to the original specs. They would be my recommendation. I wasn't keen on the re-arching - concerns on how how long that would last, and, with the years of use, each leaf had worn down on the underside from the shorter leaf under it.
Samantha

Give them a try.
I'm very pleased with the springs I bought about 5 years ago. The can also supply U-bolts and pins and bushings if you need them.

Grigg

Thanks Tim, I never would have thought of that. I did notice that the springs pictured in the Whitney catalog had banding on them, and I’m sure that’s the way they would come, it’s much cheaper than a rivet.

I checked with Eaton a year or so ago Cletis, about re-arching, and for the price they quoted me for re-working my old springs I was better off just buying new ones. As fur as that goes, I’m not sagging, that is my truck isn’t, so it’s not really a matter of re-shaping them, I’m just thinking ahead in case there is any noticeable wear on the leaves like Samantha found. The bushings are still tight, no noticeable wear on them and they all take grease. I suppose I should just pull them off and see exactly what I’m dealing with, who knows, maybe all I need is a good clean up and some new paint.
The subject of lubrication comes up often, and were you to go by the book or manual, there should be NO lubrication because according to the engineers it will over work the spring and that will lead to early failure. But I would think you would have a much better ride if the springs were better able to slide some. Not sure about the Teflon liners, I would think that seven layers of that is going to increase the total thickness a goodly amount.

If I do have to replace them I’m bout 98% sure that I would go with Eaton also. They are at the top of the list from my standpoint, just like Walker radiator would be if I had to replace the radiator.

Now if I were just looking to put a driver on the street and really didn’t care about trying to keep things as original as is practical then I think I would try the springs from JC Whitney. I mean, how can ya go wrong for $95 ea. with a 10% discount and free shipping.
DG

I bought mine from The Filling Station, they drop shipped them from Benz Spring Co. out of Portland OR. http://www.benzspring.com/

You might go right to the source.

Joe

Teflon buttons are okay but what I did was buy a used snow sled called a "Flying Carpet" at a garage sale. You will know what I mean if you live anywhere near a snow hill. They are rolled up and you unroll them to use them.
Think I paid a buck and cut strips from them as wide as my springs. Hardest part was having the springs hang so you can get the teflon in between. Once in they are in for good until you spread the springs again.

I have never used Eaton but have heard a lot of good stuff about them. I have another project I am thinking of giving them a call about.

I grew up outside of Chicago and I have both visited and used many of their products. I doubt that I would by from them again unless I knew what manufacturer they were selling. Beware of the quality of the generic stuff.

I used Eaton Springs on a 65 Mustang many years ago and I was very satisfied.

I ordered front springs for a 65 Dodge 3/4 ton from JC Whitney when I was a kid in college and had almost nothing. They cashed my check then sent me a letter declaring they had gone bankrupt. I've never seen my springs nor my money. I wouldn't buy a 5 cent bolt from them. This was in the late 70's...

Hi Joe,
I am in the market for stock springs for my 1957 Chevy 1/2 ton 3100.
Just called Benz Springs in Oregon. For the front 6 leafs they want $161 each. For the rear 7 leafs they want $240 each.
Going to contact Eaton tomorrow.

Jon

I bought springs from Eaton about 10 years ago and was very pleased with what I got. I wouldn't hesistate to use them again. I don't remember pricing, but they had what I needed, and nobody else did. I had a 69 C20 suburban I had lowered using coils designed for a C10 pickup. It hammered the bottom-out bumpers all the time, not enough rate in the springs. I called Eaton, told them what I wanted, and had them less than a week later.

Devin

Denny,

Have you looked into St. Louis Spring? The guys around here seem to all use them and have had good experiences for what they want done. The business is over 50 years old and from what I understand they can make you new ones, rearch old ones, and rebuild the packs with new bushings, etc. From what I researched it looks like most were quite satisfied with the pricing too.

Kyle

I have been using St Louis Spring for over 30yrs now along w/every shop I have worked at has used them. They have t he patterns & specs for just about ANYTHING leaf spring ever produced. Heck there has been times that I have shown up w/my old springs that needed bushing & they installed them while I waited, that's what I call good service...Joe

Denny,
as for greasing the leafs, I was always told that the main problem arising from this is increased wear. The grease inevitably attracts sand and silt from the road, and holds it. The only time I have ever read where grease was recommended, is on some cars, with enclosed leaves. My old Pontiac, has steel covers over the rear springs, and the shop manual recommends pumping them full of grease, not to reduce wear, but so you don't hear them squeak. Isn't that fancy? My Dad is restoring a '54 Monarch SunValley, an he has disassembled the leaves, and put the liners between them, so no squeaking there either, I believe his car had liners from the factory.

Hi all,
Called Eaton and I got this quote for my 57 Chevy 3100 1/2 ton.
pair for the front $480. Rear pair $341.00. Shipping to Cali. is $190.00

I just ordered my springs from St Louis.
Fronts were $96.00 each and rear were $110.00 each. Spoke with Nick and he will have them built by this Friday. Thank you all for the info!
Jon

On that lubrication Chris, just quoting from the Chevrolet shop manuals.
But Jon will they have the riveted clips on the leaf or just the banding like we mentioned earlier? All depends on how accurate you want to get I suppose. Let us know you they work out when you get them.
DG

The ones I have gotten were exact copies of the stock springs, whether they were for a car or truck...Joe

Joe,
Did the new springs come with bushings installed?
Samantha

They were complete bushing & painted.
If they were press-in bushing they were installed.
If they were the none press-in bushing by the shackles I think those type were extra, but I could be mistaken since it's been a few years since I have bought any springs from them...Joe

Hi Zoo,
They have the rivets and bushings are installed.
Jon

I assume St Louis is just like Benz here in Portland, old school spring shops that make everything themselves. They probably supply the vendors as well, but the vendors pay the shipping to them, pass it on to you, mark them up and then charge you shipping again. More power to them, but if you can skip the middle guy you are way ahead. I am lucky to Benz here, they are awesome. They typically have what you need in stock at great prices. They also fixed me up with spring perches and u bolts for a rearend swap off the shelf for about a quarter of the vendor kits price. Same deal with my old pontiac.

Hi everyone,
OK so I just got my invoice for my 4 springs from St Louis Springs. I placed my order Wednesday..I think and they made and shipped them today Friday! Not bad!
Total for EVERYTHING came to $571.56. They ship each in their own box UPS. Hope this helps the people in the group! Jon

Well that would be a nice mornings drive out to StLouis, MO. Save on the shipping.
let us know Jon when you get them and how they compair.
DG

That comes out to $143 for each spring & it included shipping.
Not a bad price.....Joe

Denny,
That would be a long drive from San Francisco! My brother lives out in St Louis but I still would have to have them shipped out here. I will post pictures if people want to see....should be here by next Friday. Happy fathers day all! Jon

Jon,
Please do post pictures!
Samantha

Naw Jon, I was talkin' for my self, I'm half way cross Nortern Illinois, St.Louis is only about 250mi. from me.
And same here, like to see some pics when you get the springs.
DG

Will Do!

Hi all,
Got the springs today. They look good...but...only thing so far is they shipped them wrapped in Shrink rap. I will post some photos photos this weekend. Springs LINK

I'll be waiting for those pictures with bated breath.
DG

I posted photos above..
If you are buying springs and dont care about how they ship them then no problem. But I am doing a frame off restoration and I wish I would have known they were going to ship them shrink wrapped. I would have asked to have them shipped in boxes. I will have to paint them again. Paint is peeling off in some places. Good luck..Jon

Thanks for posting the pictures Jon.
DG

Hi all,
OK got the springs on with the tranny, engine, cab, bed and pretty much all sheet metal on. The truck sits very high. Is this normal with new springs? How long does it take to break in springs? It also is causing the drive-line angle to not allow the yoke to go all the way into the tranny...

Thanks! Jon

I was just putting in an order to Jim Carters, but decided not to buy the springs because of the shipping costs. As I came back to the Stovebolt this topic came up.

I am going to go back to A1 SPRINGS in Oakland California, they made springs for the 1956 Nomad and the 1953 GMC Suburban 30 years ago. They were known around here to be the best spring company and many Oakland Roadster Show Cars used them as well as everyone else that I knew that worked on cars, but that was back in the sixties and seventies..

The only problem is I will have to go through one of the nastiest parts of Oakland to get there. This area was featured on Gangland Oakland!

I will contact them this week or next and let those who live in Northern California what there prices are.

Thank you to everyone that gave me the prices to compare with.