Leaf spring mount

[smokinjoe]

The front bracket for my leaf springs has a crack in it. Does anyone have a suggestion where to find a replacement? Are there parts fiches available online like there are for motorcycles or should I find it at a junkyard?

[RECox286]

The front anchor can be scrounged from a JY, or you might find it at ChevyPartsOnLine.com. Get one for both sides, more likely than not you will need it. Also, take a look at the anchor plate

that attaches the spring to the axle. If the front anchor is bad, the center anchor plate probably is ready for repair or replacement. Let us know what you find.

Bob

[Lumpy]

The "Front Bracket" -
Do you mean the hanger with the triangle side plates that the spring eye bolts in to?



If so, here they are at GMPartsEast for 74 bucks each -

http://www.gmpartseast.com/Page_Product ... &Year=2000


Courtesy Chevrolet for 82 bucks each -

https://www.partswebsite.com/gmnationpa ... type=parts



GMPartsDirect for 65 bucks each (URL may not resolve correctly) -

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/catalog/frameset.cfm



ShopGMParts for 72 bucks each -

http://www.shopgmparts.com/partlocator/ ... atalogid=0


NalleyGMC for 107 bucks ea -

http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssembly ... bly=434467


As I hunt for dealer parts, I find the prices all over the map. Every time I find a dealer online,
I save the URL and then when I'm hunting parts, I open several browser windows and search for
the part at each place.

At my local junkyard, I paid 150 for the pair of leaf springs, with front hangers, anchor plates, bolts,
the whole hardware package, except for rear shackles.


Lumpy

[smokinjoe]

So I saw a 98 at the yard but the mouning of the leaves was totally different. I cant even find the piece that is cracked on the sites listed. It looks like the cover that goes over where the front of the leaf mounts to the body.

They had the part that mounts the spring to the axle but those look fine on my van.

Any idea as to what I need or why the 98 looked like totally diff mounting?

[RECox286]

Ask Phantom. He is an encyclopedia of car facts. I only have Gen 1 experience as far as suspension goes. Sorry.

Don't know where he is tonight...

Bob

[Jasen]

The pics Lumpy posted are for 89 I've never looked at mine but they could be different for the GenII's

[Lumpy]

Actually the pics I posted are for GenIIs, not for my 89.

That part at least, if that's the one that's cracked, IS the same from the 95 changeover
till the death of Astrofaris. All steel springs mounded the same way on the front end.

JoeSmoker - Here's a drawing of the 98 Astro rear axle and leaf.
Is the broken part here -




Lump

[smokinjoe]

Right so I see that schematic but mind has a wierd looking front mount. I am thinking of just getting the springs off the 98 and replacing the whole thing. According to this video it should work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLdi64WOA6Q

I am believing that they are all interchangeable but cant get proof yet. Hopefully Phantom or Chevymaher will swoop in & tell me since I dont dig that cracked shackle cover (which doesnt appear in that diagram somehow)

OH YEAH,,, at about 2:49 of the video you can clearly see the part on mine that is cracked, its the steel that goes over the front of the leaf where it bolts to the mount (when it falls on the floor)

[icebrrg3rd]

Smokinjoe has a '95, isn't that the bast....umm, odd year that is a mixed breed of parts? Joe, are your springs steel (3 or 4 leaf) or a single leaf, meaning fiberglass and a special front mount?


Not the best angle, but does it look like this?

LeafClamSmall.jpg (126.29 KiB) Viewed 1735 times

If so, you have the fiberglass leaf springs.

-Andrew

[chevymaher]

I watched the video.That works on mine.90 and 94 same set up.(had a 90).A picture of what you got now would help.To see your odd clamp.I looked up the 98 set-up it seems to have the frame mounts Iceberg was mentioning.Front bolt hole spacing same?Axle tube diameter same?Rear mount swings so it only got to be in the ballpark lengthwise.If these answers yes I see it working.Pics please of what you got.EDIT I just looked at mine they the same as Andrews

[icebrrg3rd]

So Joe, is the cracked part on your van (a '95) or on the junkyard one (a '98)?

-Andrew

[Phantom]

The 95 had a late year 2nd design that has the rear steel springs

There were 2 option in that ,,
GM part #15732089 available HANGER RR SPR FRT,(M/L VANS HAVE STEEL REAR SPRINGS),(2ND DES)
this is the part that is also used in the Gen 2 vans

the other steel option for 95 is not available so no point in posting the part number that had been discontinued

It would seem that is would be fine to swap out the entire rear spring setup off a 98 and put it on your 95

If you have the steel springs on your 95 you can probably use this part for your van , I have not actually seen the part that has been discontinued

Do you have the fiberglass springs or the steel springs on your 95 , if you have the fiberglass you'll need to use the bracket for fiberglass
There are 2 part numbers for it as well

[smokinjoe]

OK so I have fiberglass springs with the exact mount in icebergs picture. The steel piece covering the mount is cracked. I would like to replace just that (I think) but am confused whether steel 2nd gen springs will bolt right up.

They must since the guy in the video did it with little problem.

[chevymaher]

They will fit then.I rewatched video the 99 springs fit my van to which is also a handy tip to know.

[Jasen]

Check out Lumpy's thread, you might find your answer there

http://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=12783

[RECox286]

The picture a few posts up is what I am familiar with, since I have several 93's with fiberglass springs. What you can do, if you are crafty, and the crack is not too big, and the plate is not completely rusted thru, is to

weld, or have it welded shut. I would suggest drilling some holes at the end of the crack. (called stop drilling, it relieves the stress and stops the crack from spreading. Too bad they haven't

perfected the technique to work on windscreens. Ha) Any how, get it welded and have them reinforce the work piece. Shouldn't cost an arm and a leg. Or, get newer out of JY. IMHO, no big deal.

Bob

[Lumpy]

OK. Roger that, you've got glass springs.

Do the steel springs "bolt right up" if you get the new hangers?

Well.....Not exactly. There's several parts you have to find, modify, fabricate.
As Jasen suggests, go have a look at the leaf spring thread at
viewtopic.php?f=40&t=12783

Here's a pic of your leaf and it's related parts -



Here they're available from GM. Not too expensive.
On this page you likely want items #16 and 17.
Note the labels at the Nalley GM site are NOT the same numbers as on the drawing above.
http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssembly ... bly=434509



Lumpy

[Phantom]

If you want to change to steel springs I found some Xtra Heavy Duty that can support
2,550 lbs and designed for Astro

http://www.autoandtrucksprings.com/prod ... 674-0.html

Description
2-1/2(W)X26(S.E.)X28(L.E.) 4/1 Lvs 4/.401 1/.590 2,550 Lbs Capacity. Front and Rear Bushings INCLUDED, Uses 9/16" Bolt Front and Rear.


http://www.autoandtrucksprings.com/inde ... iew=Thumb1

[JohnnyC16117]

Does anyone know if these after market kits include the " clamshell hanger assembly " or if the front hanger assembly for the composite mono spring itself is sold after-market? I have tried to locate one to replace the broken hanger for the front of the spring on my 1994 with no luck. No yards had any that were not shot and the part is a GM discontinued part. I really do not want to go through the whole swap process to steel springs to fix a single hanger. I checked out the site that lumpy posted but cant find the parts on there. On the diagram he posted I as well need parts 16 - 17 plus 18 , but on the site they are labeled different I'm lost, lol. My van is in the collision shop and we need to replace this " front of rear composite mono spring hanger assembly " before he can go any further with the work, but finding the parts is proving to be a job of its own

[Lumpy]

I have nothing overly encouraging to offer re replacement front clamshells for glass springs. Repair the old ones or find used replacements at a junk yard seems the only options at all.

$100-200 will get you a new set of steel leaves and their front hangers. Then you'll need to find, fabricate, modify the axle mounting hardware to deal with the steel leaves. That's perhaps another hundred bucks.

IF you can find some AstroFaris at a U-pullit, the front clams aren't difficult to remove.

I would highly recommend NOT replacing just one hanger. Replace/repair both. Expect the rubber bushings at the spring ends to be buggered up. The clam was a poor design, I think. It held water, dirt, grit in the cup of the bottom clam shell. That's just asking for trouble as it wears, rusts etc.

Best route would be to replace it all with steel leaves. But you have to drop a couple Franklins to do that. The simpler option, however, may simply NOT be an option if you can't find or fabricate the parts.

Part of the fun of driving a 20 year old, discontinued van.


Lumpy

You were the "OPERATION" game voice?
Yes. Take out wrenched ankle.

www.LumpyMusic.com