Re: IML: Rear leaf springs - To Arch, or not to Arch...that is the question.

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

The reason that I replaced the rear springs in my '55 is that one of them had a broken leaf. At some time in the cars past, the previous owner had taken it to a shop to be repaired. The "repair" was to re-arch the side with the broken leaf which made the car sit level.

The problem was that even though it sat level, the geometry was totally off. The car did not handle correctly. Handling is something that I am very picky about. It took me quite a while to figure out what had been done to that car. In most cases, a broken leaf would have been obvious. Since the spring had been "adjusted" to compensate for it, the problem was harder to find. Clearly the owner had requested the cheapest repair possible.

What ever is done to the rear springs, they need to both be exactly the same. At this point, for a car that has been on the road for 40+ years, new springs is probably going to be the way to go. Just IMHO.

Paul W.

In an email dated 10/7/2005 4:46:18 pm GMT Daylight time, "Wm. R. Ulman" <twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

>I have had the rear springs re-arched on all three of my Imperials by
>Craig's Auto Springs here in Seattle. ?Cost was less then $400.00 for each
>car and that was over a 10 year period. ?Craig is an "Old school" type of
>guy who has a shop in Ballard, very old bldg. ?No credit cards cash or check
>only. ?When I went to pay him and handed over my debit card, he said he had
>"issues" with the CC companies, so stopped taking those years ago. ?He then
>let me take my car and go home to get my checkbook, or the ATM, I can't
>quite remember. ?He never had my address, only name and phone, but was the
>type of guy who took you at your word, and knew you would be honest. ?Too
>bad these types of guys are dying off like the dinosaurs. ?He is a mechanic,
>not a parts replacer. ?A dying breed to be sure.
>
>
>
>Each time he re-arched my existing springs, added a new leaf, and all in one
>day.
>
>
>
>'63 Custom 4dr SH sat rather high for about a couple of months, and then
>settled as he said it would. ?The work made a tremendous difference.
>
>
>
>'60 Crown Vert. ?Same story, only this time I put weight in back to make the
>car not look quite as jacked up.
>
>
>
>'66 Crown Convertible Coupe was done in '03, again. I had a couple rims,
>brake drums, and a steering column in the trunk to keep it down. ?After a
>couple of months removed the extra weight, and the cars sits perfectly.
>Still al little high, but it has since settled.
>
>
>
>Craig said if I was not happy with it at any time in the future, he would
>redo the entire process, no charge. ?I could not be happier. ?My '66 sits
>like a new car and drives like one too.
>
>
>
>On your car you should check the front end to be sure it is sitting properly
>as well. ?With the Torsion-Aire ride, you would want to be sure that with
>the newly re-done rear springs that your front end is also sitting at the
>correct height and adjust if necessary. ?If you do adjust the front height,
>you may want a new alignment to throw in. ?My front end on each car was
>perfect, and the car sat so completely different, I had to re-adjust the 6
>way power seats to accommodate for the height adjustment in the rear. ?You
>sit completely different, and have to get used to the view over the
>gargantuan hood.
>
>
>
>You will notice dramatic road manner improvement, and handling on corners,
>over bumps, etc...
>
>
>
>Good luck!
>
>
>
>Wm. R. Ulman
>
>Seattle, WA
>
>'66 Crown Convertible Coupe - Doris Day - WA State vanity plates: FIT4AQN
>
>'95 Buick Roadmaster (Corvette LT-1 350 cid)- Rock Hudson - WA State vanity
>plates: FIT4KNG
>
>twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of imperialman
>Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 7:48 AM
>To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: IML: New, Rear Leaf Springs
>
>
>
>I agree..
>
>The leafs were re-arced on my 67 three yeaars ago and are still holding up
>
>great (pun intended.)
>
> ? ? Clay Smith
>
> 60 Custom
>
> 67 Crown Coupe
>
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: "Brad Hogg" <luxoliner@xxxxxxx>
>
>To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 9:33 AM
>
>Subject: Re: IML: New, Rear Leaf Springs
>
>
>
>
>
>> I'd have to say, not if it is done correctly. ?To re-arc a spring, the
>
>> spring must be bent well past the correct position and then bent back
>
>> again
>
>> to the proper arc. ?It's hard to explain but it can be very effective if
>
>> done properly. ?YMMV
>
>>
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>
>> From: <FltSgt@xxxxxxx>
>
>> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>> Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 7:58 AM
>
>> Subject: IML: New, Rear Leaf Springs
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> Jim
>
>>
>
>> To re-arc an old spring is the same as a heavy guy who straightens up his
>
>> belt. ?After a short walk, everything is back to where it was.
>
>>
>
>> Get a set of new Spgs please.
>
>>
>
>> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Rodger & Gabby
>
>> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Colo Spgs
>
>>
>
>> '47 De Soto Custom w/Fluid Drive & passenger door mounted swamp cooler
>
>> '62 Crown Coupe w/std A/C & Auto-Pilot
>
>> '66 Le Baron w/dual A/C & reverbed AM/FM
>
>> '70 Overlander - InterNational Dbl
>
>> '77 D150 w/360, NP 4 Spd, 12 Bolt Axle, OEM Buckets & etc
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
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