'64 Rear end ride height

[James W.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

I ordered a single main leaf for a std. 9-leaf rear spring from Eaton Spring yesterday morning for my '65 coupe. The cost was $200.00! The whole spring assembly from them is $289.00. At this time, they are about 3 weeks out from having the spring ready to ship. I'm wondering if I should have just ordered the entire rear spring assembly, but I'm concerned about getting the proper ride height.


Ed,

Do you remember who you spoke to when you ordered your spring from Eaton? I'm hoping maybe I can get a contact there and maybe talk them down on the price.


Thanks,

James

If you do not mind sharing, what is the cost of the single (main) leaf from Eaton. Also does the replacement leaf have the "sled runner" ends as the original or are they flat? Thanks for your post about rebuilding your spring as it is a job that I have considered attempting as one side of my 66 sits about one half inch lower than the other - no one has ever mentioned it but knowing it is there eats at my mind.

[Gary B.]

[Ed S.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

Sorry but.... I do not recall the name of the person I spoke to.... and it has been a while so prices have probably changed - including shipping which has gone way up in the last 5 - 6 months or so. If the leafs 2 through 9 of your original spring are good - not rusted / pitted - and you are concerned about originality I would say that you did the right thing - just buying the main leaf. i do not have first hand experience in this but I have read on this forum (in other threads) that the "turn up" on the ends of the secondary leafs, even on Eaton replacement springs, are not identical to originals. You will take a point loss on them. For me, cost wasn't the issue - my original secondary leafs were good. If your secondaries are suspect then yes, go for the complete set - I would not be concerned about ride height - Eaton claims the tension on their repro springs is identical to the originals. I hope this helps.

[Mark M.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

Gary, would a retainer cup out of a 66 trailing arm help you ? When I disassembled a pair of original 66 trailing arms I bought, I noticed the thinner cups. I found them today in a can full of retainers saved over the years. I believe the 66 retainer # was 3831588. If you want one I'll send it.

[James W.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

To continue this story, I have a completely restore C2 9-leaf spring in the basement that I bought off of Ebay several years ago. All the leaves including the main leaf are perfect, EXCEPT that in is it's past life Bubba must not have had the correct sized center spring bolt and hogged out the holes, most if not all of them. This was going to be my back up plan when I found that my original main leaf spring was degraded, that is until I disassemble the spring last Thursday and found the holes were enlarged. If I thought I could install some kind of bushing in the hogged out main leaf I would, but I don't know how comfortable I'd be know that it was assemble with the bushing.

James

[Gary B.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

Gary, would a retainer cup out of a 66 trailing arm help you ? When I disassembled a pair of original 66 trailing arms I bought, I noticed the thinner cups. I found them today in a can full of retainers saved over the years. I believe the 66 retainer # was 3831588. If you want one I'll send it.

[Ed S.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

The only thing the center bold does is keep all the leafs together and close to being perfectly centered. It is essential but I don't think you will even find a torque value in the AIM or any other tech reference for that center bolt. There is no stress on the bold and it does not perform a function related to the performance of the suspension. You could put a washer on the bolt and then the nut and I don't think it would make any difference - except the washer may interfere with the seating of the bottom leaf against the rectangular plate. You wan to be certain the rectangular plate sits flat against the leaf.

[George J.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

Fwiw, I recently replaced the spring on my '65 with one from America's Finest. I am very happy with both the ride and height.

[Gary B.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

George,

Which spring from AFC? Their 7-leaf? Or their 9-leaf.

Gary

[George J.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

George,

Which spring from AFC? Their 7-leaf? Or their 9-leaf.

Gary

Gary,
the 7 leaf for an F40 car.

George

[James W.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

I wonder if they source their springs from Eaton?

[Gary B.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

James,

As far as I know, AFC has their spring made just for them, with the proper taper rolled ends for leaves 2-7 in the case of the HD spring. AFC also makes a 9-leaf spring, but I’ve never seen a photo of their 9-leaf spring, and I’ve heard the price is $450 + shipping. Here’s a previous thread about their springs:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...st+leaf+spring

Gary

[James W.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

Has anyone used the 9-leaf spring liner kit from Quanta? I see they are pre-cut and not in a role like other vendors sell.

Thanks,

James

[Timothy B.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

If that was mine I would get a center bolt the size of the hole then turn down the head to the factory size to fit into the rear housing.

I don't think that small diameter increase in size will hurt anything.

[Gary B.]

Re: '64 Rear end ride height

If that was mine I would get a center bolt the size of the hole then turn down the head to the factory size to fit into the rear housing.

I don't think that small diameter increase in size will hurt anything.

One might also be able to turn down the end of the threaded end and make new threads the correct diameter. Just for the part that sticks out past the nut.

Gary