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Old 12-21-2013, 10:04 PM   #1
MrWzrd
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Default Busted leaf in front

Ok... I've been reversing out the repro's after overhauling the original.

But now... busted leaf in front spring..... and a second that looks cracked..

I see some major chest beating on quality on some of the repros....

Safe to go with the repro on springs or is there another source for getting the leaves....
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Old 12-21-2013, 10:34 PM   #2
pat in Santa Cruz
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Default Re: Busted leaf in front

Front leaves break due to abuse, age fatigue, loose spring retainer bolts, and a poor fit to the cross member from not beveling the top leaf.

There are some reasonably good repro springs out there; I suspect you get what you pay for. But none of them as far as I know meet the engineering standards of the original Ford blueprint. In most cases the repops have same thickness leaves. Original leaves varied in thickness depending on the intended application of the spring.
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Old 12-21-2013, 10:35 PM   #3
RonC
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Default Re: Busted leaf in front

These springs work very well
www.a-springs.com
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Old 12-21-2013, 10:40 PM   #4
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Default Re: Busted leaf in front

Quote:
Originally Posted by RonC View Post
These springs work very well
www.a-springs.com
That's what I got for my PU, very pleased!
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Old 12-22-2013, 12:08 AM   #5
Steve Plucker
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Default Re: Busted leaf in front

I had 5 busted springs on my February 1929 Tudor. Thank God I had several to choose from in my stash in order to replace the broken ones.

Figure out which ones you need then call Bert's in Denver and hopefully they have some good ones for which you need to complete your spring.

Otherwise do as suggested above from RonC and CarlG.

Pluck
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Old 12-22-2013, 11:17 AM   #6
1931 flamingo
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Default Re: Busted leaf in front

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Any shop in your area that does large trucks or a shop that specializes in springs can hook you up with new leaves. Clean the others up, lube between and good to go for less time, money and energy than you can. JMO FWIW
Paul in CT
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Old 12-22-2013, 12:11 PM   #7
MrWzrd
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Default Re: Busted leaf in front

I'm sorry, but this is not the right approach to get the job done right. You usually end up with a less than satisfactory result or having to make the repair again because it wore out or broke.

I have a wonderful truck shop locally...and use them .... for truck parts and custom driveshafts. I had already talked to them about the A springs and they wisely said that it is out of their league because the spring leaf on the Model A is not normal arched leaf like are in trucks and has tapered, beveled ends.

Maybe I'm a bit particular, but I would like my A to ride and drive like an A, not a truck. JMO FWIW
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Old 12-22-2013, 12:39 PM   #8
larrys40
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Default Re: Busted leaf in front

I have installed lots of new repro Model A springs on cars for repair or restoration. Yes, for some it's good to put together a good original set, however, finding good leaves that aren't fatiqued/cracked, pitted, is getting more difficult. There are several suppliers of the New leaf springs for the "go/driver" cars... one supplier better than others. My suggestion is to go with a quality repro as it won't be fatiqued, get the one with the proper tapered ends/leave thickness/bushings. Mr WZRD... your truck shop probably just isn't in tune to these.. so that's fine... but I have used St. Louis spring for years for different leaves/springs that I have needed. I did a truck once for Anhueser Bush that had a large stake bed on it.. and had to get some custom leaves made to beef things up. They made them perfectly.

It looks like you have a nice driver and any one of the good repro's from Brattons or snyders should do the job for you in the front.

Best of luck,
Larry Shepard
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Old 12-22-2013, 02:24 PM   #9
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: Busted leaf in front

The top short leaf on my front spring was broke through the center hole. I beveled the edges of the break on both sides, then MIG welded it from both sides, ground it flush, and then jumped up and down on it. It held up prefectly, so I'll use it, but I probably wouldn't bother trying to weld the longer leafs that flex more.
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Old 12-22-2013, 03:12 PM   #10
Marvin/TN
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Default Re: Busted leaf in front

busted leaf in front spring..
Check with Eaton Detriot Spring, been in business for 76 years and make springs from Factory blueprints.EATON Detroit Spring, Inc.
1555 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48216
Phone: 1-313-963-3839
Fax: 1-313-963-7047
Email: [email protected]
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