Sagging Springs

John,

The rear leaf springs in my '55 have long since lost their perkiness. Pretty much since acquiring the car several decades ago I have run air shocks in the rear to return to a more normal ride height. Especially handy for long trips with luggage in the trunk. You won't find them in a catalog but a good parts guy should be able to match up your old shock to an available pair of air shocks.

Good luck!

Mark

Can anyone recommend a model number air shock from say, Monroe or Gabriel? Thanks

Here are two listings from eBaY that suggest Monroe MA727 will fit a '46 Plymouth. That is the same shock set number that I purchased and installed on my '55. They are available from all the major parts chains, i..e., O'Reilly, Advance, Auto Zone, etc. Might have to order and wait a day or two. If you order a set, you can remove one of your original shocks and before you get the new shock dirty trying to install you can math up your old shock to the new shock. if they don't match, you can return the unused set to the parts store and reinstall your old shock and keep searching.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/REAR-Air-Shock ... ial+Deluxe

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Monroe-MA727-M ... ial+Deluxe

Let us know how you make out

Mark

Air shocks will definitely adjust the rear...but more often than not will give a pretty stiff ride... I had them on one car I had and it made things a little more 'bumpier" than with regular shocks... plus you have to mount somewhere an air line and intake nozzle so you can adjust the shocks air pressure....

Another choice might be to get some "helper springs" to give your original leafs some life back.. though I am not sure where to go get these at this time I might suggest starting with Eaton Detroit Spring. If the helper isn't the way you want to go they can sell you completely new rear leaf springs for your car as well. I have purchased front coil springs from them in the past and I would recommend them as a source!

Good luck with your spring situation! Let us know what you end up doing...

Dean

I contacted Mike at Eaton Springs and he said they do not offer "helper" springs and he was actually curious as to what you meant by that. Anyone know where to get helper springs? Rear leaf springs for the '46 are $299 EACH. I think getting mine re-arched would be cheaper than that.

Found a video on YouTube called How to Install Leaf Helper Springs, and it appears it might be a quick and easy solution.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnD87aRsEmY

Advance Auto Parts sells the kit by AutoCraft for $33.99. #AC11120

I guess the only question left is if the size (width) will fit the '46 springs.
I don't think the length will be a problem.

I would recommend getting the existing springs rebuilt/rearched instead of trying to work around the sagging springs. That way you'll get the proper height plus new bushings. The only problem is finding spring shop.

John,

A helper spring is just that.. and additional newer leaf spring that helps put some arch back into your original springs... but I don't think it will work if your springs are severely sagging. I see you found a video on them.

If the cost isn't the issue... I would probably go ahead and get a new set of springs... never again will you have this problem in your lifetime! I know they are expensive, but our cars are worth it. I don't know much about rearching them.. never had that done. How long does it last? Can they be rearched back to the original specifications?

Dean

Depending on where you live there may be a spring shop locally that can repair and re-arch your existing springs. My neighbor friends and I helped our buddy with brain cancer remove the rear springs from his '51 Ford pickup. He had one broken leaf and they were otherwise worn out from 70 years of duty. A long-standing local shop did the work, replaced the broken leaf(ves) and re-arched them to original specs. This shop, and others like them, still do a lot of spring work for heavy trucks and trailers and most reasonably sized locales have such a shop. Good luck and keep us posted on your eventual solution.

My only rearching experience: I taught Driver Ed at an all male school and the rear springs on our '83 Buick Century were really sagging from hauling around 5 or 6 students at a time. Sent car to a spring shop in Chester PA to be rearched. Car came back sitting very high in the rear. Lasted for years. Do not recall what it cost since the school paid for it.
Searches online for shops that "rebuild" or rearch leaf springs show costs of several hundred dollars each. I wonder what a set would cost from a junkyard? I am also leery of process of removing the rusted u-bolts and shackles and finding new replacements. Are they easily obtained?

John,

What you get from a junkyard may be no better than what you have... unfortunately. And, if its several hundred dollars to re-arch your springs, you are beginning to approach the price of simply getting new ones. IF that turns out to be the case... I might turn towards the new ones unless the price is considerably lower to re-arch them. Just food for thought...

John,

On my buddy's F1 Ford pick-up, the shop provided all new hardware. That included making the u-bolts on site by bending rod stock to the correct dimensions. This work is like falling out of bed for a professional spring shop. They do it all day long on heavy trucks and trailers.

Mark

An advantage to the air shock idea is that you probably need new shocks too. So for about the same cost as replacement shocks, you also fix the ride height issue. In fact, I'm going to get some for my 55 Firedome!

Just had a thought - what if I jack up the rear of the car every time it is just sitting in the garage? Would not the weight of the wheels and tires eventually bend and "re-arch" the leaf springs? Seems like a simple idea, but sometimes that is the simplest solution! What do you think?