Front Leaf Springs

[Pandanom]

Pat,

You were lucky Eaton could supply your springs. They no longer can. I have talked to them at length. The steel is unusual, narrow and thin, nobody makes it anymore because of low demand.

Jim

[36 Ply]

I managed to break a couple of leaves in both front springs of my '36 Plymouth in 1997, while touring Route 66 from Illinois to Oklahoma.

When I got home, I ordered used springs from Ply-Do. They failed to deliver as promised, and when I called them, they acted completely disinterested, so I cancelled the order.

I then found a company called Eaton (Detroit?) in Hemmings, and ordered new springs from them.

Installing them took about 8 hours for one person (me); most of the time involved moving jacks and jack stands around.

Regards,

Pat O'Connor

[Pandanom]

Thanks to all for the information and links to help. I found a shop today that told me rearching will not recapture the strength, maybe retempering will like mvair had done will.
My shop can add one new spring to my existing stack and re-arch the new one to raise the car however high I tell them within reason. I found springs for the rear at Andy Bernbaums. He had NOS front springs for a long time but sold out and there won't be anymore. A lot of you don't like Andy but I have not had any problems with him. Anyway, when I get the new rear springs installed I will measure how much the front needs to come up and have a new rearched spring installed and see how that works. In the meantime if anyone finds any new ones I would sure like to know about it.
Thanks again,
Jim

[mvair]

I used Valley Spring Works in California.

They re-arched and re-tempered the springs with great results.

Valley Spring Works
BLD B Unit G
340 Industrial Way
Dixon Ca. 95620 U.S.A.
Phone 707-678-3944
Fax 707-678-5225
Email

[Pandanom]

My original springs are completely flat and straight with weight on them. I have to jack the front up in order to install the adapter pads for my car lift. The only spring shop we had around here closed up years ago. I'll look for another one. Thanks for the good ideas.

Jim

[FourDoor]

Do you actually need 2 springs or are you just wanting to replace them because they're sagging? In the past I've just gone to a spring shop and had them re-arched. I believe they only re-arch the top 2 or 3 leaves but you have to take them the whole assembly as you'll never get all the leaves back together after the re-arching. The turn-around from the shop is about 3-4 days. Any help?

[12905]

Jim:
Try going to a local spring shop that deals in heavy truck springs. A friend had front springs from a non-Mopar rebuilt (including a couple of replacement leaves) at one of our local spring shops. They made no mention of unavailability of steel. Failing that, talk to a recreation trailer manufacturer - at least some use leaf springs, and so do the utility trailer manufacturers.
Brian

[Pandanom]

Anyone know where I might find some new front leaf springs for my '37 P-4 Plymouth? I can't find anyone to make them, they all say the steel is unavailable. Eaton Spring in Detroit is the biggest manufacturer I know of and they can't make them, same reason, steel not available.

Jim