Frame / Springs: Adding a rear leaf.

[52-fan]

I would like to raise the rear of my 52 just a bit. After reading some old posts, it looks like an extra leaf just under the main leaf would do the trick. What I am wondering is, how important is it to use the same thickness of leaf spring in the pack? I realized a few days ago that, although we have saved front suspension parts, most of the rear springs stayed with the parts cars. The only springs around here at this time are from trucks. Suggestions?

[StudeRich]

Someone here may have an old spring assembly they could part out, to get you an extra Second leaf, or even have saved one.

I just checked yesterday at S.I. South Bend, and the loose NOS leaves are very sparse, not inventoried and would have to be ordered by individual Part Number to see if any are left.

I remember a Mechanic at Frost and French Studebaker had a '63 Lark and wanted to stop the Torqueing of the axle and stiffen it a bit, and he just added the front half of a #2 leaf on the front side of both springs and said it helped a lot. It did raise it a little but that was not his goal.

[Gunslinger]

Wouldn't a spring shop be able to re-arch your springs to your specifications for you?

[52-fan]

Wouldn't a spring shop be able to re-arch your springs to your specifications for you?

Sure, but it would cost more. I lost my job a couple of weeks ago and I have time, but not much money.
I think I actually need two main leaves and then cut them a little shorter than the current main leaf, but longer than the #2 leaf. There was a post a while back where someone did this on a Hawk and it raised it just about perfect. I only need maybe 2" of lift.

[rusty nut garage]

I've had it done for multiple customers. Work was done by the local spring shop, the leaf they added was considerably thicker then the factory stude spring. Length wise they go almost to the eyelet of the main leaf. Lifts the car back to stock height on a set of 60 year old springs.

Sure, but it would cost more. I lost my job a couple of weeks ago and I have time, but not much money.
I think I actually need two main leaves and then cut them a little shorter than the current main leaf, but longer than the #2 leaf. There was a post a while back where someone did this on a Hawk and it raised it just about perfect. I only need maybe 2" of lift.

[jackb]

.....a crap shoot. if you're not really interested in the car's profile, simply add a leaf to both sides from the #1 or #2 of same type spring. There's no way you can calculate what used spring "A" will do to your ride height compared to used spring "B".

[junior]

Around Christmas I hauled my springs into the local spring shop to have them re-arched...and it was their feeling that re-arching was a huge why-bother. They said I'd be back in 6 months wanting them to re-arch again. Their fix was to add a leaf of the same thickness as the factory leaf, and was just about as long as the main leaf. Thickness must have mattered to them because they measured the factory leaf thickness with digital vernier caliper. Got the springs back with an inch too much arc to them, went back to the shop and they rearched them to where I wanted them while I waited, took all of 3 or 4 minutes...I was surprised how quickly they did them. Still haven't installed the springs, sure hope the car sits right...they assured me that I'd have a hard time telling if the springs were stiffer while driving the car because that was one of my concerns. Cheers, junior

[52-fan]

.....a crap shoot. if you're not really interested in the car's profile, simply add a leaf to both sides from the #1 or #2 of same type spring. There's no way you can calculate what used spring "A" will do to your ride height compared to used spring "B".

Right, but I've got time and little money. It can't hurt to try.

[63t-cab]

Yep, and if you don't like the results You can always go back.

Right, but I've got time and little money. It can't hurt to try.

[studebakerkid]

Look in the JC Whitney catalog. they used to sell an add a leaf. I have a pair under the 54 wagon and they work slick.

[Carl Purdy]

On my 51 I took 2 top leaves and cut the knobs off and put them in where the second leaf was. And it rides good sets about right.

[52-fan]

That's exactly what I was thinking of doing. I just have to find some springs to cut. I may have to hit the salvage yard with a tape and find something. I remember reading something about using an S-10 spring, but I don't remember if it was for a car application.

[Carl Purdy]

It would have to be a Stude every arch is different. That I have found.

[52-fan]

Any Studebaker or only similar years?

[Carl Purdy]

I can't tell you that. I measured the ones I had and bought a set at York.