Original leaf spring re-arching

Brian · Member Joined: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 50

Has any one had any luck re-arching original springs?

I have a passenger side sag (mostly front right spring set). I would really like to keep the jeep as original as possible and was curious if anyone tried re-arching instead of replacement.

The leaf springs are not rusty and still have USMC overspray on them, so I am hoping that it might just work.

-Brian
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Brian '51 M38 USMC

wesk · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:57 pm Post subject:

Brian,

You should run a search for "Leaf Springs" or "Spring Re-arching" and you'll see quite a few posts on this very topic.

The short answer is NOS new springs work out best in the long run. If you cannot find or afford them then re-arching is an adequate answer.

If you elect to re-arch (also referred to by many shops as rebuild) your springs always do both on the same axle. How well this would work for depends entirely on the quality of your selected spring shop's work.

If you have not yet noticed the jeep was originally built heavy sided. The engine and tranny are aligned slightly to the driver's side along with the gas tank and the of course the driver. To offset this you have 1/2 of the transfer case biased to the right and the batteries are on the right.
The spare and gas can balance each other out.

So as you can see with a full tank and only a driver the jeep will be loaded more on the left meaning the left springs will start to sag first. Since willy made no accommodation for this by strengthening one spring (the two rears are the same and the 2 fronts are the same). Just about 9 out of every 10 jeeps lean to the left an inch or so regardless of the age of the springs. If your springs are in good shape and it is only this normal left droop an inch then the simple fix is to shim the right rear spring down an inch.
_________________
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

TomM · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:59 am Post subject: rearch springs

Yes, I have had luck taking springs to a truck spring shop and having them rearched.

On the M38 I took the original spring packs to them intact. They rearched the springs and re-rivited the bands or made new bands where they had broken. New bushings were also installed. Do them as a set.

When finding a shop look for one that specifically advertises spring repairs for trucks. If you can find one that also caters to the hot rod crowd that helps too because those guys are very specific about what they want for ride height. Most other shops will just tell you to buy new springs from them.

Please post your location in your profile so we know in what part of the country you are living. If you are in New England try Palmer Spring in Providence.

major519 · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 5:37 pm Post subject:

Here in Canada I inquired about the repair and re-arching of springs for my M38A1. It turned out cheaper and with a better end result to obtain NOS springs.

TomM · Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:04 am Post subject: springs

Depends upon what you are after. NOS Service replacements look very different from originals. If you are going for a factory restoration they won't pass muster.

major519 · Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:33 am Post subject:

Well, I hate to differ, but I guess I got lucky and obtained exact original replacements for mine...

TomM · Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 5:37 pm Post subject: springs

Many are very interested to know who is selling replacement springs that are exact. Feel free to post the vendor.

When I was looking the vendors had service replacements that had differently constructed main leaves. If that's not the case today its good to hear since competent spring rebuilders are difficult to find.

major519 · Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:56 pm Post subject:

I was fortunate enough to dig up a complete set through a couple different vendors. Granted, this is not the norm as there are a few vendors doing repros that are not exact.

32sbct · Member Joined: May 09, 2011 Posts: 166

Stay away from springs made by Crown Manufacturing. They are not close to the originals and I had to have the spring eye reamed out by a machine shop to get enough clearance to get the shackle busing started.

wesk · Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 11:50 pm Post subject:

519,

If you have a line on a couple of vendors with the correct springs then please name them here for all to benefit.
_________________
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

Brian · Member Joined: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 50

Thanks for the advice.

I live in central IL and keep getting an error2 message when I try to type in my home town on the personal information page.

Is there a spring spec that I should take to the spring repair vendor? We have a couple of good spring shops in the Peoria and Bloomington IL areas.

Wes, I will do some searching on older posts for more info, thanks for the tip.
_________________
Brian '51 M38 USMC

captw · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:57 pm Post subject: re: NOS M38 springs

Hi...firstly, Chris, thanks for the message about the mule tires...secondly, in regards to NOS springs, I'd like to find a set for the M38, which are different than the M38A1 springs I've seen, as the M38 springs are somewhat beveled at the outside edges...has onyone got a line on correct NOS M38 springs?...thanks in advance...Wilf
_________________
Wilf Alexander
R.R.#1 Bailieboro, Ontario
Canada

1952 M38CDN F-100822 CAR 52-31153
1953 M100CDN 1104 CAR 53-71157
1953 M37CDN
M274A4
(2) 1945 Dodge D3/4 WP/APT

SFCKUNERT · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:10 am Post subject:

Hey Brian, do you recall the name of those shops that will work on the springs? I live up North but am traveling down state next week and would like to drop them off if possible. Thanks for your help.
_________________
___________________________

MSG Andrew Kunert
US ARMY

52 M38A1, 00 Jeep Wrangler

http://andrewsm38a1.blogspot.com/

OldDinger · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 9:31 pm Post subject:

"If your springs are in good shape and it is only this normal left droop an inch then the simple fix is to shim the right rear spring down an inch."

Wes, I don't understand. Can you explain it to me. I'm old and get confused easily. thanks
_________________
1952 M38A1 1969 M416
_____________________________________________________
"We’re surrounded. That simplifies our problem of getting to these people and killing them."
Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller — Nov. 1950

wesk · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 9:56 pm Post subject:

If you search for the term spring willysmjeeps in google you will find this answer as well as here:

Look carefully at the layout of the jeep's chassis. The following are all biased towards the left side of the jeep weight wise:

1-The engine
2-The gas tank
3-The driver

The items with weight biased to the right are the front axle pumpkin and the outboard half of the transfer case.

This makes the jeep naturally heavier on it's left side.

Willys didn't care. Both front springs are interchangeable left to right. Both rear springs are interchangeable left to right.

So the jeep rolls out the door at Willys/Kaiser with the left side about 1/2" lower than the right. With the driver and old age this turns into about 1 to 1 1/2" low on the left. Your two options are:

1-Increase the spring rate for both left springs.
2-Lower the right side about 1".

A really sharp spring repair and overhaul shop can deal with the spring rate increase for you for a price.

Or you can lower the right side by adding shims between the axle housing and the spring pad. Sounds odd adding to lower height but trust me if you lay under the jeep long enough and stare at the plate with the two big U-bolts you will finally see that adding a shim there will bring the body down!
_________________
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php


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