Don Coatney Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Lisa had to drag them into the garage when she got home as the UPS guy dropped them in front of the garage door. I opened them when I got home and they look good. My original springs had an extra leaf on the passenger side. New springs both have 8 leaves. Not sure how the flexable shackle rubber bushings will work. I hope to find out Saturday when I install them. My work bench is getting full of projects I need to finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Those look like some shackle bushings I've had lurking around for several years, but have never installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Douglas Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Don, Who did the spring and how much ? Also, what kind of bushings did you have ? James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randroid Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Don, Just curious if you've given any thought to painting them? It would certainly be only a cosmetic jesture on your part to do so, but it would be different and would make them stand out if you went with any color other than black. Heck, you've got until Saturday to think about it, and if you go for it, please send a pic. -Randy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Don,Who did the spring and how much ? Also, what kind of bushings did you have ? James James; Espo springs. http://www.espo.com/ Three fifty for two springs and the pictured bushings delivered. I will post the full story hopefully tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Don,Just curious if you've given any thought to painting them? It would certainly be only a cosmetic jesture on your part to do so, but it would be different and would make them stand out if you went with any color other than black. Heck, you've got until Saturday to think about it, and if you go for it, please send a pic. -Randy Randy; Paint would most likely not stick as the springs are greasy. Turn my hands black when I touch them. Will not paint them at this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS48plm Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 Don, Good luck putting the springs on. It's not a bad job. I took the coupe out for a drive with it's new springs and it sure handles better and I don't have the hard ride from the air shocks. If I lived closer I'd come over and give you a hand. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted April 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 Here is my spring story. Five years ago when I was building my car I bought a pair of refurbished D-24 springs. These springs can be seen in the picture below sitting behind my original P-15 springs. I now realize these springs are longer than the P-15 springs. I drove my car for a couple of years running these D-24 springs along with air shocks. The car would creak and groan a bit as the shackles rubbed the frame as seen in the second picture below. I am running a pair of shackles that I made. I wanted my car to sit a tad higher in the rear and that is why I made the longer shackles. One day I noticed an oil leak on the garage floor coming from the rear of the car. I found that the centering pin on the D-24 springs had broken allowing the differential to shift and destroying one of my air shocks. So I removed the D-24 springs and re-installed the P-15 springs. Then (when I had my car on the lift at Tim Adams house) I discovered my P-15 springs had flattened and were actually bent the wrong way. So I took my D-24 springs to a spring shop in Smashville and had them replace the 2nd leaf in hopes that it would eliminate the shackle rubbing the frame problem. Re-installed the D-24 springs and once again have the shackle rubbing problem. So this weekend I will install the new springs I bought. This will be the fourth spring change I have done on my car and hopefully the last. Good news is I should be able to do this in under 2 hours as I have learned from my experiances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted April 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 One day in 1964/65 when I had my first P-15 I noticed the drive shift rubbing the floor when I had a load of my high school buddies in the car. Inspection reveled a broken rear spring. I drove the car for a couple more months and finally sold it as I did not have money nor experiance at the time to replace the broken spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLK Posted May 5, 2007 Report Share Posted May 5, 2007 Is it difficult replacing the springs and getting the differential square to the car so you are not going down the road sideways? I had thought maybe this was not a do-it-yourself job but you may be changing my mind. I have one broken spring and one sagging one on my DeSoto and was thinking of saving money by going with air shocks or coil spring shocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 5, 2007 Report Share Posted May 5, 2007 Hey Don...I recognize that wall and shell sign...you were in need of springs..glad you got them on...was hoping to see you on a return visit to Elko.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted May 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2007 Is it difficult replacing the springs and getting the differential square to the car so you are not going down the road sideways? I had thought maybe this was not a do-it-yourself job but you may be changing my mind. I have one broken spring and one sagging one on my DeSoto and was thinking of saving money by going with air shocks or coil spring shocks. You should add a bit to your profile so we know about you and your car. Where are you located? Springs have a centering pin that keeps the differential square in the car. Only time there would be a problem is if one of the pins broke as seen in the picture below. I tried air shocks and did not have good luck with them as one was destroyed when the pictured pin broke. Took me about 3 hours to replace my springs. If you have access to a lift it would only take an hour or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLK Posted May 5, 2007 Report Share Posted May 5, 2007 I has a 1947 P-15 Plymouth three years ago and now have a 53 DeSoto (how I miss that Special Deluxe and so does my wife). Someday I plan to go back to either a p-15, d-25 or s-11. I am in Minnesota I will update my profile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mulders Posted May 5, 2007 Report Share Posted May 5, 2007 Good luck Don, please time the work and make pics ! I have the replacement of the bushing and the brackets on my list of to do... But haven't ordered anything yet. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted May 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2007 Good luck Don, please time the work and make pics !I have the replacement of the bushing and the brackets on my list of to do... But haven't ordered anything yet. John John; Been a done deal for a couple of weeks now. Do a search for "coatney springs" for details with pictures on this forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 6, 2007 Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 I happen to know where there is a p15 club coupe for sale in MN(not mine). Let me know if you want the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodney Bullock Posted May 8, 2007 Report Share Posted May 8, 2007 Don, The springs make all the difference in the world. It gives these Plymouths a firm ride. I had my springs and busings replaced when the car was being fitted with the brakes because it has been my experience that if you do something with the lower comtrol arm bushings in front and the springs and shakles in the rear the ride will be like new. I took a friend for a ride in the 40 last weekend and he kept talking about how it doesen't feel like an old car, these old cars have independent fronts and leaf spring rears, they kept that tecnology for a long time and it works. Take your time with that spring work and good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLK Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 So Don when the job was done how much higher did your car sit in back? I am hearing that if I replace my sagging rear springs then I will need to replace the front coils which surely have sagged after 54 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted August 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 So Don when the job was done how much higher did your car sit in back? I am hearing that if I replace my sagging rear springs then I will need to replace the front coils which surely have sagged after 54 years. Before.. After.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatS.... Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 Don, have you considered putting teflon strips between the leafs(or is it leaves?) for a smoother ride? I got some from a hot rod shop for my old '50 Dodge and it made quite a difference on the sandblasted original springs. You must be a consumate expert on spring replacement by now!! How are the front coils? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted August 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 Pat; The pictured spring with the broken pin had stripa between the leaves. The guy at the spring shop recommended I remove them as they trap water and cause premature rust. I did not notice any difference in the "smoothness" of the ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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