MTFCA Forum

Building a 1914 speedster with a brass vee radiator and a dropped front axle. How many leaves can you remove from the front spring and still be safe? The bottom spring leave has been dearched some not sure how much..

For the rear spring how many leaves can be removed safely to lower the frame without Zeeing or cutting the frame. I'm using a 13/14 riveted rear end.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

tnx

frontyboy

I took two leaves out of the back spring on my speedster, the ones with just the one bend at the top so there was no problems with the nesting of the rest. I replaced them both, because the car rode like a sloppy jalopy, flopping around like crazy.
I would rather re-arch the front spring than remove leaves.

Allan from down under.

frontyboy wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 30, 2025 12:12 am

Building a 1914 speedster with a brass vee radiator and a dropped front axle. How many leaves can you remove from the front spring and still be safe? The bottom spring leave has been dearched some not sure how much..
For the rear spring how many leaves can be removed safely to lower the frame without Zeeing or cutting the frame. I'm using a 13/14 riveted rear end.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
tnx
frontyboy

The front end drop for a speedsters is between 4-7 inches. That determination is how much clearance is needed for the oil pan or sump.
Re-arching the front spring gives about 1" drop, 1926-27 spindles about 3/4 in, a drop front axles vary so what's yours? A 1926-27 front spring has a lower arch. So answer you question about how man leaves - you need to do some calculations based on what you are using or using some other parts. Removing leaves adds another issue for the front spring clip to hold the spring leaves in position within the cross member.
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Since you re-arched then yo need to trim the ends of the leaf above the main https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/8 ... 1261098993 --
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Rear Spring
Once again there are some differences in rear spring arches.
What are you working with. For example Roadsters (6 or 7 leaves): Lighter body styles like runabouts and roadsters used fewer leaves for a softer ride. A six-leaf option existed for some 1923–1925 roadsters.

This is a good discussion on various ways to lower the rear.
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/5 ... 1439594997

Howard,
I'd have to count leaves in the springs.
Yvonne's speedster has a dropped front axle and bent rear spring for lowering. Drop by next time you are down south.
: ^ )

Keith

Springs have arch and stack thickness and RATE. Arch and stack thickness are physical dimensions. Rate is a measure of how much the spring deflects under a specific load.