C1 Rear Leaf Spring Repair Procedure

[Richard M.]

Using my hydraulic press I was able to repair these original grooved rear leaf springs. The main leaf and second leaf on each set were bent, probably from excessive "hole shots" in the past.

It took some time but with the help of a good document given to me I had more confidence in the repair process. The doc suggests using a big heavy hammer to get them back in shape. I used the press. When I pressed, I let them sit in the pressed condition for a few minutes at each bend to help get the metal comfortable in the "overpressed" condition, so when it relaxed it kept it's form.

I anticipate they will be alright. Time will tell.

Rich

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[Richard M.]

Re: C1 Rear Leaf Spring Repair Procedure

more pics

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[Richard M.]

Re: C1 Rear Leaf Spring Repair Procedure

Doc for reference enclosed below. I feel the specs are off though. My finished length is 49 1/2" end eye center to center, with a 5 1/2" height under the main leaf, to the center of the ends, 6" sitting on a table measured underneath.

Rich

[Terry D.]

Re: C1 Rear Leaf Spring Repair Procedure

I think once on the car you will find that the springs have lost some of their tension and car will sit lower than it should. I could be wrong but it seems to me when you send springs to Eaton to have them redone part of the process is a rehardening, I'm going to check the archives as I seem to remember an article on this. Hope I'm wrong cause I have seen a lot of C1 springs bent the wrong way due to dropping the clutch too hard.

[Joe R.]

Re: C1 Rear Leaf Spring Repair Procedure

Hi Rich,

Scroll down to page 2 of this newsletter for an article on this very topic:

http://stlouisncrs.org/news_files/St_LouisNCRS_ChapterNewsletter2ndQuarter2012.pdf

Joe

[John H.]

Re: C1 Rear Leaf Spring Repair Procedure

I could be wrong but it seems to me when you send springs to Eaton to have them redone part of the process is a rehardening, I'm going to check the archives as I seem to remember an article on this. Hope I'm wrong cause I have seen a lot of C1 springs bent the wrong way due to dropping the clutch too hard.

Terry -

Link below will take you to an article I wrote on Eaton-Detroit's spring manufacturing process; their re-arching process is the same.

http://www.lbfun.com/warehouse/tech_info/suspension%20&%20steering/Eaton_Spring.pdf

[Paul J.]

Re: C1 Rear Leaf Spring Repair Procedure

I thought that you had to re-anneal/harden the spring once it's bent because the bending/cold working changes the structure in that spot.

[Leif A.]

Re: C1 Rear Leaf Spring Repair Procedure

Richard,

Obviously, a lot of hard work went into the reconditioning of your springs...they look fantastic!! I sincerely hope they stand the test of time and don't need to be re-hardened. Please keep us posted after you've had them back on the street for a while and let us know how they're standing up.

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 Rear Leaf Spring Repair Procedure

I thought that you had to re-anneal/harden the spring once it's bent because the bending/cold working changes the structure in that spot.

I thought that too Paul, and was reluctant to try the method I was told about, but after reading Larry McCarty's process I wanted to try it. It made sense to me. Many times I've re-bent smaller springs cold and was fine afterwards, like small hardened coil springs, and some flat springs as well. If it doesn't work, I suppose I'll have to revert to the other method. It's not hard to take these apart and reassemble. We shall see.

Many years ago when I was a teenager, I got my '69 Mustang rear leaf springs re-tempered at a Truck Spring shop. I went to pick up the car after dropping it off and getting the whole job done there, and it was raked about 4" more in the back. I kinda' liked it as a kid being my first car. It hardly ever got much lower. I'm worried about these original Corvette springs being done wrong and too high, or get damaged.

Richard,

Obviously, a lot of hard work went into the reconditioning of your springs...they look fantastic!! I sincerely hope they stand the test of time and don't need to be re-hardened. Please keep us posted after you've had them back on the street for a while and let us know how they're standing up.

I'll give out the news, good or bad when I get them on the car after getting those ugly stiff non-originals off. It'll be a while until I do and get the engine installed and complete the restoration.

Rich

[Ian G.]

Re: C1 Rear Leaf Spring Repair Procedure

I thought I'd post this. Below are the things Mike from Detroit Spring says to look out for in Springs that cannot survive their annealing process (rephrased a bit):

*looking at the springs before they are taken apart: If the leaves are close together at the center bolt area, but the ends of the leaves are no longer touching the leaf above it, walk away.
*Once apart, if there is heavy, flakey rust near the center bolt area, walk away.
*If the top of the main plate where the spring attaches to the axle is indented, walk away.
*The same for the bottom of the bottom leaf.
*if the end of the leaves ate into the leaf above it, walk away.
*And of course if any leaf is broke...walk away.