Leaf spring question. Mopar car.

[shady]

I'm working on a 79 Chrysler Cordoba.

The rear springs look to be in decent condition. But I'm puzzled by the front spring eye.

Everything appears stock, and like it's supposed to be this way. But I can't figure out how that's possible. The hooked end of the spring is the front where it bolts to the car. And it uses an oval style bushing. The one pictured.

The old bushings were rotted real bad. But the spring hook seems to have minimal pitting it's self.

To me the first time you mashed the gas and the axle pushed forward it would push the spring right off of the bushing..... I'm I off base there?

I cannot find a pic of a new spring to see if a portion somehow rotted, broke off in a 90* line, in the same place on both springs, and with no other significant corrosion present.

I can get better pics tomorrow. Right now I'm going with the pics I took during the cleanup process.

 

[shady]

Every other leaf spring I've seen with an oval bushing has a bend somewhere that keeps it in place.

 

[sweetk30]

they were noted for years for braking that half of the wrap off .

years ago my buddy found a old leaf spring guy who knew of a part# fo another mopar that the main leaf swapped over from and was a std round eye . my self and him have since forgot the part # main leaf to use for the swap .

find a good old spring shop and ask them if they recall or hit up a few of the chat forums . i am sure the part# is out there .

as soon as i read the title i know what the question was going to be from this problem being common .

 

[ktmoutfront]

Do a leaf spring flip so slides on top. Instant lowering set up.

I am really no help. But I do remember seeing that before.

 

[shady]

I found the new springs. That part wasn't hard. But what I couldn't find was confirmation that these weren't right. There's no indication that they aren't supposed to be that way, except the fact that it just feels wrong.

If that is broke off. It's the oddest, weirdest, and sort of coolest coincidental break I've ever seen.

We picked up a set of the Ford 57"s to replace them if need be. And it's looking like that's the route. But I was hoping we didn't need them.

 

[shady]

Looking at the side by side you can tell something is wrong... But individually, they look like they should be that way lol... Looks like we're using the Ford ones I guess.

 

[diesel4me]

I don't see how that goofy design would work,or last for very long!.
One good pothole could either break off that loop,or let the bushing slide out..not one of Mopar's best ideas I'd say!..

My G-10 van had the drivers side main leaf eye (forward facing rear spring eye) get busted off about halfway around the eye,after I got rear-ended in it..this went undetected for quite some time!--I drove it 65 miles each way to a concert right after the accident,didn't notice anything unusual...till one day I got a flat tire,and when I jacked it up with the bumper jack,the tire remained on the ground,and I saw the leaf spring hanging there ,the bushing still bolted in the bracket !..
I had to use a bottle jack under the axle instead..

The spring was held in place by the weight of the van on it only,I was surprised it hadn't jumped out after driving on very rough roads .

Rather than replace the spring or main leaf,I took a piece of flat steel about 3/16" thick and as wide as the leafs,heated it up,wrapped it around the spring eye,made it a few inches longer so I could put two 3/8" thick steel plates (that look like spring shackles) to clamp the steel around the spring eye..I ended up driving it a few years that way,it still needs to be fixed "right" but it hasn't been on the road since 2003..

If spring eyes with a full round eye will bust off like mine did,I'd not want to trust that poor design !..

 

[Justin V]

Those spring eyes are definitely broken. The break isn't even close to a straight cut that would exist in the manufacturing process.