C2 spring cushion retainer part number help

[Randy S.]

Gentlemen,
Thought I'd order some suspension parts from my local chevy dealer. Got part numbers from archives. Now I need to verify what I got. I know this is "bass ackwards", I won't do it again.

1966 leaf spring cushions ref UPC 4 B1

rubber cushions 3831586 (part 3). no issues here. 4 required

Spring cushion retainer 3831588 (part 16) not a good part number. Archives referenced 3910701. These appear to be shallower that those on my car but unknown if mine are original.

3831587 retainer (part #2). Did not order but these appear to be just large flat washers. 4 required

So what is correct part number for the inner cushion retainer, part #16.
Also are only 2 required? My car has 2 each in the trailing arms but not under the spring as shown in AIM. 4 required?

Randy

[Peter L.]

Re: C2 spring cushion retainer part number help

RANDY - THE MOST RECENT PART NUMBER FOR PART #16 , RETAINER, IS 3910701 AND THE ONES I HAVE CAME IN A BOX OF 10.

THE 1967 AIM SHOWS THAT PART #16 WAS 3831588 WITH A CHANGE TO 3910701 SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 8/3/66 AND 10/27/66.

THE 3910701 RETAINER HAS A DEEPER CUP AREA WHERE THE CUSHION RIDES THAN THE 3831588 RETAINER. CURRENTLY, SEVERAL NCRS MEMBERS HAS BEEN MODIFYING THE 3910701 RETAINERS TO CLOSELY RESEMBLE THE SHALLOWER 3831588 RETAINER CONFIGURATION. MIGHT EVEN BE AN AD IN THE DRIVELINE IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE 3831588 CONFIGURATION.

PART #2 , 3831587 RETAINER, IS A SPECIAL LARGE FLAT WASHER. DIMENSIONS ARE 2-1/4" O.D.; 3/32" THICK WITH A 9/16" CENTER HOLE. THE SPECIAL FEATURE TO THIS RETAINER IS THE OUTER EDGE IS ROUNDED TO ONE EDGE, BASICALLY A QUARTER ROUND.

YOUR SPRING SHOULD HAVE 2 PART #16s. ONE AT EACH END. AS NOTED IN THE AIM THE PORTION OF THE RETAINER THAT FITS INTO THE HOLE IN THE ENDS OF THE SPRING SHOULD BE PEENED OVER TO FIX THE RETAINER IN THE HOLE.

HOPE THIS HELPS. PETE

[Randy S.]

Re: C2 spring cushion retainer part number help

Pete,

That helps alot as the 66 AIM only shows the 3831588 retainer on the bottom spring. Not shown on the trailing arm which was confusing me. My car has them in the trailing arm but not on the spring. I got it now. thanks

Randy

[Peter L.]

C2 TRAILING ARM spring cushion retainer

RANDY - GLAD IT HELPED. I HADN'T PAID ANY ATTENTION TO THE TRAILING ARMS BECAUSE I KNEW THEY ALL HAD THE RETAINERS INSTALLED IN THEM. BUT NOW THAT YOU POINT IT OUT THE '67 AIM IS NOT CLEAR ALTHOUGH THERE ARE TWO DASHED CIRCLES IN THE DRAWING (UPC4, B1) WHERE THE #16 RETAINER WOULD GO.

I DID FIND A 1963-65 CORVETTE SPINDLE ASSEMBLY - EXPLODED IN THE 1953-1972 CORVETTE PARTS BOOK THAT CALLS OUT THE (GROUP NUMBER 7.545 RETAINER 3831588) & POINTS TO THE LOWER INSIDE REAR OF THE SPINDLE ASSEMBLY AND WITH A GOOD IMAGINATION YOU CAN SEE A RETAINER THERE. I HAVE A SET OF NEWER NOS TRAILING ARMS AND THE RETAINERS WERE ALREADY INSTALLED IN THE WHEN I BOUGHT THEM SO I JUST FIGURED THAT THE RETAINERS WERE PART OF THE TRAILING ARM ASSEMBLY WHEN DELIVERED. ANYWAY, THE RETAINERS SHOULD BE IN THE TRAILING ARMS BUT I'M NOT SURE WHEN/WHERE THEY WERE INSTALLED. PETE