Composite front spring install

[N61WP]

Guys,

I'm just now getting around to installing my new front composite spring that I got last year in a group buy with some others here.

I have run into a snag...I have installed the spring through the arms, but it appears that it is about 2" too long to attach to the holes in the arms. I noticed that is was longer then the steel sport spring I removed, but thought that was because of the difference in arch.

Being composite with bolted on aluminum ends, I can easily shorten it equally on each side and redrill the mounting holes for the ends. I need to be really sure before I do this.

Did any one else have this problem? If someone still has their's out, maybe a quick measurement?

Thanks,
James

[RallyBob]

What is the spring length from eyelet to eyelet?

Keep in mind that because the spring is so flat compared to a steel spring, there is really only one point in the arc of the lower a-arms where the holes will line up. You may have to loosen the lower a-arm inner pivot bolts and move the outside of the arms up a bit to get everything to line up.

Bob

[N61WP]

Took a quick measurement this morning:

Composite spring: 42" to center of holes
old sport spring: 40.5: to center of holes.

Bob, I understand now what you are saying about one point in the arch. I put one side bolt in and that may be my mistake as it must be off center. I'll try later today by getting it centered before putting any bolts in and then trying to find that sweet spot in the arch.

Thanks,
Jc

[opeldean]

are these still available? Show us a picture,if you get one.
sounds really great

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by N61WP Composite spring: 42" to center of holes old sport spring: 40.5: to center of holes.

That's fine. The 'old' measurement was 41.875" and I found it was too narrow by a hair, hence the revised measurement of 42". Everything just has to be fitted loosely first, then tighten all the bolts progressively.

[N61WP]

Opeldean, I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of it before I stuffed it into the cross member and A-arms. Please forgive me if I don't pull it back out to take a pic as it is really eating my lunch trying to get it bolted in.

Bob says it will fit, and he never steered us wrong, but......

Jc

[cherokee]

I have a spring still rapped up, I will try to post a pic tonight when I get home. I still have the front susp out of the car so I can do just about any type of (not installed yet) pic you would like. I have the contact info in e-mail....but my exchange server crashed. I will see if I can look up the contact info in the hard copies I have at home.
If I remember right they springs where not that expensive.

I hate computers and that is what I do for a living.

[itb gt]

If you need Info I think Ive got it .Still have springs out of the car if you need somthing like pics.So far the new spring is working well.

[N61WP]

Did you have any trouble installing it? Any tips?

So far I have done as RallyBob said and loosened up all the A-arm bolts and I still can't get the bolts in the spring to line up. I am trying to flex the spring down, but I wind up prying against the A-arm which pushes them up! Boy, that spring is stiff!

Jc

[N61WP]

It's finally time for an update...I got the spring in the car today. What has taken me since August, you ask? Time for a story.

After fighting the spring over and over for days and still not being able to get it in, I finally realized that the spring eye ends were hitting the back side of the ball joint. This was very hard to see. So I did what every other red-neck shade tree mechanic does....I got the angle grinder out and started making aluminum dust. I thought I'd only have to shave a little bit off to make it fit....I was wrong. I soon realized that even though the ends were very beefy, I'd never be able to trim enough off with out ruining them. They were a full 2" OD and the old steel one I had was 1-1/2" with a clearance groove cut to clear the ball joint.

So I called George at Flex A Form, the company that built the spring. He said he had the correct ones and would get them right out. That was August. I called George every 3-4 weeks ever since then. He always said he had a worker shortage or bad help, but said he had the parts. I finally got to where I was begging him to send them to me when I could get him on the phone. Now George was always pleasant and helpful to talk to, but I have the feeling that George may have just gotten old and was doing the best he could. This really sounds like a small operation. I called back a few weeks ago and talked to a Mark. He has bought the company. He found the box that had my parts in it, ready to ship for who knows how long. George had lost my address. I asked him to open it and measure them. Good thing, as they were the same size as the ones I had! He boxed up the correct ones and I had them in just a few days. The new ends weren't drilled, so I had to drill them to match the holes in the spring. It was still work to get it in and get everything buttoned back up, but it did fit.

I told Mark that he should advertise on our site. It may be a while before I get the car back on the road, but when I do, I'll give a report on the spring.

James

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by N61WP I called back a few weeks ago and talked to a Mark. He has bought the company.

If it's the same Mark, I dealt with him originally with the GT springs back in '92 or so. He left the company for some time. IIRC, he actually used to make the parts himself.

Bob