1953 to 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 Axle Rebound Straps - Shrinkage?

[Richard M.]

I found this old 53-58 set I bought probably 25 years ago at a swap meet. When I measured them years later they were 26 3/4", under the spec. Now they're 26 3/8". As long as they didn't change my ruler inch units, how did they get shorter? Do these things shrink in storage?

Should I try soaking them in warm water to stretch them? I have a broken one on my 59(ready to ship out but now this!) but I don't think these will fit anyway, even if they were the correct 27.24" long. 1959 needs 28.36" or the longer 29.50" 53-62 service replacement.

I have a repro set due in today.

Rich

[Mike M.]

Re: 1953 to 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 Axle Rebound Straps - Shrinkage?

I'd use the 26 3/8 as they will only reduce the drop of the axle housing about an inch. and repeated drops may stretch them a bit. mike

[Richard M.]

Re: 1953 to 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 Axle Rebound Straps - Shrinkage?

Thanks Mike, I hadn't thought of that and I like that idea. But I may have to drop the axle ubolts to get the axle up high enough. I have a post floor Jack ill try to get it up enough.

Rich

[Jim L.]

Re: 1953 to 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 Axle Rebound Straps - Shrinkage?

Thanks Mike, I hadn't thought of that and I like that idea. But I may have to drop the axle ubolts to get the axle up high enough. I have a post floor Jack ill try to get it up enough.

Rich

Rich, try jacking just one end of the axle at a time. Do that and you'll be working against the force of just one spring and taking advantage of some suspension compliance as the axle rotates slightly.
Jim

[Richard M.]

Re: 1953 to 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 Axle Rebound Straps - Shrinkage?

Jim, Yes I was planning that and tried a quick test last night. (I had to sneak down to the shop without Cathie seeing me cuz I'm not supposed to do any heavy lifting or head bumping under my 2-post lift or anything after my eye surgery Weds.... I'm being careful and put my hard hat on.... lol)

Anyways, my floor post jack is pooched. I went to jack up one side while on the lift and it's broken. I'll need to figure out why. It has fluid but can't handle any load. Darnit I hate it when the tools break at critical times.

So I took a few more pics of my strap collection.(see bottom pics) The '59 repros just arrived and did some comps. The old ones were probably original GM OTC straps somebody put one over 35 years ago.... they're apx 29. 1/2".

So I don't think I'll be able to use the 53-58 very short version. In fact the '59 version may be a trick to install as well.
My rear springs have a added 5th leaf bar under the stack and raises the rear end a tad. Been like that for the 35 years I've owned it. The leaf spring assemblies are fine with no kinks at the front or any sagging. Somebody had these apart years ago as the old "Signode" clamps are gone and metal rebuilder types are on them.

Geesh this photo makes it look awful. It's not that bad in person.(or maybe my new eye lens is working really good now and didn't notice it before)

btw this is the strap that broke after being on the lift with another car under it.
0104211728c_resized.jpg

More later,
Rich
PS This car is sold and just waiting for the container to go on a boat and all this happens now. Murphy is here.

[Bill M.]

Re: 1953 to 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 Axle Rebound Straps - Shrinkage?

I bought a set of straps from the dealer (in the 70s) for my '59. They are part no. 3774449 and measure 28-1/4 in length.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1953 to 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 Axle Rebound Straps - Shrinkage?

Bill, Interesting. The 4449 spec was 29.9". Yours must have shrunk over time too. About the same amount as my old repro 53-58 set.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1953 to 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 Axle Rebound Straps - Shrinkage?

Update: All Done. I had to use the repro '59 straps. Those shortened 53-58 straps were too tight in there.

Yikes those '59 straps aren't cheap anymore. List $72 for the straps and rivet/plate kit.

Sunday I had to fix my portable post jack first so I could replace the straps. Luckily I had a square profile seal that had the right OD and used a punch to make the ID hole fit the piston. Works better than ever now.

Here is a test shot of jacking the axle outermost area, just as it started to lift the frame off of the 2 post lift arm.
0328211151_resized.jpg

0328211151b_resized.jpg

Temporary screw to hold one side of the strap. But no way to get the other end of the 53-58 strap installed.

53-58 straps
0328211152_Burst01_resized.jpg0328211153a_resized.jpg

No way to get the other end of the 59 strap installed either. Yes if I put a few hundred pounds in the trunk it may have helped but I didn't want to do that.
0328211156_resized.jpg0328211156a_resized.jpg

So I decided to unbolt the axle U-bolts and shocks, one side at a time and replace each strap in sequence..... just like I've done before. See attached. Then I was able to raise the axle enough to install the strap individually at each side. This worked fine.

Reinstalled the U-bolts and lower shock hardware after each side was done and job is finished.

The old straps were held in with screws. The new straps are too.

Rich