48 Desoto rear leaf spring broke

[vintagecar]

The passenger side rear leaf spring on my Desoto broke. Anyone have a location to order replacement?

[Don Coatney]

I used  these foolks

 

http://www.springsnthings.com/

[vintagecar]

thanks, I will reach out to them- what should I be expecting to pay for a set? 

[greg g]

If you can find a spring place in your area, look for truck or heavy equipment repair places, the can most likely make one or more individual leaves as needed to set you right.

[knuckleharley]

I may be remembering wrong,but I THINK I bought new rear springs for my P-15 from J.C. Whitney a couple of years ago.

[Bingster]

That web site brought up a question I was thinking of.  Will replacing only one leaf spring make the two rear springs unbalanced and thus affect the ride?

[knuckleharley]

i

That web site brought up a question I was thinking of.  Will replacing only one leaf spring make the two rear springs unbalanced and thus affect the ride?

That would depend on how weak/worn the springs on the other side are.

 

Generally speaking,it is best to replace parts in matching pairs. If all you can afford right at this moment is to replace one,replace that one now and the other one later. I doubt you will notice much difference in the ride even if you do notice a slight difference in the handling,but why overstress your new part and cause it to fail early? If you replace both you are right back to OEM reliability and endurance. Which these days means a lifetime fix because none of us drive or use these cars like people did when they were new or showing up on used car lots.  I don't even drive my 51 when it is raining or has been raining because I don't want to get mud and rust accumulating under it.  I doubt very much that was a concern to the original owner in 1951,or to anybody who bought it off a used car lot afterwards. I'm betting most of you do the same.

[mopar_earl]

I'd put a new pair of springs on it. They aren't expensive and if you have broken leafs, the others are shot too. Always replace springs in pairs. The place Don recommend is who I also recommend.

Be sure to install new shackles, bushings, u-bolts and hardware. The recommended company can supply all those items.

Earl

Edited June 11, 2016 by mopar_earl

[Don Coatney]

I made my own shackles as I wanted a slight lift in the rear.

 

[vintagecar]

I will be replacing both sides and all new hardware- just wanting to find a place that supplied it for my 48 Desoto. 

[John Reddie]

I made my own shackles as I wanted a slight lift in the rear.

 

Nice job Don. What thickness are the side pieces?

John R

[Don Coatney]

Nice job Don. What thickness are the side pieces?

John R

If I recall they are 1/4" same as the originals. They are also stainless.

[1952B3b23]

I just got new leaf spring packs for my 39 Plymouth coupe from St. Louis Spring. They did a good job and made them fast. It was about $150 each.