Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

[Roger D.]

Body is off the car now and working on front and rear suspension removal.

I searched the archives here but have not found anything on leaf spring removal from a chassis with no body, engine, or transmission on it. I've seen the posts regarding using a floor jack to jack up the leaf spring at each end. But how is this done with no weight on the chassis?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Regards,
Roger

[Michael W.]

Re: Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

Try putting ratcheted tie down straps between the spring ends and frame.

[Steve L.]

Re: Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

I put a hydraulic jack on top of the rear x-member with ratchet straps between the jack and the spring. A c-clamp at the spring to make sure the straps wouldn't slip but I found that it wasn't a problem. Wrap the strap around the spring once or twice. The ratchet is used to tighten the straps. Then the jack is pumped to pull up the spring. As I recall, the ratchest alone wasn't enough leverage to pull up the spring. When setting this up, make sure that the jack isn't at the bottom of it's stroke because once you remove the spring bolt the spring will move furthar down .

When the bolt is removed, let the jack down all the way, the rest of the force can be removed with the ratchet. You may have to reset the straps and jack once or twice to have it work together. This doesn't take long. Each side is done seperately

Install the spring by the same method.

[William L.]

Re: Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

Rodger I wrote an article with pictures for our local St Louis chapter on this. It's safe and extremely easy. Its called relieving tension, its on page 3 of our newsletter.
This should get you there. http://stlouisncrs.org/news_files/St...r_Oct_2011.pdf Try it. I think you'll like it. Everybody I have shown this procedure to and has tried it says I never knew it could be that easy.
Bill

[Patrick B.]

Re: Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

I did the same thing as Steve except I put a floor jack on some 2X6 wood spacers on the crossmember instead of a bottle jack. I used plastic coated steel cable to go around the jack and the spring so as not to scratch a restored spring. Easy to do, very stable and safe.

[Steve L.]

Re: Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

Rodger I wrote an article with pictures for our local St Louis chapter on this. It's safe and extremely easy. Its called relieving tension, its on page 3 of our newsletter.
This should get you there. http://stlouisncrs.org/news_files/St...r_Oct_2011.pdf Try it. I think you'll like it. Everybody I have shown this procedure to and has tried it says I never knew it could be that easy.
Bill

This article shows a body on. We are however, discussing a body off the frame. Have you tried this lever method with no body or engine. Off hand, I don't think it will work since all you will do is lift the entire frame with the lever without compressing the spring. The floor jack on top of the x-member, with a ratchet strap provides force between the frame and the spring. The ground is not involved. You could do this on the international space station. The lever method still applies force between the ground(you) and the spring. Hence the entire corner of the spring will be raised.

Patrick, I did use a floor jack, not a bottle jack.

[William L.]

Re: Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

This article shows a body on. We are however, discussing a body off the frame. Have you tried this lever method with no body or engine. Off hand, I don't think it will work since all you will do is lift the entire frame with the lever without compressing the spring. The floor jack on top of the x-member, with a ratchet strap provides force between the frame and the spring. The ground is not involved. You could do this on the international space station. The lever method still applies force between the ground(you) and the spring. Hence the entire corner of the spring will be raised.

Patrick, I did use a floor jack, not a bottle jack.

Steve
The beauty of this method is it makes no difference if the body, eng or anything else is on the frame. You are using the principal of a lever. Believe me if you put the lever over the top of of the strut arm and under the spring you will lift just the spring and nothing else. Once you try it you will see how easy it is. I have used this method 100's of times without an incident.
Bill

[Roger D.]

Re: Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

Thanks for the tips folks. If I can find a pry bar like Bill is suggesting, I'll give that a try (Thanks Bill).

For the jack on top of x-member method, does anyone happen to have a pic of that procedure. I can somewhat picture it. It sounds like I have all of the tools necessary for that procedure. I may just have to start trying it before I can see how it might work.

Regards,
Roger

[William L.]

Re: Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

Thanks for the tips folks. If I can find a pry bar like Bill is suggesting, I'll give that a try (Thanks Bill).

Regards,
Roger

You can buy a pry bar like I use at Lowes or any of the big box stores for $20 or less.

[Jeff P.]

Re: Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

I changed the rear spring in my '66 using the "Bill Lacy" technique. It was a snap. I had changed rear springs using other methods and was dreading doing my Stingray. I tried Lacy's method and was surprised at how fast and easy it was. Knowing what I do now I'd rather change a rear spring than my spark plugs. (Takes less time!) Thanks Bill.

[Steve L.]

Re: Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

I have a couple of pictures of the x-member, jack method. I will dig them out, but I'm on the road currently. But I would try Bill's method first since it is a lot simpler, but it requires two people.
A note of caution, no matter what method is used, when doing the nut up with the washers, I would not linger too long, since if the spring lets go, your hand is going to take a beating.

[Roger D.]

Re: Leaf Spring Removal from Bare Frame

Thought I would post the solution used just in case someone else might want to use it.

The chassis is currently sitting underneath a four post lift and is on jackstands to facilitate suspension parts removal. As it turns out, a four post lift can also hold something down as well as hold it up! We placed a 2x4 across the frame rail kickups very nearly directly above the leaf spring. Then we lowered the lift so that it's tracks that you drive the car on were sitting right on top of the 2x4. With that "artificial" weight on the back of the chassis, we then used the C-clamp/Floor jack combo the relieve the leaf spring tension.

The rest of the story....the end nuts wouldn't come off and so using a "Cheater" bar, the bolts were twisted in two on both ends. Then when the leaf spring was removed, we found that the very bottom leaf spring was broken in two right down the center. :^(

Regards,
Roger