Springs

[TomJ]

Hey guys:

I was wondering what you guys did about springs.  If you use the old ones did you just clean them up and paint them or did you actually take the spring packs apart to clean them up?  I finally got some pictures posted of the '51 my son and I just finished, I bought this basically as a pile of parts and that included new springs but if you look at the way it sits it's a little higher than it should be (I kinda like it) but we're starting on a '49 and I wanted to keep this one as close to original as possible so I was considering usimg tje old springs so that it sits right.
Just don't know what I might be getting myself into if I pull these springs apart and end up with a mess.

Tom

[Subsonic]

That is a great looking Willys!

[calvinhunt]

TomJ,
 ï¿½What you do with your spring assemblies probably is dependent upon their overall condition. �There are very few components on my CJ-3A restoration that didn't get completely disassembled, reworked, repaired, or replaced. �However, the springs assemblies looked complete, straight, and healthy. �Before disassembly of the Jeep it sat level. �Because of that I did not disassemble them. �I just wire brushed them, blew them off with compressed air, primed them and painted them. �I reinstalled them with new spring to axle U bolts, new eye bushings and pivot bolts in each set, and all new spring shackle U bolts and bushings. �The paint has stayed in place on the spring assemblies, they still look good, and they are performing perfectly. �Hope that helps you decide what you need to do. �Someone more knowledgeable may advise you to completely disassemble them (which isn't really hard to do).

 ï¿½ � Sorry to use the same photo I used just recently but this one shows the springs during assembly better than any other I have.

[athawk11]

Tom,
That is a nice looking Willys.

 I figured the paint and primer would be rubbed off ten minutes after my first drive, so.... I did what Calvin did.

The front springs had been replaced at one point in my Willys' life.  They all seemed to be in workable condition.

I can't remember where I saw it, but there was a pretty good 'How To' instruction about taking them apart, cleaning, painting and reassembly.  It looks to be prettty straight forward after you get the old spring retaining bolt out.  That part might be the biggest challenge.  You will likely need to replace that bolt if you do take them apart.

Let us know what you decide.  If you do take them apart, tell us how it goes.

Tim  

[TomJ]

Thanks for the kind words.  This jeep is really a compilation of parts and pieces.  We also recycled the body off a jeep that was pretty beat up.  I found the first problem was getting the spring bolt loose.  I haven't done enough research to see if I could get a replacement so was reluctant to take apart something I couldn't get the right part to put back together.  The only people I've talked to about this (including you guys) said just what you've said so I think for the sake of time I'll do what you guys did.  The jeep sat level before dis-assembly, and to tell you the truth there is only so much time with all the other things going.

[Gunslinger]

Hey Tom,
Thats a nice Willys, love that color, are you a Minnesota gopher fan???

I did what the other guys told you with one exception, I had to take my rears apart to adjust the springs, I added a recurving spring to the back on the driver side to eliminate the lean.  What I found is that if you take them apart, make sure you have the right size replacement bolt ahead of time.  I got new bolts in the kit with the new spring, but it was too large of a diameter, and you won't drill out a spring, that I can guarantee!!

[TomJ]

Gunslinger:

No actually a Buckeye guy.  Was gonna go with Luzon Red (that was the original color) but started looking at the color charts for the year and thought Canyon Glow was one I hadn't seen on any other jeep and would be different.  I also, mistakenly, thought it might hide some of the body imperfections but found out after I painted it the opposite was true.  Oh well....live and learn.

Havin fun anyway.

Tom

[bretto]

When it came time to look at the springs, I figured I'd just tear them down.  I wire wheeled them, reassembled then painted.  If you go that route and take me apart, don't paint the leaf surfaces, they a meant for metal to metal slip contact.  Paint will make them stick.  It will also just wear away eventually, so it's pointless.  Even the Teflon products won't last.

[TomJ]

Hey...that's the answer to something I wondered about.  I even wondered if I should just leave them together and spray white lithium grease between the plates. Anyway I got them sandblasted and I'm just gonna leave them together and coat em with por15.

Thanks for that ....  Tom

[Bob W]

I don't think POR 15 would be good for a spring pack. It will probably soak in between the leaves and actually glue them together.