Front leaf springs available for the W100?

[riffraff]

Anyone know if OEM weight/height front leaf springs are available for the W100? All I see online are lift kits. I have a sag to one side that's bugging me...

[66patrick]

You might try these guys: http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/leaf-springs

[riffraff]

You might try these guys: http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/leaf-springs

Thanks Patrick. That looks pretty close. They only go back to 72, but the specs look similar to my 69. They have 3 and 6 leaf listed, mine are 5. I wonder, is it easy to take a leaf off, if I need to?

[riffraff]

You might try these guys: http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/leaf-springs

Thanks Patrick. That looks pretty close. They only go back to 72, but the specs look similar to my 69. They have 3 and 6 leaf listed, mine are 5. I wonder, is it easy to take a leaf off, if I need to?

I chatted with the supplier. They said not to worry about the number of springs, due to improvements in steel technology over the last 45 years. Rather, to focus on the wanted spring rating. So, I'll go from five leafs on the front, to three, but go from 1300 lbs to 1400 lbs. Hum...

[maxmac]

I went through these guys for the fronts on my Townie..

http://www.generalspringkc.com/default.asp

[RobertGilliam]

Eaton Detroit Spring Speak to Gary

[riffraff]

Thanks for all the leads. I think I'm going to pull the trigger this week. Maybe front and back.

Any thoughts on the number of springs vs load rating?

The one site I've looked at so far, has me going from my front OEM 5 leafs/1300 lbs to 3 springs/1750lbs, and rear OEM 7/1 leafs/1350lbs to 4/1 leafs/1750lbs. I'm skeptical. I don't want to change the profile/look/ride of the truck, if possible. Am I worrying over nothing? Do their recommendations work?

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php ... ts_id=1496
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php ... ts_id=7418

What about years? They don't seem to go back to 1969 for individual springs, but they have full lift kits--with a single part number--that cover 1969-1993. Am I ok using 1972 numbers to reference/order for my 1969?

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php ... ts_id=6360

What about urethane bushings? Worth the money?

Last question, I guess: I might raise the rear a little using 1" blocks to kinda level out the truck. Good, bad or ugly?

Thanks. Want to get it right the first time, given shipping costs...

[riffraff]

I went through these guys for the fronts on my Townie..

http://www.generalspringkc.com/default.asp

I just looked through General Springs. They seem to have a lot going for them.

Eaton Detroit Spring Speak to Gary

Going to call Eaton tomorrow.

I'm excited. I have a sag that is really bugging me

[soopernaut]

What about years? They don't seem to go back to 1969 for individual springs, but they have full lift kits--with a single part number--that cover 1969-1993. Am I ok using 1972 numbers to reference/order for my 1969?

I didn't look at the links, but rear springs on a 69 truck are different than those on a 72 truck. The centering pin is in a different location.

[riffraff]

What about years? They don't seem to go back to 1969 for individual springs, but they have full lift kits--with a single part number--that cover 1969-1993. Am I ok using 1972 numbers to reference/order for my 1969?

I didn't look at the links, but rear springs on a 69 truck are different than those on a 72 truck. The centering pin is in a different location.

Thanks for that important bit of info!

I called Eaton Detroit Spring and talked to Gary. Sounds like they know their business, but whew, pretty expensive. Quoted me $725 for the fronts and $879 for the rears--plus $285 for shipping. That said, there wasn't any guessing about the number of leafs, ect. I told him the capacity numbers on the vehicle ID plate, and he correctly told me the leaf counts. Maybe I just do the fronts for now. Not sure I need new rears, anyway.

[Hobcobble]

$285 for shipping? Holy cow!...
John

[riffraff]

$285 for shipping? Holy cow!...
John

Yeah. I'm kinda at a loss as what to do. With shipping, Eaton is 3-4 times the cost of aftermarket springs.

Not small change...

[sweatybetty]

http://www.alcanspring.com/ will make them to order. i replaced all 4 springs and i dont remember it being overly expensive

[riffraff]

http://www.alcanspring.com/ will make them to order. i replaced all 4 springs and i dont remember it being overly expensive

Just called Alcan and talked to Bill. May be the way to go. Built to order from factory specs, with the same 5160 steel as Eaton. Was quoted $520 for the fronts and $610 for the rears. Shipping was ball-parked at $150. Still not cheap, but maybe better than guessing--and close to $600 less than Eaton.

[riffraff]

http://www.alcanspring.com/ will make them to order. i replaced all 4 springs and i dont remember it being overly expensive

Just called Alcan and talked to Bill. May be the way to go. Built to order from factory specs, with the same 5160 steel as Eaton. Was quoted $520 for the fronts and $610 for the rears. Shipping was ball-parked at $150. Still not cheap, but maybe better than guessing--and close to $600 less than Eaton.

I'm going with Bill at Alcan, but he is backed up a few weeks. Going front and rear.

In the mean time, does anyone know if the same leaf spring bushings can be used in the rear hangers?

What about the front? Do the front hangers even have bushings? I can't tell. Are all the hanger bushings same as the leaf spring bushings?

[Hobcobble]

Maybe check these guys.....
http://www.springsnthings.com/leaf-spring-hardware.htm
I've bought some u-bolts for two of my W200s from these
guys... They're nice to deal with and very fair priced.
John

[my5thmopar]

Maybe check these guys.....
http://www.springsnthings.com/leaf-spring-hardware.htm
I've bought some u-bolts for two of my W200s from these
guys... They're nice to deal with and very fair priced.
John

I've bought springs for other projects from them. I haven't bought truck springs but, they told me the should be able to make or find something that will work for almost anything. Give them a call. Craig

[riffraff]

Maybe check these guys.....
http://www.springsnthings.com/leaf-spring-hardware.htm
I've bought some u-bolts for two of my W200s from these
guys... They're nice to deal with and very fair priced.
John

Just looked around on their web site. Looks like a good resource.

Even though they do have a nice web site, they don't have "online" shopping. They want to talk about the specific application--I kinda like that

[riffraff]

Well, Alcan Springs is making my springs--right now They're going to make new U-bolts to match my leaf pack, and bump the rear spring rate a little, while they're at it. I ordered the hanger bushings from Springs and Things. So far, so good!

[riffraff]

Maybe check these guys.....
http://www.springsnthings.com/leaf-spring-hardware.htm
I've bought some u-bolts for two of my W200s from these
guys... They're nice to deal with and very fair priced.
John

Just looked around on their web site. Looks like a good resource.

Even though they do have a nice web site, they don't have "online" shopping. They want to talk about the specific application--I kinda like that

Well, I'm stuck...

The front hanger/shackle bushings "Springs and Things" sent do not fit. I called them, and they don't know what to say. The bushings are the ones they say the book calls from. We did exchange pics and chatted, and still no ideas.

I have split bushings in the frame, and the set-up all looks OEM. I went to a spring guy near me (didn't know he existed), and he was also stumped. Anyone have any ideas where to find the correct bushings? The ID of the holder in the frame is 0.9" and the OD of the inner sleeve is 0.635". Assembled, the two sleeves are 2.90" long.