Today's project was putting UHMW tape on my new rear spring. It was highly recommended on the forum several years ago by some who had used it, so I'll see how it goes.
Steve,where did you purchase it?
Interesting, I wonder it you get it too slippery if you would bounce down the road like a coil spring axle without shocks?
I see that it can be bought on ebay in different widths and thicknesses. Some of it gets pretty pricy. 2" wide x 11 mils think x 5yds for $125.
More reasonable is 1" x 6 mils x 15yds for $18.47.
Jim
http://www.findtape.com/default.aspx
JVCC UHMW-PE-10 UHMW Polyethylene Film Tape (10 mil)
Size: 1 in. x 36 yds. (25.0mm wide), Color: Natural / Translucent
Quantity: 1 roll $28.66 ($28.66 per roll)
It's enough to do front and rear springs, and it looks like there may enough left over for another car.
Ralph Zajicek, of Z Head fame, used a thin film of Nylatron GS, a molybedenum sulphide loaded nylon plastic, between the spring leaves on his cars. He also made and used shims of a thicker Nylatron GS to take up the slack in the wishbone and tie rod end balls, and lubricate the joint.
I put teflon in my speedster springs and what a difference in the ride. You just glide over bumps.
I got my UHMW from McMaster Carr at about the same price. I has been in since 2008 and has not extruded from between the leaves. The tape I used was white.
Be_Zero_Be
The first time I heard of this tape was several months ago when it was recommended by someone in response to a spring lubricating question. Until then, slip paint was the most preferred method of lubrication between the leaves. Why has the preference changed from the tried and true slip paint method, practiced for over a century, to this? Is slip paint too messy? too expensive? not as good? etc.
I used the original Ford spring lubricating formula of gypsum flakes, grease and black paint to make my own slip paint in 2005 and it still works great lubricating my front and rear springs while protecting against rust. Jim Patrick
I bought a quart of graphite paint at Tractor Supply about 15 years ago. I've used it on 4 or 5 Model T's and I still have enough left for a few more. I think the can cost $10 back then, not sure what it costs today.
It's called Slip It, used for gravity wagons, two coats and worry no more.
Steve,
If UHMW tape works just don't get carried away and use for a tire patch. T's don't stop so great as is. :-) Neat stuff; I use the solid form as well as the tape on some of my home made jigs for my wood working shop. Lots easier to slide wood past on the table saw for example.
Be sure to feather out the edge of the "groove" on the top side of the leaf so the leaf above has some room to spring. Otherwise the leaf from above will "bottom out" at the bottom of the groove that has been worn in by the leaf from above.
: ^ )
I do it this way . Is that wrong ??
Toon
wow! thats a nice oil can! i use grease
I use a spray can of either WD-40 or LPS-1 on the fore and aft faces of the springs and rely on capillary action to soak it up.
If you take your springs apart it is a good idea to paint all the surfaces so they don't bleed rust. When I had my springs apart I mixed my own batch of grease and graphite and smeared it on the center of the springs as I reassembled them. There're still slicker then snot on a door knob and I did this 5 years ago.
Do you guys remember some of the late 40's Fords with a wrapped rear spring and a grease zerk?