Jim:
I will allow others to respond to your first question since I did
not experience any real problems with getting the leaf springs off
the chassis. As to your other questions, I offer the following:
b) There are companies that specialize in shock systems for all
types of vehicles (here in Harrisburg, PA there is Stanley Springs
that have just about everything you could ever want for trucks to
cars). If you take one of these shops the same plate from the
other leaf spring, I would bet they could replace it for you. Note
that the manual does provide the correct dimensions for the leafs
so that they line up properly in relation to the center hole and
clamps.
c) I dismantled my leafs by bending back the clamps. To do this
I would recommend a good bench vice to hold the leaf spring, a
large screw driver and a crow bar. Once you get the clamp started,
they are not that hard to bend back so you can remove each of the
leafs. I then used my angle grinder with a wire brush to clean
each one up. Primed and painted each leaf. When reassembling, line
up each leaf with the center hole and the longer side facing
toward the silent block bushing (front), I used a cut down 3/8" bolt
to assure they stayed aligned. I also smeared some grease between
each leaf to prevent squeaking, etc. Then use your bench vice to
close the clamps back into position. This will need to be done by
moving the leaf spring so that you close the clamps from both the
sides and the top. Finally, I gave finishing coat of fresh paint.
Hope this helps.
Scott Suhring
Elizabethtown, PA
'70 TR6
'59 TR3
a Wallace wrote:
>
> I've been stripping the frame of its running gear, and last night took off
> (tried on one side) the leaf springs. I'm left with three questions for the
> more experienced than I:
> a) In the case of an extremely reluctant front eye, what have you done to
> remove from the car, that does not involve fire? I have applied penetrating
> oil, tried a puller (worked on the other side, but only stretches the
> rubber), and used a hand sledge and drift, to no avail.
> b) In that same set of leaves, when I removed the U-bolts and bottom plate,
> half of the shortest leaf fell on the floor. Now what do I do? Where can
> one get a short leaf for a 60 TR3a?
> c) How do you clean up leaf springs? I imagine sandblasting would leave a
> bunch of sand between the leaves.
> Answers to any of these would be greatly appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Jim
> TS81417L
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