The Ford Barn

pjdeb · 11-02-2019, 06:59 PM

Where can I find a diagram of the front spring assembly for a 1930 pick up?

Joe K · 11-02-2019, 07:24 PM

I'm not aware that a front spring diagram has been published yet.

It certainly exists, probably in the Ford Engineering Drawings - which are available.

Still, your need may be slight as ALL 10 leaf Model A front springs are identical, except for those who have been upgraded to the 12 leaf front spring ("available for cars subject to rough service" per the Service Bulletins.)

That said - of the springs on the car, the fronts are the one most likely to be needful of replacement. Its almost unusual if there are not issues with the tires hitting the underside of the fenders, a symptom of a weakened spring.

Plus, others in 80 years have found the same issue, and front springs may have been replaced in the 50s, 60s, 70s, or even 1980s with springs of what I would consider "inferior" quality.

JC Whitney ( Warshawsky Company originally) was a major source of these, also Western Auto, Pep-Boys, and even Sears-Roebuck (Allstate) brand. Most of these were not made to OEM requirements and instead were a "universal replacement."

I myself bought the front half of a 1930 Roadster while a young pup in college. "Original parts" thinks I hoping for parts I could use. The front spring was a candidate. Comparison with what I was sure WAS an original spring on my '29 CC Truck (avatar) revealed that the spring leaves were 10, but that the lengths of the leaves differed, and were (some of them) perhaps 1.5 times the original thickness and not "champhered" like the original - NOT original but a period replacement.

Some have had good luck with "retensioning" a spring of which the front seems a "least cost" option (easiest to do certainly) I have not tried this but many/most who have report good luck - maybe not permanent - but the front spring is perhaps "most vulnerable" anyway.

My advice if there is any question about your front spring would be to buy a new one. Most of the dealers now purchase from www.a-springs.com and they use the original spring blueprints to produce. But be sure to ask a retailer if the springs are made to OEM specification.

Joe K

pjdeb · 11-03-2019, 07:20 AM

Thank you! Wealth of information.

Bob Bidonde · 11-03-2019, 08:55 AM

See the Ford Service Bulletin for January 1931, Page 533.

Roger V · 11-04-2019, 08:16 PM

Most (maybe all) spring manufacturers do not make the front spring to spec. Eaton Detroit Spring makes springs for most makes of cars. Years ago I talked to them and they had a copy of the original print. It called for three different thicknesses for the leaves. They make them with all leaves the same thickness. Eaton Detroit said the sales volume was too low for them to stock the minimum quantity of the three thicknesses.

A friend who was a Ford truck suspension engineering supervisor used Eaton Detroit for prototype springs. He was able to get them to make two front Model A springs to spec. They had to machine the steel they stocked to the "other" thicknesses. Needless to say the cost was exorbitant! He got one and I got the other. Load and rate vary a lot when not to spec. Most would likely not know it because something new is better than a fatigued existing one.

duke36 · 11-04-2019, 09:12 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger V

Most (maybe all) spring manufacturers do not make the front spring to spec. Eaton Detroit Spring makes springs for most makes of cars. Years ago I talked to them and they had a copy of the original print. It called for three different thicknesses for the leaves. They make them with all leaves the same thickness. Eaton Detroit said the sales volume was too low for them to stock the minimum quantity of the three thicknesses.

A friend who was a Ford truck suspension engineering supervisor used Eaton Detroit for prototype springs. He was able to get them to make two front Model A springs to spec. They had to machine the steel they stocked to the "other" thicknesses. Needless to say the cost was exorbitant! He got one and I got the other. Load and rate vary a lot when not to spec. Most would likely not know it because something new is better than a fatigued existing one.

Wonder if the top leaf can be removed or shaved if the stock ride height is altered (raised) by the repro springs?

11-02-2019, 06:59 PM	#1
pjdeb Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: The Villages, FL Posts: 103	Front spring Where can I find a diagram of the front spring assembly for a 1930 pick up?

11-02-2019, 07:24 PM	#2
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Front spring I'm not aware that a front spring diagram has been published yet. It certainly exists, probably in the Ford Engineering Drawings - which are available. Still, your need may be slight as ALL 10 leaf Model A front springs are identical, except for those who have been upgraded to the 12 leaf front spring ("available for cars subject to rough service" per the Service Bulletins.) That said - of the springs on the car, the fronts are the one most likely to be needful of replacement. Its almost unusual if there are not issues with the tires hitting the underside of the fenders, a symptom of a weakened spring. Plus, others in 80 years have found the same issue, and front springs may have been replaced in the 50s, 60s, 70s, or even 1980s with springs of what I would consider "inferior" quality. JC Whitney ( Warshawsky Company originally) was a major source of these, also Western Auto, Pep-Boys, and even Sears-Roebuck (Allstate) brand. Most of these were not made to OEM requirements and instead were a "universal replacement." I myself bought the front half of a 1930 Roadster while a young pup in college. "Original parts" thinks I hoping for parts I could use. The front spring was a candidate. Comparison with what I was sure WAS an original spring on my '29 CC Truck (avatar) revealed that the spring leaves were 10, but that the lengths of the leaves differed, and were (some of them) perhaps 1.5 times the original thickness and not "champhered" like the original - NOT original but a period replacement. Some have had good luck with "retensioning" a spring of which the front seems a "least cost" option (easiest to do certainly) I have not tried this but many/most who have report good luck - maybe not permanent - but the front spring is perhaps "most vulnerable" anyway. My advice if there is any question about your front spring would be to buy a new one. Most of the dealers now purchase from www.a-springs.com and they use the original spring blueprints to produce. But be sure to ask a retailer if the springs are made to OEM specification. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse. Last edited by Joe K; 11-02-2019 at 08:04 PM.

11-03-2019, 07:20 AM	#3
pjdeb Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: The Villages, FL Posts: 103	Re: Front spring Thank you! Wealth of information.

11-03-2019, 08:55 AM	#4
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,463	Re: Front spring See the Ford Service Bulletin for January 1931, Page 533. __________________ Bob Bidonde

11-04-2019, 08:16 PM	#5
Roger V Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,593	Re: Front spring Most (maybe all) spring manufacturers do not make the front spring to spec. Eaton Detroit Spring makes springs for most makes of cars. Years ago I talked to them and they had a copy of the original print. It called for three different thicknesses for the leaves. They make them with all leaves the same thickness. Eaton Detroit said the sales volume was too low for them to stock the minimum quantity of the three thicknesses. A friend who was a Ford truck suspension engineering supervisor used Eaton Detroit for prototype springs. He was able to get them to make two front Model A springs to spec. They had to machine the steel they stocked to the "other" thicknesses. Needless to say the cost was exorbitant! He got one and I got the other. Load and rate vary a lot when not to spec. Most would likely not know it because something new is better than a fatigued existing one.