Rear spring spreader made from clamps and 2-bys

[Chris Bamford]

I needed the rear spring eyes spread an additional 1-1/4" to line up the shackle pins. This setup worked like a charm.

Particularly helpful IMO were the 2x3 under the two shackle eyes, and the vertical 2-bys that held the spring and the 2x3 in alignment.

Alternating half-turns on the centre C-clamps pulled the eyes smoothly into slip-fit position.

[Norman Kling]

Be very careful not to bend the axle housings. Sometimes they will bend even by strapping to a trailer or from jacking in the center.
Unless there is some good reason, to install the spring first, I find that if the spring is installed in the frame first, then either jack stands under the ends of the axles or with the wheels on, lower the body and it will spread if not enough have someone sit in the rear or put some weight in the rear of the car. I put short pieces of 2x4 under the ends of the spring so the shackle is spread toward the center. It works very well without any extra equipment.
Norm

[Allan]

I use a V8 spring spreader which engages on the curled ends of the main spring leaf. The pumpkin gets in the way somewhat, so I clamp a block of wood on the underside of the spring at one end, and the spreader pushes on it and the opposite eye.
The same spreader, minus the extension piece works on the front spring.

Allan from down under.

[Steve Jelf]

You don't need a spreader. Just loosen the nuts holding the perches (you don't have to remove them), install the shackles, and retighten the nuts.

[BLB27]

I had the spring in the frame. I then connected it to the shackles as Norman described.

Chris, Would you describe how you painted and lubricated the leafs? Thanks.

[Chris Bamford]

Well, so maybe my clever idea wasn't so clever after all. Thanks for the dissenting opinions, particularly Steve's easiest way.

BLB Bruce, I disassembled the spring, cleaned the leaves in Varsol (it was kind of oily back there), feathered out any ridges created the the next leaf up, then painted the leaves both sides with John Deere Graphite Lubricant. This 1 quart can contained enough for maybe a dozen springs.

[Allan]

Chris, rather than dissenting opinions, I would describe them as differing methods. Steve's easy way and my spreader have the advantage of being do-able with the spring still in the car. You do what you have to/can manage in your particular situation. Somewhere in my photographs, I have one of my 10 year old son swinging on the end of a 4 foot lever trying to hook up the shackles on my roadster pickup back in about 1985. He could spread the spring far enough, but then couldn't manage to insert he shackle.

Allan from down under.

[Chris Haynes]

I had my spring out for cleaning, painting, and graphite paint between the leaves. Before assembling the spring I mounted the main leaf. It was very easy to spread by hand. Once installed I then assembled the spring.

[Allan]

Now that is thinking outside the square Chris. Well done you!

Allan from down under.

[BLB27]

Chris Haynes, Please describe how you cleaned, lubricate and painted your spring.

[Chris Haynes]

Chris Haynes, Please describe how you cleaned, lubricate and painted your spring.

Sandblast to clean, Black enamel Rustoleum paint, Brush on graphite paint between the leaves.

[BLB27]

Chris, Did you paint all surfaces of each leaf before you lubricated the leafs?

[Chris Haynes]

Chris, Did you paint all surfaces of each leaf before you lubricated the leafs?

The paint between the leaves has graphite in it.