Re: Soggy rear leaf springs

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2009/1/12 10:20:35

I've seen rearched springs that after 20 years or more still held body height. Results no doubt depends to a very great extent on the skill level and techniques used. For example, do you just rearch the main leaf, or all leaves; with rollers or beat them over an anvil with a sledge? Many Packards used different spring capacities and rates for different body weights, and sometimes used different interleaf friction methods to obtain the best ride properties. Packard obtained a patent on the use of metallic buttons as the friction sliders between leaves and used this for a number of years, I recall them on my 48 Custom 8. Each button on a different leaf had a different alloy to provide a different coefficient of friction. When you buy a new spring, you don't get this kind of tuned spring to your particular chassis and body, you get the one-kind-fits-all spring but still this represents a good option to repair sagging springs.

Anyone interested in the patent can send me a PM.