New springs?

[Jim Yergin]

Wondering if I could use new rear leaf springs on my '41 Plymouth wagon. When I have more than 3 people in the car the exhaust system bangs against the frame making a horrible noise. I have checked the routing and the hangers of the exhaust and all seems OK. The car sits level but now I am wondering if the rear springs have grown weak allowing the body to settle too low when carrying a heavy load. I am sure when new and carrying up to 8 people as designed the exhaust did not hit the frame. What do you think?

Jim Yergin

[greg g]

If there are spring places (usually for commercial vehicles) they can add a leaf or retemper and re arch your current springs. But these days it might be more expensive than installing a new set.

[Plymouthy Adams]

get a few heavy buds into the back seat and measure the compression of the rear suspension.....if the spings are flattening then you have your answer..check how far your shackles are moving to the rear and seen if they are bottoming out..

I hit send a bit soon..you can compensate with air shocks if you are not concerned about originality...or you can see if they have a set of overloads that only kick in say at 500+ lbs actually you can set these for whatever you need..

Edited August 23, 2012 by Tim Adams

[falconvan]

If there are spring places (usually for commercial vehicles) they can add a leaf or retemper and re arch your current springs. But these days it might be more expensive than installing a new set.

This is the route I've taken on my last few projects. I just had a set of 51 plymouth springs retempered with new bushings and isolators installed and it was $160 for the pair.

[Don Coatney]

I bought new replacement rear springs from ESPO linked below.

http://www.springsnthings.com/chrysler-suspension-parts

[Jim Yergin]

Thanks for all the responses. I think I will try the shocks first to see if that makes a difference and then maybe later re-place or re-arch the springs.

Jim Yergin

[aero3113]

I had mine re-tempered and a leaf added.

Before

After

[greg g]

Didja get that U joit boot fixed????

[Rodney Bullock]

Hi Jim, after you get your shocks you might try a place here in Bladensburg Maryland called R & S Spring works. They can do anything to leaf springs you want. I took my springs there for re-arching on the 61 Studebaker and had a leaf added on the Plymouth 40 years ago. I removed them and just had them work them. They do a great job. They rebuild the whole thing, new clamps and they press the rubber in for the shackles. They even paint them. I was made aware of them when I needed king pins for the 53 Chevy truck. I did not think they could do it, then I saw 4 school buses in the lot. Those buses have soilid axles. They laughed at my truck because the king pins were so small. It took 45 mins.

[Jim Yergin]

Rodney,

Thanks for the tip. I will check them out. I see they also have a location in Chantilly, Virginia.

Jim Yergin

Edited August 25, 2012 by Jim Yergin

[Young Ed]

Those buses have soilid axles. They laughed at my truck because the king pins were so small. It took 45 mins.

Ya for some reason Dad brought home a used school bus king pin a while back. Its easily 4 times the mopar ones I've seen.

[aero3113]

Didja get that U joit boot fixed????

Yes, I had a spare drive shaft with good boots. I might send the old one out to get a modern drive shaft made out of it.

[Jim Yergin]

Just an update. I installed shocks with overload springs as suggested by Tim. This past Saturday I took the car to the annual Steeple Chase races at Montpelier, Virginia (James Madison's estate). Car was fully loaded with all of our tailgating/picnic equipment and supplies. No bottoming out and no banging of the exhaust like last year. I will call it a success. Some day I will either replace the leaf springs or have them re-arched but for now I am pleased.

Jim Yergin