JohnS48plm Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 I ordered new rear springs and shackle bushings last week on thursday from ESPO springs. Much to my surprise they were on the front steps when I came home from work on monday. That's good service. My last day of work is friday then 6 weeks vacation and retirement. The springs will be a good spring project, pardon the pun. Quote
JohnS48plm Posted January 9, 2007 Author Report Posted January 9, 2007 The springs were $290, 8 bushings were $8, and I think $39 shipping. I had good luck with the ESPO spring I put on my 48 convertible years ago. Quote
Normspeed Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 I'd like to replace my rear bushings one of these days. Any tips appreciated. Quote
RobertKB Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Norm, if you're talking the rubber bushings on the rear shackles, they are different for the '53 than the '46-'48. I just replaced them on my '48 D25 and had a look at those on my '53 and they are different and the parts book agrees. Easy job though. Just make sure you have one jack (or stand) supporting the frame and one under the spring so you can adjust the height of the spring to make the shackle and bushing fit. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Of interest here is that you inspect the shackle closely..the bolt section gets pretty much abused by both the elements and if the bushings were shot for a long period of time, it also get pretty much worn out of round. You can maybe find new shackles or either rework you existing with new bolts..getting a stepped bolt to maintain the proper gap may be a bit difficult but necessay. Quote
RobertKB Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Good point, Tim. The tops of my shackles and the rubber bushings were really in nice shape. The bottoms that fit in the spring were metal on metal and had a slight bit of corrosion and the bushings were worn through. Gave the bottom part of the shackles a good clean with a wire wheel and filed down the rough spots and everything was pretty good as they weren't really bad to start with. If the shackles had been badly abused I would have looked for new ones. As it was, I just reversed the shackles and put the bottom at the top and vice versa with brand new bushings all around. Worked out well and everything seems pretty good after a couple of hundred miles of driving. Also threw on a quick coat of spray paint on the outside of the shackes. I like to clean things up when they are worked on. Quote
Normspeed Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Do you press in the new bushings with a clamp or vise, or ?? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Pressing of the bush is now making me think you are at the front silent block of the spring and not at the shackle. Shackle bushing go in with your fingers and at best a mild soapy solution to lube them up. Removable of the silent block is a pain at best..insertion is a breeze in comparison. I had to first drive out my metal core liners...cut the rubber, then compress the shell to the inner opening by driving a punch between the spring and the shell... I inserted the new ones with a bit of lube..large socket and the 6 inch vise..just pushed into aligment withthe greatest of ease..I have done three sets of the silent blocks..in reality though none were to the point they needed changing..just did in in the rebuild. Quote
Normspeed Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Does this setup look like it would suffice for left and right sides? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 requires four bushing per shackle for complete renew... Quote
RobertKB Posted January 10, 2007 Report Posted January 10, 2007 Tim is right. Eight bushing in total. They are very easy to install. I only replaced the bushings and the ones in the pics look OK. My shackles were reusable as mentioned in a previous post. Quote
Don Coatney Posted April 9, 2007 Report Posted April 9, 2007 I ordered new rear springs and shackle bushings last week on thursday from ESPO springs. Much to my surprise they were on the front steps when I came home from work on monday. That's good service. My last day of work is friday then 6 weeks vacation and retirement. The springs will be a good spring project, pardon the pun. John; Have you installed your new springs? If so how did they work? I am ready to buy but divided between JC Whitney ($120 each plus freight and bushings) and ESPO $290/pair plus freight and bushings. Hopefully you can give me testimony on how the ESPO install went and hopefully someone who has used the JC Whitney springs can do the same. Quote
james curl Posted April 9, 2007 Report Posted April 9, 2007 Don have you tried Posies hot rod and customs? He might have the springs with the button sliders for a better ride for the P-15. His web site has his catalogue under construction so you would have to call him to see what he has available. Quote
JohnS48plm Posted April 10, 2007 Author Report Posted April 10, 2007 Don, I installed my springs a couple of weeks ago. The rear of the car still sits a little high but that should settle with use, the same thing happened to my convertible when I changed it's springs and it settled after I drove it some. I have only driven the coupe a few miles since I changed springs due to the snow we have had. It corners a lot better and rides better without the airshocks. The springs took about 4 hours to install but a lot of that time was looking for tools, lunch break and phone calls. Air tools were a big help as was a good size floor jack and jack stands. I just followed the shop manual and used the jack stands under the frame ahead of the front spring mounts. Then used the jack to take the pressure off of the springs. The spring came with the front bushing installed. My shackles were good so I just installed new bushings. ESPO had new shackles if I needed them. Good luck John Quote
Don Coatney Posted April 10, 2007 Report Posted April 10, 2007 Thanks John; Were there bushings installed in both ends of the springs? I made new shackles and plan on using them. Quote
JohnS48plm Posted April 11, 2007 Author Report Posted April 11, 2007 There are rubber bushings on the shackles in the rear, 4 on each side. There is a steel bushing pressed into the front eye on the spring. John Quote
JohnS48plm Posted April 11, 2007 Author Report Posted April 11, 2007 The steel bushing is mounted in rubber. John Quote
Don Coatney Posted April 11, 2007 Report Posted April 11, 2007 The steel bushing is mounted in rubber. John John; Thanks for all the information. I just placed an order with ESPO. Seven to ten day delivery so I will re-spring this spring. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted April 11, 2007 Report Posted April 11, 2007 Don..you be coming to my house with them???? Weather is being very kind right now....can burn a bit of meat on the grille... Quote
JohnS48plm Posted April 12, 2007 Author Report Posted April 12, 2007 Don, here is how the back of the car looks after changing the springs. Had to use the snow blower next to the coupe as we had 3 inches of snow today. John Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.