Chevrolet CMP C15 cab 11 body 2A1

[Jacek Nitkiewicz]

We have problem with separating leaf springs from rear axle, nothing we tried worked, any fresh ideas how to do it ?

[hrpearce]

Personally for safety after reassembly I would cut the U bolts and have new ones made.

[Bob Carriere]

It will cost money but the old ones may be stretched to near failure.... have new ones made.

Be carful when you cut the existing U bolts .... in case the center bolt may have failed or will fail when cutting the U bolts.

You should carefully inspect the spring pins and hangers for wear and the brass inserts may need replacing...... Dirk has original NOS pins..... well greased they will out live you.

Bob C

[cletrac (RIP)]

Fire up the torch and heat the castings to get the U bolts out. If they come out OK I wouldn't hesitate to re-use them.

[chris vickery]

U bolts are cheap, at least here in Canada.
I was having trouble sourcing NOS ones for my M38A1 CDN 3 as they are sized differently from pattern 53 Jeep ones. I went to my local heavy truck suspension place and they made me what I needed on the spot while I waited.
If I recall correctly, they were quite inexpensive. I think they were $10 each including new nuts.
Broken leaf springs are a road hazard and an axle coming loose is like playing Russian Roulette...
Suspension is often overlooked.

[Grant Bowker]

In case the center bolt that holds the spring pack is broken, you may wish to do as my local heavy truck shop does to ensure against spring leaves flying apart as you loosen or cut the old u-bolts. They use sturdy F clamps (C clamps would work) to hold the leaves together, both as they cut the U-bolts and more importantly as they prepare to install a new center bolt.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Jacek

As pointed out the springs may be under a lot of tension if the center bolt has broken. Here are two photos of how I uncompressed and then reassembled the springs when I restored my HUP.

W 2-24 Beast Rebuild Camera 005.jpg W 2-24 Beast Rebuild Spring Uncompressed.jpg

The funny red and white lines on the springs were so I could be sure to get them assembled back together with all the leafs going back in the same order and not getting mixed from one spring to another.

Go light on painting the leafs too much paint will make it hard to get the bolts through the spring clips and as the paint wears from movement of the springs the leafs will tend to separate.

Also once you have the truck all assembled and have driven it 1000 miles remember to re-tighten the U-bolts, while you are doing that check all the body mount bolts as well. On my HUP I discovered stuff that was tight when first assembled was loose after driving.

Cheers Phil

Cheers Phil