yahooe

i have a 1974 dodge 4x4 and the springs have no crown left in them....
can this be helped by replacing the spring pads or by possibly adding
extra thick shim pads between each leaf???

tbone

I would have them re-arched.

--
If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving

cjc1200

Yes, have them re-arched, but I also added an extra leaf on each
side..much improved (cost about $350.00 at an independent frame and
spring shop)

Charlie
The OC
'01 ram 1500 4X4 quad cab

stormin mormon

On a non-Dodge vehicle I had years ago, I was able to take apart
the spring pack. And replace all but the big, long, main spring.
It was still a heck of a lot of work, but less than replacing the
entire spring pack.

I got the replacements at a wrecking yard. A plug in impact
wrench paid for itself that day. For the U-bolt springs, I heated
the nuts up with an acetylene torch. Stick the impact wrench on
real quick, and hold the trigger down until the nut came off. The
other spring, a friend and I had done the entire job with hand
tools. The impact wrench made life a lot easier.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

: i have a 1974 dodge 4x4 and the springs have no crown left in
them....
: can this be helped by replacing the spring pads or by possibly
adding
: extra thick shim pads between each leaf???
:

stormin mormon

I've never heard of this process. Please tell us more.

Is it cheaper or easier than getting a pair of springs from a
wrecking yard?

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

: I would have them re-arched.
:
: --
: If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving
: "Sha Zam" <yahooe@webtv.net> wrote in message : news:20281-45D9CEFB-750@storefull-3257.bay.webtv.net...
: > i have a 1974 dodge 4x4 and the springs have no crown left in them....
: > can this be helped by replacing the spring pads or by possibly adding
: > extra thick shim pads between each leaf???
: >
:
:

ed h.

A good spring shop can do this. Not your average suspension or truck place,
but one that works on Semi's, motor homes, etc. I was going to suggest the
same, but TBone beat me to it.

tbone

This is done by professional spring shops. Basically, they take the spring
apart, re-bend the leafs back to what they were and in some cases, they add
an additional leaf and put it back together with new pads and bushings.
While it is not always cheaper, it is easier and you basically have a new
spring again. When you buy from the junk yard, you don't always know what
you are going to get and while they may guarantee the springs that they sell
you, you still have to remove the old ones and put the junkyard ones in and
if they are bad, you get to take them out again and start all over.

--
If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving

miles

Rebent isn't nearly as good as a new spring but for a vehicle where new
springs can't be had it's probably better than used.

roy

That is very true. I would think that after going through the work of
removing the spring's plus the cost one would be way ahead by having new
springs made up.

Miles, did you try the disc?

tbone

Have you ever had it done Miles or has one of your countless relatives done
it? If not, then you don't know WTF you are talking about.

--
If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving