Spring Specs

[PaulS]

There's a local company that makes springs.� (I think they must be decent, as you often see city vehicles, including fire trucks and police cars, parked in their service lot.)� They don't have the specs for the Jeep springs, but they have asked for the information on this form:

http://www.cityspring.com/pdf/Leaf_Spring_Order_Form.pdf

Does anyone know the required numbers for this form for front and rear leaf springs?� (I'm not sure the ones I've got are original--there are some specs that don't seem right.� And if they are, they've sagged too much for reliable numbers.)

I want to know if they're competitive against Walcks before I order from one or the other, but I need the specs to get a quote.

Thanks,

-Paul

[F Bill]

I wish you had asked this a few days ago as I had a ton of loose springs out at the house...including a Rancho  set, and I could have gotten you some dimensions.
  Unfortunately now I am back on the road and can't help out...Someone here should be able to get you some basic dimensions.. Actually they should already have the dimensions themselves for the stock Willys springs in their files if they have been around any length of time. 
Just curious, can they do a military wrap second leaf for you?

[PaulS]

I asked if they had the specs, but they said they needed measurements.  I guess there's not enough Jeep rebuilders up here...  (And honestly, these guys spend most of their time on big trucks.)

I know some of the specs are in the parts list book, so I can get those, but not all of them.  And I think the length in the parts list is straight eye-to-eye, while this asks for the length along the leaf.

I'll bet they can do the second wrap.  Is that just military?  I thought I saw that in the parts book for the 2A/3A.

-Paul

[1955CJ-5]

The set that I pulled of the 51 are just out back....I think they are original and have probably sagged...but I also have the new set from K-W, but they are mounted and have the weight of the engine/frame on them....I can measure both if it will help, and maybe you can take an educated guess at what an unloaded spring would measure...

The K-w set have the military loop...it's called that because it was a military spec, supposedly you could limp home on the second looped leaf if the main leaf failed.....I bought a set for the CJ-5 from Walcks and at that time they did not have the loop. But, i liked the Walcks springs better, the K-W springs are from Crown Automotive, and i can't remember why i liked the one over the other. The K-w springs seem a little stiff, but there is no body weight yet. The Walcks springs ride just right.....

[1955CJ-5]

So, here is what I have so far....new is installed....

Main leaf length.....Old= 361/2"� � new= 35 7/8"

Spring width..........old= 1 3/4"� �� new= 1 3/4"

Pack thickness.......old= 2"� �� �� � new= 2 1/4"

spring arch............old= 2 7/8"� �� new= axle interferes...

number of leaves....old=10� �� �� �� new=10

shortest leaf.........old=10"� �� �� �� new=6 1/2"

The brass bushing that goes in the rear of the front pack and the front of the rear pack is .562 ID and .744 OD

The hole for the shackle is .880"

This is not very scientific, but maybe it does not need to be....perhaps you can get a quote based on this info and then decide where you want to order your replacements...

My old rear springs were so badly flattened� I don't think they would be of much use, other than leaf length, # and width...but i can measure them when the time comes.

[1955CJ-5]

I found this back when I was looking for CJ-5 spring packs...

http://www.generalspringkc.com/Leaf_Springs_Jeep_CJ_DJ_1945_1975_s/1950.htm

[PaulS]

I was reading through the books I have last night and at breakfast this morning and found something odd.  Where are there supposed to be brass bushings?  Is it the pivot point (i.e., the end away from the shackle)?  The shackle end?  Both? Neither?  The pictures in the parts list book shows the front spring's bushing being on the shackle end, but the rear spring's bushing being on the pivot end.  To make things more confusing, the detailed parts lists below the pictures have three variations (normal, and two heavy duty versions, one for early 2As and one for late 2As and 3As) and for each of the front and rear, only one of the three lists the bushings.  In the General Spring page given in the post above, the front springs (8 and 10 leaf versions) are described as "front eye bushing included", while the rear springs (9 and 10 leaf versions) are listed as "bushings included".  Walcks seems to say that the bushings go on the pivot end of both front and rear.

Some details from the books are given below.  I think these agree with each other fairly well, if (for some reason) the specs in the Service Manual for the front are for the heavy duty option.

But I still don't have any thing official for arch.  A post above lists 2-7/8" for the front, but if I read correctly,  that was from a used spring, and may have some sag.

It also seems that the rears should have two leaves wrapping around the eyes, but only the heavy duty version of the front should.

From the Service Manual:

Semi-elliptical

Front Springs:
10 leaves
Length 36.25"
Width 1.75"
Stack Height 2.090"
Camber:  0.375" at 640 lb
[Is this the Heavy Duty option?]

Rear Springs:
9 leaves
Length 42"
Width 1.75"
Stack Height 1.832"
Camber:  0.25" at 800 lb

From Bob W's book:

Semi-elliptic
Mather, Liggett, or Maremont

Front:
8 Leaves
Length 36.25"
4 clips
Camber 5/16" at 525 lb

Rear:
9 leaves
Length: 42"
4 clips
Camber 0.25" at 800 lb

Parts List Book (CJ2A & CJ3A)

Front:
8 leaves (36.25" between eye centres, 36", 30", 26", 23", 18", 14", 10")

Front (heavy duty):
10 leaves ( 36.25" between eye centres, 36.25" between eye centres, 32", 30", 26", 23", 20.5", 18", 14", 10")

Rear:
9 leaves (42" between eye centres, 42" between eye centres, 36", 32", 28", 23", 19", 15", 11")

Rear (heavy duty):
11 leaves (42" between eye centres, 42" between eye centres, 39", 36", 32", 30", 28", 23", 19", 15", 11")

[1955CJ-5]

I went through all that with the CJ-5....many options, and there were at least three different manufacturers....some spring leaves have a channel that runs the full length, about 1/2 the depth of the leaf.



On the Walcks and K-W spring packs you have to drive one bushing out of one end of each pack, and install the "U" shaped shackle.

They had brass bushings in the pivot end, but I think the new packs come with steel....I bought brass bushings but chose not to replace the steel ones that were already there.

Call Carl ......

On a couple of my old spring packs I was able to find a part number on the bottom/shortest leaf after a thorough cleaning...

[PaulS]

Turns out the local company did have data going back to 1950--but I had asked for 1949.  I gave them some of the specs above, and they confirmed that they could provide.

However, the cost is quite high--I'm pretty sure I'll be ahead to just buy from Walcks, even with shipping.

-Paul

[1955CJ-5]

I looked at a 3A that was for sale here locally about a year ago. The owner had a local spring company make a full set of road springs. They looked good and were well made, but they unintentionally added over 2" to the ride height.

I like to keep things local if I can, but sometimes you just have to make a choice..

Let us know what you decide!

[Matto]

I bought a set of rear springs from Walcks 2 years ago. They were very good quality and amazingly they said "made in USA" right on them.
Matt