coils spring source for 1955 Buick Special

[dancorti]

HI,

I am looking for a good (decent quality and cheap) source for replacement coil springs for my 1955 Buick Special. Has anyone found them for less than $179/pair which seems to be the best price I have seen so far. Kanter, Cars Inc., etc all seem right around that price. The ones for my '53 Chevy were only $99 but that source is Chevy only.

Thanks for any wisdom you can share.

Dan

[Clipper47]

Try Eaton-Detroit http://www.eatonsprings.com/

[Bhigdog]

The OEM spring coils are ground flat on the top to fit the top of the spring pocket. I bought a pair that were not ground flat. They went in ok but the unground (uneven)top caused the spring to bow sideways enough to rub on the inside of the frame spring pocket. I replaced the replacement springs with the originals and added a 3/8 shim on the top. I've talked to folks who were unable to find replacements that were ground flat........Bob.

[dancorti]

Thanks Dave. Eaton wants $229 for front springs and $149 for rear sets. That is the best price I have seen for rear springs and the most expensive for fronts. Go figure.

[Clipper47]

The springs Eaton sent for my Packard which I haven't installed do not have the flat top on the springs either. Now I'm worried as the original springs have the flat top?

[Bhigdog]

I didn't think a thing of mine not being flat. I installed them when the frame was bare and they looked fine. But when the body and engine went on it bowed them out. I didn't realize it until I drove the car and could hear them rubbing.

That was a 55 Buick, maybe the Packard springs are not flat on top or there is more clearance in the spring pocket.....Bob

[Dave@Moon]

The ESPO Springs & Things web site (I bought a set from them when they were just ESPO-Eastern States Performance Outlet) lists price ranges of $65.-$125 for front a front set, and $65-$75 for a set of rears. You need to call them to order.

I ordered "regular duty" springs from them about 10 years ago instead of their "heavy duty" set, thinking that it might have been a factory spec designation for a trailer package or something. I regret that. My 1960 Lesabre rides a good 1" lower than the stock height. Some people might prefer that, it does ride nice and handles better. However I'd have preferred the stock height.

[NTX5467]

Usually, the "heavy duty" springs are for factory a/c vehicles or those that will carry greater loads. Has nothing to do with ride height, but the gauge (wire diameter) more than anything else. There are many criteria in spring design, including "free length" and "checking height" (or at curb or "ride height") plus the fashion in which the ends are finished -- either a stub end or ground flat, on either or both ends. If you can get into the specs section of a spring book from Moog or Perfect Circle, you can easily see that there is no real correlation between free length and checking height, although matching free length PLUS wire diameter might be two ways to make sure of what you get (plus how the ends are configured).

I know that everybody likes to shop price, but Eaton has the orig blueprints and is supposed to reproduce the exact spring specs for each vehicle--at least that is what is claimed. That could also be reflected in the generally higher prices. I've looked at the ESPO website and they seem to be very reasonably priced on their items.

One thing I've noticed on many cars that have "repro" springs on them is that they generally sit too high. On almost all USA brand car vehicles, the lower level of the rocker panel, if extended, usually intersects with the center of the hubcap/wheel cover on each end of the car . . . regardless of brand, unless the ride height was deliberately lower for various reasons. At least that's the way things were up until the 1990s and the "lower in the front" orientation started happening.

Considering how much effort it takes to change coil springs, it might be best to spend a little more and get what's correct and will work as desired.

On the OEM side of things, there were many spring choices (especially after the "computer selected" springs were announced by GM. In the aftermarket, there are usually fewer choices (i.e., a/c, hd, trailer towing), which makes their springs more generic in application for a particular set of vehicles. They always come in pairs, whereas GM had good enough quality control that they could sell theirs in singles and they'd work as desired when only one spring needed replacement.

Eaton Detroit Spring is also a GMRestoration Parts supplier, for what that's worth. If you can find an old parts book that will give GM/Buick part numbers for the springs that fit your particular vehicle and its equipment, that should nail things down pretty well, I would suspect, when you order springs for the vendor to cross into their respective part numbers.

Just some thoughts,

NTX5467

[Clipper47]

As I wrote previously the springs which I obtained from Eaton-Detroit have not been installed yet as i am awaiting the shocks to be rebuilt also. Four things I have noticed about the Eaton springs vs the original Packard one are.

1.The top is flat on the Packard spring.

2. The Eaton spring is approx. 1/2-3/4" shorter

3. The Eaton spring coil diameter is smaller

4. The Eaton springs have 2 fewer coils.

I am hoping that when installed the new springs give me correct height and that the smaller dimensions are the result of more modern metallurgy compensating for the differences noted.

[Dave@Moon]

The ESPO springs I bought couldn't be told from the factory springs I removed (except for the rust). But that was about 10 years ago.

[Bhigdog]

For what it's worth the springs that were not ground flat and that rubbed the inside of the spring pocket were from ESPO. If anyone wants them I will sell them at a very reasonable price. 55 Buick (66C) VERY low milage, installed once with loving care, removed shortly thereafter.......Bob.

[KAD36]

Dan

I had a set made for my 55 from

Coil Spring Specialties

632 W. Bertrand

St. Mary's, KS 66536

(785) 437-2025

info@coilsprings.com

Website: Coil Spring Speciaties

They made mine to factory specs for the front. For the rear, I wanted 3/4" increase in height over stock. I sent the old rear springs to them so they could measure them up, and they custom made the rears and the car sits just fine. Very happy with them. Price was reasonable.

Hope this helps - good luck.

[NTX5467]

Dave, the fewer coils will generally mean a stiffer spring for the dimensions. It could be that they'll carry the same weight as the orig springs, but will compress less to do it.

I know that a good, full service spring shop can build pretty much any leaf spring that you might need, so it's also possible that if they are set up to do coil springs, the same things could well be possible. When I first started taking leaf springs to an area spring shop, they had a kiln that heated the individual leaf until it glowed (basically) white hot. Then it was removed and hammered against the die to give it the correct arc, then it was cooled and eventually water-immersed before it was put with the other leaves that had been done similarly. Adding some round "wire" stock with appropriate ways to bend it and finish the ends to the necessary configurations would not be that much harder to do.

Remember the old USSteel television ads of the molten steel being poured into the vat, or the piece of steel bar stock coming out of the kiln, glowing white hot? That's what going to that spring shop reminded me of.

When natural gas prices started going through the roof, initially, when I'd go over there the kiln would not always be fired-up. Later, they started using a press to cold-form the spring leaf stock--took a lot of the drama and theatrics out of the operations, though. Now, there might need to be a state permit to operate such an "open flame" due to air pollution issues?

I hope everybody's spring ventures and adventures are pleasurable and things end up "as desired".

Just some thoughts,

NTX5467

[dancorti]

I just got an email from ESPO springs. 90/pr for fronts and 80/pr for rear springs plus 48.67 for shipping. After the above, I am a little concerned about fit. I am waiting on a price from coil spring specialties. They have one good review above--has anyone else had recent experience with them?

Thanks,

Dan

[old-tank]

I have springs from Coil Spring Specialties on all three of my 55 centurys and they all fit and look like the original. One set has been on for 15 years and 60,000 miles and still are at the installed ride height.

I would buy from them again without asking the price of theirs or of others.

Willie

[Guest Chucks70]

I agree with those that use Coil Springs Specialties. I had heard my issues with 1st Gen. Riviera owners that had gone with Eaton/Espos/Kanter. Coil Spring Specialties were more expensive (Ibelieve it was 450 for the set) but they custom make all their springs for the application. Mine have been on over a year and through many car show trips over Chicagoland roads and the ride height still looks great.

[Guest roadmaster56]

I would avoid using Eaton-Detroit spring co. I ordered springs (coils and leaf) from them and they were completely wrong for my car.

I was extremely careful about giving them the correct model info for my car. Dispite this, after installation, it stood 8" above the correct ride hight......looked like an SUV.

After about 1.5 months they refunded my money, BUT I got stuck paying for the freight which amounted to approx $300 round trip. http://forums.aaca.org/images/icons/frown.gif

[dkbuick75]

Have you tried a NAPA dealer??

I have had good results obtaining older vehicle parts with them-- Usually have to wait a day or two for them to be shipped from the warehouse. Not to many calls to the individual stores to make it worth their stocking, but they have been able to come up with the parts. They were even successful in supplying a new PVS (Port Vacuum Switch) for the intake manifold vacuum lines on my 75 LeSabre-- Now discontinued thru GM. The hobby is becoming bigger and bigger each year and I have found most of the Chain Parts stores to be more accomadating and good reliable sources for obtaining most mechanical and suspension pieces. Doesn't hurt to check with your local stores first- most are able to cross reference a major manufacturer that covers the needed part, or may know who to try contacting. Hope this helps.

Don Adams

BCA # 21957

ROA # 10055

[Guest unclefogey]

Ordered a set of rear springs from Coil Spring Specialties for my '41, Mod. 46 on Tues. the 9th and they were delivered on Friday the 12th. Can't beat that for delivery time! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Now, if I can only get the car back from the engine rebuilder, I will then be able to install them and comment on their fit.

[Guest dcdpgh]

It is unfortunate that anybody has had to endure a bad experience with spring suppliers. I just wanted to throw my two cents in regarding my recent (good) experience with Eaton - Detroit Spring. The back end of my '68 Riviera was siting too low for my liking. I ordered replacement rear coils springs from Eaton on a Friday, they arrived at my door step on the following Monday afternoon (granted I did not special order a different ride height and they were in stock). They brought the rear end up nicely, and even. Car sits perfect. I would use Detroit - Eaton again.