Leaf Springs

[JP_Furble]

I'm in the process of reassembly of the rear suspension on my BJ7. When I put both leaf springs side by side one has about 1" less arch to it than the other. Has anyone had success "re-arching" the springs (and if so can you recommend a vendor) or is it better to just bite the bullet and buy new?

JPF

 

[shorn]

Not so great luck doing either. First I bought new springs for my ph1 BJ8, (same springs as a BJ7). They actually lowered the rear of the car rather than raising it back to the correct height. Returned them for a refund. Then I had my old ones rearched. The result was good for a couple of years, but now they are starting to sag again. It is my understanding that to correctly rearch springs, they must be annealed (heated, then cooled). I don't believe the outfit that did mine actually did that.

 

[57_BN4]

JP- I have had springs re-arched on a couple of cars and always with good results. Things to watch for are cracked leaves and worn thin spots. You can replace only the worn or broken leaves and keep as much of the original as possible. The only oddity I found with the healey springs is that the width is not a standard bar stock today and I had to mill down the two new leaves about 5mm before he arched them.

The guy I use (NZ) works out of his home workshop and the newest tool in there is from about 1947. He has a diesel furnace, an oil bath and a host of tweaking, bending and hammering tools. Your springs should come back looking like they have been in a house fire if they are done properly.

Maybe check around truck repairers as that is where most of this guys work comes from.

Andy.

 

[JP_Furble]

Thanks for the response guys! I did find a guy here in Missoula (a blacksmith by trade) who re-arches springs. His price is about 1/2 the cost of new and he will have them for me tomorrow or the next day.

JPF

 

[Legal Bill]

How does he know how much to rebend them?

 

[richberman]

As I recall, the good book has the deflection from center to end. I just checked and it says 4" +/- 1/2". It at the beginning of the book with the specs.
rich

 

[Legal Bill]

Ohhhh, I see. Your one of those fancy reading people.

Thabnks for reading for me. Now I can go check my old springs and see how far out they are. I have replacements that jack my car up pretty high in the rear.

 

[bob hughes]

Bill

I don't know if you have seen any of the last batch of works rally cars but they look as if they have been raised up all round and look like a modern saloon car sitting four square.

 

[Legal Bill]

I'll call my car half a rally reproduction.