63 Rear Leaf Spring Cushion Retainer

[Joseph S.]

On disassembly my late '63 had the Spring Cushion Retainers 'crimped' into the leaf spring and swing arm bolt holes. I would like to duplicate the crimps on assembly. I have obtained a set of retainers from Long Island Corvette that fit the spring and swing arm with minimal clearance. The first set I purchased had an outside diameter at least 1/8" smaller than the diameter of the outside spring bolt hole.
Is there a tool or a process to properly crimp these cushion retainers to the leaf spring and swing arm??

Thanks Joe

[Larry M.]

Re: 63 Rear Leaf Spring Cushion Retainer

Contact Gary Beaupre..........NCRS member. Has his own website. He has a tool for this that he loans out. Can also be done with a ball pein hammer and some time.

Larry

[Jim D.]

Re: 63 Rear Leaf Spring Cushion Retainer

As Larry said above, a ball peen hammer and a press will do the job perfectly in only a few seconds.

[Joseph S.]

Re: 63 Rear Leaf Spring Cushion Retainer

Thanks for the info- since the spring and swing arm are still in the car I think I'll try Gary first.
Appreciate the help
Joe

[Richard G.]

Re: 63 Rear Leaf Spring Cushion Retainer

I had the same issues (with the installation tool) not a hammer.
I had several failed attempts. I solved the issue by using a different manufacture.
They seem to vary wildly in the size of the center hole and how much of the metal is upset in the center.
Almost .1 difference in diameter between manufactures.
Below is a picture of my failed crimp with the size at .922"
IMG_0868.jpg

I can't remember where this part came from as my notes were not that good but I can tell you it solved the issue I was having with the crimp.

Retainer 1.015.jpg

Note the two different finishes on the supplied parts;

Spring Cup finish.jpg

first crimp

1963 spring washer install 1st state.jpg

finished product

1963 spring washer install finished product.jpg

Why the vendors continue to sell crap parts is beyond me.

[Larry M.]

Re: 63 Rear Leaf Spring Cushion Retainer

Richard:

You need to know your source of supply. Not all are created equal.

Gary Beaupre sells the retainer cups as well as loaning the tool to install. He purchased some of his stock from DR REBUILD years ago. Same for myself. No issues installing these.

Thanks for the photos and documentation. Hopefully they will help the OP get the job done right.

Larry

[Gary B.]

Re: 63 Rear Leaf Spring Cushion Retainer













Gary

[Joseph S.]

Re: 63 Rear Leaf Spring Cushion Retainer

Thanks to everyone for the input - should be able to get this right- Joe

[Richard G.]

Re: 63 Rear Leaf Spring Cushion Retainer

Gary;
Just so you know my spring is original to the 1963. Thanks for the great follow-up with specifications.
Rick