M38 Front Leaf Springs

Dana · Post by **Dana** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 7:48 pm

Was wondering if anyone has disassembled the front leaf springs on an M38. I have pulled the bolts from the 2 brackets and removed the center pin from each set. The springs come apart up until the last 3 springs which are held together by the clamps that are bent all the way around the set. Question is if I want to separate them do I need to heat up and unbend the outer clamps to get them the rest of the way apart. They are moderately rusty and I would like to sandblast and epoxy prime them but it will be difficult if they are sandwiched together tightly.

Also anyone know where to get new center pins. Mine are to rusted out to reuse. I found the new brackets with the bolt through them.

Thanks

Dana Vermeer

Post by **wesk** » Sun Mar 24, 2019 12:31 am

The answers to your questions can be easily located in the appropriate manuals for your jeep. You do not tell us the vintage of your M38 but based on your description of your outboard retainers you have an early M38. So in your case you should have the early ORD 9 SNL-G-740 dated Nov 1951. You can use the later 1955 edition but occasionally the illustrations don't show the early jeep arrangements as is the case with your springs.

The Majority of the manual you should have on your work bench while removing and rebuilding your springs are:

M38 Operator's and Maintenance Manual TM 9-804 Sep 1950 or TM 9-8012 Jan 1956.

TM9-804

TM9-8012

M38 Chassis and Drive Train Service Manual TM 9-1804B dated Jul 1952. Your How To questions are all answered on Page 151 Para. 138d

M38 Parts Manual ORD 9 SNL G-740 Dated Nov 1951. Your center bolt is listed by part number and size on page 185 Group 16, sub-group 1601.12nd item is bolt and 3rd item is the nut. If you can't locate the military or Willys Part # then use the size and find one in the hardware store but insure you get a grade 8 bolt.

You can find these and more as free PDF document downloads on our Downloads Page.
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... =Downloads

dpcd67 · Post by **dpcd67** » Sun Mar 24, 2019 12:52 pm

Yes, do what the TM says. and don't heat the spring clamps. No need;they are soft steel. If the tabs break off you will need new ones anyway.
Have I disassembled springs? Many of them from Ford to Willys to Dodge.
Ford and most Dodge use bolt on clamps instead of folded tab type.

Dana · Post by **Dana** » Sun Mar 24, 2019 5:46 pm

Thanks guys.

I have the manuals but was worried about breaking the tabs off. Its been about 20 years since my last restoration and I have noticed many of the parts that were readily available have become quite scarce. Have not seen those outer clamps for the springs advertised anywhere so I was worried about their availability in case I broke one.

Dana

Post by **wesk** » Sun Mar 24, 2019 10:24 pm

As you can see in the ORD 9's they were discontinued anyway and the later thru-bolt type spring clamps were used in all 4 locations so it should not be an issue unless you are trying for a detailed original resto.

On the topic of adequate manuals, the SM-1002 Civilian CJ2A, CJ3A, CJ3B, DJ3A and early CJ5/6 factory service manual is readily available and often covers a lot of ground not addressed in the military manuals.

You'll find 9 of it's 21 chapters in my photo album:

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

In sub-album:

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php