Mid year rear spring restoration

[Garry E.]

I am preparing to restore the rear spring on my '64.... I've noticed on some other restored rear springs, the black plastic "insulators" between the spring leaves have started to "curl and wrinkle" - not lying flat like the originals. What is causing this in these restored springs and what should I do to avoid it happening to my spring when it is restored?

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[John H.]

Re: Mid year rear spring restoration

I am preparing to restore the rear spring on my '64.... I've noticed on some other restored rear springs, the black plastic "insulators" between the spring leaves have started to "curl and wrinkle" - not lying flat like the originals. What is causing this in these restored springs and what should I do to avoid it happening to my spring when it is restored?

Garry Eastwood
#38705

Garry -

Get your new liners ONLY from Quanta.

[Henry S.]

Re: Mid year rear spring restoration

Garry -

Get your new liners ONLY from Quanta.

John,
If I remember right from one of your previous posts Eaton sells the leaf spring closest to originals correct? And you recommend taking them apart, paint them the correct gray and then use the liners from Quantra? Thanks

[John H.]

Re: Mid year rear spring restoration

John,
If I remember right from one of your previous posts Eaton sells the leaf spring closest to originals correct? And you recommend taking them apart, paint them the correct gray and then use the liners from Quantra? Thanks

Henry -

Yes, that's correct.

[Edward J.]

Re: Mid year rear spring restoration

Garry, I remember seeing a post of the assy. line in 1963 showing a black out operation showing that the blacked everything out in the rear, the suspension was turned unside down while doing this, im not sure if it applies to 64.although most springs are gray primered.

[Garry E.]

Re: Mid year rear spring restoration

Thanks for everyone's input on this...... I still wonder why Quanta insulators are superior to those of L.I Corvette...... They appear to be made of the same material.....

I realize that you should not use a petroleum-based product as a lubricant between the plastic/rubber insulators (will cause a breakdown of the material....). But.... could you use some type of silcone lubricant that allow the metal leaves to slide over the insulators without causing them to "bunch-up"...... Just wondering....

Thanks

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[John H.]

Re: Mid year rear spring restoration

But.... could you use some type of silcone lubricant that allow the metal leaves to slide over the insulators without causing them to "bunch-up"...... Just wondering....

Thanks

Garry Eastwood
#38705

Garry -

The correct liners are graphite-impregnated polyethylene (for lubricity); plain plastic ones won't last.

[Joe L.]

Re: Mid year rear spring restoration

One problem: all of the replacement spring liners that I've seen, including the last ones that GM sold and of the original part number, are thinner material than the originals. This may affect long-term durability even when otherwise made of the original graphite-impregnated plastic.