Guest cadaber Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Anyone out there have any advice on taking the sleeves/wraps that go around the leaf springs? I don't want to bend them or damage them in any way while trying to take them off. It appears that the edges are crimped, but I don't want to make a mistake. Thanks,Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete K. Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 Hey cadaber, I'm sorry I'm not a big help here, but I do remember many years ago, I had the displeasure of taking those metal covers off a '37 Plymouth. It was a frustrating, knuckle-busting job, I heaved them out when I finally got them off in pieces.I felt that they would be unnecessary to go back on, since I was not worried about getting some road dust on the springs in the limited driving I would do. If you feel you need leaf spring covers, maybe the leather ones they sell these days, if you can't save your old ones. ---Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cadaber Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Thanks for the advice Pete! I agree, it looks like a hell of a knuckle buster project indeed. Thanks again for taking the time. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobless Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 I dont think anyone thought of the moisture they hold either, may have been a good idea at the time, but without them the springs get a chance to dry out after a shower or a puddle, just my thought.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 I wish Mark would post a picture of these things, I have seen the leather or cloth versions but dont remember seeing steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobless Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 I have the same on mine maybe if I get a minute I willpost one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1936 D2 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Never had the "fun" of taking the covers off, but I did find a guy advertising in "Skinned Knuckles" that makes new metal (and leather) covers. Check here: Rudy's custom gaiters and coupling discs in Ohio for more contact info. I don't know anything about his service. I just saw the ads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Thats amazing, never would have thought there would be a market Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 There is also a video with Jay Lenno and an installation that is worth watching on the same site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.White Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 You might also consider large heatshrink wrap which works for some but grease and Denso tape would be my choice because it lasts for years and can be applied easily without having to unbolt the spring. Posh people don't HAVE to use leather gaiters, as Denso tape can be seen on many vintage Rolls Royces - even in class ridden Britain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cadaber Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Hey 1930...just read your message about a pic. Here is what they look like off of the springs. As a side note, they were wrapped with some type of material inside and a lot of grease. Interestingly enough...the portion of the springs that were inside these covers look brand new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Done in pieces than, that answers the question about flexability. Check out the video posted above by D-2. Very interesting but again they showed a metal cover and it was all one piece and I wondered to myself how the heck that would work. I am also surprised to hear........the portion of the springs that were inside these covers look brand new..........I thought to myself after seeing Leno's video that it looked to me as if these covers would tear up the springs because water would collect into the ends and just sit inside of there and eventually either no casing or no spring, I wonder how they were sealed at the end, cant inagine that these covers would be so tight against the spring as to make it water tight. I have some very interesting info to post here related to your springs, might be old news to you but was new news to me, will try and post something tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ply33 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 ...I am also surprised to hear........the portion of the springs that were inside these covers look brand new..........I thought to myself after seeing Leno's video that it looked to me as if these covers would tear up the springs because water would collect into the ends and just sit inside of there and eventually either no casing or no spring, I wonder how they were sealed at the end, cant inagine that these covers would be so tight against the spring as to make it water tight....Doesn't surprise me: The gaiters aren't to hold water out, they are to hold grease in. And if they are properly filled with grease then wear and rust shouldn't be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Doesn't surprise me: The gaiters aren't to hold water out, they are to hold grease in. And if they are properly filled with grease then wear and rust shouldn't be a problem. Sure I would agree that if they were properly maintained than like anything else it would maybe last almost indefinitely but not so common of an occurrence in my experience and so that is why I am shocked to hear of Cadabers good fortune Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 I would like to comment and add further to the rear springs discussion concerning the oil-lite disks found ( for the first time on Dodge vehicles in 34 ) on the rear springs but maybe its old news for you 34 owners? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ply33 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 I would like to comment and add further to the rear springs discussion concerning the oil-lite disks found ( for the first time on Dodge vehicles in 34 ) on the rear springs but maybe its old news for you 34 owners?They were using oil-lite disks on '33 Plymouth springs and given the similarity of the drive train and chassis I am a bit surprised that '34 would be the first use on Dodge. I would have guessed '33 for Dodge too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 They were using oil-lite disks on '33 Plymouth springs and given the similarity of the drive train and chassis I am a bit surprised that '34 would be the first use on Dodge. I would have guessed '33 for Dodge too. Salesmans data book for 1934 lists them as an exclusive advantage of the new 1934 Dodge. I guess it sounds though not so exclusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Isnt that something, it also lists the metal covers as if they were standard, I guess I have never really paid as much attention to this old book as I should have.Scan below shows the gaiters as mounted on 34 Dodge springs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cadaber Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 That's pretty interesting. I'm new to this car since late last year and never had an interest in Dodge until I picked this car up. I'm loving the fact that I'm able to learn so much from everyone in the forum. I actually felt bad pulling those brackets off, I didn't want to damage them, instead I would like to put them back the way I found them. Unfortunately, one side has a broken spring I need to find and replace. The car had a bit of a lean and I thought the frame might have been damaged, however, after inspecting it, seems to be just fine. I've been really lucky thus far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.White Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 May I suggest you reconsider replacing the broken spring with a used one. Ideally, get new springs made as a pair and your car should sit evenly.Ray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cadaber Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I see...that makes sense. Second question, anyone know a company that make a set just like the originals? I want to make sure it looks completely original and not like a pick-a-part vehicle. Thanks for the advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.White Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 No problem here in the U.K. but as I have found to my cost, shipping, taxes etc. really add to the cost. If you have difficulty in finding proprietary replacements have you thought about your local blacksmiths forge? Our village has an old guy who can do absolutely anything with metal and I have learned so much from him that will get lost if he closes down.Ray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Eaton Spring in Detroit have the original blue-prints for many of our old D.B cars, I would suggest though going to your local spring shop and having them make one, especially if you plan on only replacing the one broken spring, not rocket science and the only thing I would be concerned with and would make clear to them is that you want the car to sit level and if they cant do that than you would rather take your buisness elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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