I've been PM'ing with WoodButcher about his spring pack that he assembled from various leaves
from more than one vehicle. Rather than keep the discussion in the dark,
here's a thread where all can contribute and benefit.
The concept -
Use various leaves out of various springs to built the height and load carrying spring that you want for your van.
My 89 has glass springs. They don't look frayed or broken at all but I want LIFT. So I'm
replacing them with steel leaves.
Here's the two springs I'm working with (I bought a complete pair of each, only showing one of each in these pics).
The shorter spring is from a 99 Astro.
The taller spring is from a 2001 S-10 pickup, 2WD, 4.3 V6.
It is exactly the same dimensions as Astro/Safari steel springs - 26x28 - 2.5" wide.
About 3 3/4 inch difference in the height of the springs at rest... :banana-parachute:
OK. Here's a question for the spring rebuilder experts.
In the photo below, the clamp thingies in YELLOW, those appear to be rivited on.
I had to bend the fingers away with a BFH to get the captive spring out.
Also, the nylon/plastic insulator thingies in RED. Those appear to be mounted with a
"one time only" push on connector. I had to destroy those to disassemble the sandwich.
The question, do you reuse those same clamp thingies (the YELLOW circles)? Or do you
use some kind of alternative that is bolt on?
AND
Surely you buy new nylon insulators (the RED circles). I've seen several types listed in catalogs.
Do you replace with the exact same style or is there a better, stronger, groovier style and do they
push into place with that same kind of "ladder lock - one time only" connection?
Here's the disassembled S10 leaves, wire brushed and primered with rust converter.
The +1 spring on this S10 pack is a real monster!... :character-cookiemonster:
Domestic animals always seem to enjoy hanging around while I'm working on any project....:animals-dogrun:
Circled behind the palm tree, Harley the horse.
Lump
from more than one vehicle. Rather than keep the discussion in the dark,
here's a thread where all can contribute and benefit.
The concept -
Use various leaves out of various springs to built the height and load carrying spring that you want for your van.
My 89 has glass springs. They don't look frayed or broken at all but I want LIFT. So I'm
replacing them with steel leaves.
Here's the two springs I'm working with (I bought a complete pair of each, only showing one of each in these pics).
The shorter spring is from a 99 Astro.
The taller spring is from a 2001 S-10 pickup, 2WD, 4.3 V6.
It is exactly the same dimensions as Astro/Safari steel springs - 26x28 - 2.5" wide.
About 3 3/4 inch difference in the height of the springs at rest... :banana-parachute:
OK. Here's a question for the spring rebuilder experts.
In the photo below, the clamp thingies in YELLOW, those appear to be rivited on.
I had to bend the fingers away with a BFH to get the captive spring out.
Also, the nylon/plastic insulator thingies in RED. Those appear to be mounted with a
"one time only" push on connector. I had to destroy those to disassemble the sandwich.
The question, do you reuse those same clamp thingies (the YELLOW circles)? Or do you
use some kind of alternative that is bolt on?
AND
Surely you buy new nylon insulators (the RED circles). I've seen several types listed in catalogs.
Do you replace with the exact same style or is there a better, stronger, groovier style and do they
push into place with that same kind of "ladder lock - one time only" connection?
Here's the disassembled S10 leaves, wire brushed and primered with rust converter.
The +1 spring on this S10 pack is a real monster!... :character-cookiemonster:
Domestic animals always seem to enjoy hanging around while I'm working on any project....:animals-dogrun:
Circled behind the palm tree, Harley the horse.
Lump