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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / 1937 front leaf spring

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Posted By Discussion Topic: 1937 front leaf spring -- page: 1 2 3 4 5     mzahorik 09-09-2018 @ 4:18 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 Recently, while changing the oil in the engine, transmission and rear axle. I noticed that there was something strange about my front leaf spring. Each eyelet has been cut in half, so that the main leaf only curls around the shackle bolt half way. And the weight of the car pushes the spring ends away from the shackle. I also noticed that the round bushing of the shackle is worn flat, where the spring lays on it. I believe that someone changed the front spring with something they had, just to make it work. So, I've been looking around for a replacement spring. I see that this car (Model 78 four door) could have had an 11, 12 or 13 leaf spring in the front. My old spring seems to have nine leaves. I checked the rear spring and this one looks more original. The eyelets are whole there seems to be a zerk at the center for greasing the leaves, but this spring also seems to have only 9 leaves. I found that Eaton Detroit makes replacement springs, but I am not sure which spring to get. I figure maybe I'll shot for the middle, 12 leaves? Any ideas or thoughts? Thanks Mike TomO 09-10-2018 @ 7:09 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7256 Joined: Oct 2009 Your front spring could be a 10 leaf spring. You may not be able to see the short leaf at the top. If it a 10 or 11 leaf spring, and you replace it with a 12 leaf spring, you will also have to change the U-bolts. Refer to the parts catalog for the correct clamp (U-bolt) for the spring that you select. Mike Dennis (Hemmings advertiser) had quite a collection of NOS springs a few years ago. He was much less expensive that Eaton. I would contact him to see if he has the replacement spring. Tom mzahorik 09-10-2018 @ 8:35 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 Tom, thanks for the reply. Something else I noticed. My 1950 Ford Chassis Parts & Accessories Catalog shows a picture of the passenger front suspension. The picture shows that there are two shackle bushing/bolts on each side of the spring. My car is different. The front radius rods which the front axle is bolted to, has a finger that curls over the top of the axle and has a "tee" and two studs where the side plates of the shackle bolt on. Do I have something that is odd? The catalog picture doesn't have any years associated with it. It also says it is only an illustration. Anyway, I look at the source you mentioned. Thanks again Mike mzahorik 09-10-2018 @ 12:13 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 Well..... after looking at more pictures in my Chassis Parts book, I think what happened to my car is that some time in the past the main leaf broke on the front spring. Then instead of replacing it, it was just removed. Pictures show that the second leaf has a curved end, the same curved end I see on my car. Anyway I called Mike Dennis and he is looking to see if he has a spring. Thanks Mike. 3w2 09-10-2018 @ 5:15 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 843 Joined: Oct 2009 The current spring set up suggests that you have been lucky. I would not drive the car even one foot until the spring is replaced with the correct shackle studs and connecting links. kubes40 09-10-2018 @ 5:33 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3406 Joined: Oct 2009 As others have mentioned, your car could have been built with a ten, eleven or twelve leaf spring. Typically it would have been a twelve leaf spring assembly. I'd stay away from eaton of at all possible as the spring you get from them won't be "concourse correct" and won't have the same ride and handling characteristics of a Ford OEM spring. NOS are still out there. In fact, just today I'd installed front and rear NOS springs on a clients '36. That illustration you speak of is just that - an illustration. Don't be too concerned with the fact that yours doesn't appear just like the drawing. Do you have the proper tools to install new shackle pins and R & R the spring? Mike "Kube" Kubarth kubes40 09-10-2018 @ 5:33 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3406 Joined: Oct 2009 As others have mentioned, your car could have been built with a ten, eleven or twelve leaf spring. Typically it would have been a twelve leaf spring assembly. I'd stay away from eaton of at all possible as the spring you get from them won't be "concourse correct" and won't have the same ride and handling characteristics of a Ford OEM spring. NOS are still out there. In fact, just today I'd installed front and rear NOS springs on a clients '36. That illustration you speak of is just that - an illustration. Don't be too concerned with the fact that yours doesn't appear just like the drawing. Do you have the proper tools to install new shackle pins and R & R the spring? Mike "Kube" Kubarth trjford8 09-11-2018 @ 7:45 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4220 Joined: Oct 2009 I agree that you should try to find a good stock spring. Your front spring is riding on the shackles with what is called the "safety leaf" and you are missing the original main leaf. The 37-40 Fords use the same front spring so you should be able to find a good or maybe new front spring. I suspect as others have said that you should have the 10 leaf spring. trjford8 09-11-2018 @ 7:46 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4220 Joined: Oct 2009 I agree that you should try to find a good stock spring. Your front spring is riding on the shackles with what is called the "safety leaf" and you are missing the original main leaf. The 37-40 Fords use the same front spring so you should be able to find a good or maybe new front spring. I suspect as others have said that you should have the 10 leaf spring. kubes40 09-11-2018 @ 7:57 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3406 Joined: Oct 2009 Mzahorik, Is it possible that you could post a photo of what you have here? Perhaps two? I'd like to see the end, where the perch pins go as well as the center where the "U bolts" are. Mike "Kube" Kubarth

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