The Ford Barn

drfromnc · 06-15-2022, 11:22 AM

Trying to figure out the size of spacers needed for front and rear leaf springs on my 34 pickup. Front spring is aftermarket one that is lowered and reverse eye. Rear is original one with every other leaf removed to lower the stance. Using new ubolts with castle nuts and cotter pins. The new rear ubolts are an 1” shorter than my originals.

Should I just measure thickness of old spring pack and new spring pack to come up with difference for the size of spacer?

Also would like to know torque specs?

Thanks

TJ · 06-16-2022, 11:19 AM

Are you wanting to raise the height? If so, why not purchase a couple of new springs or good used springs? Not sure I understand your question about spacers?

drfromnc · 06-16-2022, 08:36 PM

No, not raising but lowering. Both front and rear spring packs are now not the same thickness as the OEM ones. The front spring pack is a new one from American Roadster supply and it is a lowered one fewer leafs. The rear is the OEM one but I have removed roughly half of the springs thus making it not as thick as it was. I need spacers to go between the bottom leaf and the ubolt plate to make up space of omitted leafs. Otherwise leaf spring pack won’t be securely bolted to crossmember.

TJ · 06-17-2022, 09:34 AM

0.K. now I understand the issue. Just a suggestion on the rear. Why not have the stock rear spring with all the stock leafs de-arched at a spring shop? No need for a spacer if you do that. Otherwise I have used an aluminum block of the correct thickness on the bottom side of the spring to take up the space of the missing leafs. If you removed 1/2 the leafs from the rear spring I would think you will have a very "mushy' ride in the rear.

DavidG · 06-17-2022, 09:46 AM

How about simply acquiring new U-bolts of the correct length?

TJ · 06-17-2022, 10:32 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidG

How about simply acquiring new U-bolts of the correct length?

Dave, It sounds to me that he has removed too many leafs and the bottom plates will not go far enough up into the crossmember to hold the spring in place. Definitely not the best way to lower an old Ford.

DavidG · 06-17-2022, 10:35 AM

Tom, Nor the safest.

Mart · 06-17-2022, 02:40 PM

Wind the u bolts up until the nuts align with the cotter pin holes. Measure the gap between the clamp bars and the lowest spring leaf. Make some spacers slightly thicker than that.
You have a non standard setup you need to do a bit of trial and error.

Mart.

06-15-2022, 11:22 AM	#1
drfromnc Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Smithfield, NC Posts: 259	Leaf spring spacers Trying to figure out the size of spacers needed for front and rear leaf springs on my 34 pickup. Front spring is aftermarket one that is lowered and reverse eye. Rear is original one with every other leaf removed to lower the stance. Using new ubolts with castle nuts and cotter pins. The new rear ubolts are an 1” shorter than my originals. Should I just measure thickness of old spring pack and new spring pack to come up with difference for the size of spacer? Also would like to know torque specs? Thanks

06-16-2022, 11:19 AM	#2
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,037	Re: Leaf spring spacers Are you wanting to raise the height? If so, why not purchase a couple of new springs or good used springs? Not sure I understand your question about spacers?

06-16-2022, 08:36 PM	#3
drfromnc Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Smithfield, NC Posts: 259	Re: Leaf spring spacers No, not raising but lowering. Both front and rear spring packs are now not the same thickness as the OEM ones. The front spring pack is a new one from American Roadster supply and it is a lowered one fewer leafs. The rear is the OEM one but I have removed roughly half of the springs thus making it not as thick as it was. I need spacers to go between the bottom leaf and the ubolt plate to make up space of omitted leafs. Otherwise leaf spring pack won’t be securely bolted to crossmember.

06-17-2022, 09:34 AM	#4
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,037	Re: Leaf spring spacers 0.K. now I understand the issue. Just a suggestion on the rear. Why not have the stock rear spring with all the stock leafs de-arched at a spring shop? No need for a spacer if you do that. Otherwise I have used an aluminum block of the correct thickness on the bottom side of the spring to take up the space of the missing leafs. If you removed 1/2 the leafs from the rear spring I would think you will have a very "mushy' ride in the rear.

06-17-2022, 09:46 AM	#5
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: Leaf spring spacers How about simply acquiring new U-bolts of the correct length?

06-17-2022, 10:35 AM	#7
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: Leaf spring spacers Tom, Nor the safest.

06-17-2022, 02:40 PM	#8
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,750	Re: Leaf spring spacers Wind the u bolts up until the nuts align with the cotter pin holes. Measure the gap between the clamp bars and the lowest spring leaf. Make some spacers slightly thicker than that. You have a non standard setup you need to do a bit of trial and error. Mart.