Leaf Spring Options

[arturo7]

Looking at leaf springs for my 59 panel. Prices range from $600-1,100 for a complete set. Is there that big of a difference in quality?

thanks

[mr48chev]

There could be a difference in quality or the simple fact that one shop has a lot higher cost of doing business than another does.

Stock, for lowering the truck or ?

Eaton has been around a long time and probably makes the springs that several aftermarket suppliers sell. Check their prices. http://www.eatonsprings.com/

link to Chevy truck springs http://www.eatonsprings.com/47-59chevrolettruck.html I see that their springs will run right at 1000 for a set of four but they do offer stock height or + or - heights for that price.

The other idea may be to have a local spring shop rebuild yours if they aren't in too bad of shape and primarily are just old.

[1project2many]

I've found springs to be extremely expensive. When chasing springs for my '36 Plymouth the local spring shop's blacksmith clued me in. Older springs are narrower in width and there are few suppliers of spring steel stock in the early sizes. Buying from China and India can be cheap but requires a commitment to a large amount of product which local spring guys just won't do. So they buy from a company like Eaton, which still produces the springs here, then the local guys mark them up enough to stay in business. It's a case where low volume produces high prices. If you've found them for less, check to see if the seller actually has them in stock. In the case of my Plymouth the answer was a consistent "No, sorry, the catalog / web site needs to be updated." Even the expensive guy couldn't get them anymore when pushed to check.

A creative guy might find an antique car forum from India (there's a thread here somewhere with pictures and links) then see what people pay for springs in a country with a much lower average income. You might stand to save a bunch of $$ if you're willing to work with someone on the other side of the globe.

[Mark3100]

I'm rebuilding a 49 C3100 and I'm currently installing a set of springs from a 97 Tahoe (1800lb capacity). I put a Posi-trac rear axle from a 78 TransAm and the Tahoe springs matched the spacing and arc of the original springs. The new springs are 2 1/2" wide instead of 1 7/8" but I simply fabricated new spring mounts. I found a WEb site showing spring specs (length, width, arc, weight) - I'll see if I can find it again and post the link!