Making lift springs

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I found a site
edit; http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90824
that showed how to reverse spring eyes, and the way that is done is to bend the springs so the arc is reversed. I figured that if you can bend the spring backwards, then you could also bend the spring MORE than stock. I've done that on one spring so it matches some others I have that I'm using for another project. It wasn't hard, I used a 12 ton hydraulic press that's worth ~C$120.00 at P.A.
Some pics so you get a better idea of what I'm talking about;

I put in the reverse bends that you can see ~ 6" in from the ends

I moved the spring about an inch each time and used about 4 strokes of the jack handle after first contact.

original curve

half done

finished

I moved the spring about an inch each time and used about 4 strokes of the jack handle after first contact.

It works as proof of concept. I have heard that they won't last as long as factory lift springs and that makes sense but its cheap. I'll be trying this on my b-II when I get a chance.
Oh, and be very careful!! I broke the first spring I tried this on and wacked a finger pretty bad.

After that I made sure that my hands were not in line with the direction the spring would go if it breaks. That was simple, I just moved the jack handle over a few inches

Richard

 

[upnsmoke]

Very cool. I have some interest in doing this myself. You lost me, however, with this part-

I found a site that showed how to reverse spring eyes, and the way that is done is to bend the springs so the arc is reversed. I figured that if you can bend the spring backwards, then you could also bend the spring MORE than stock.

Mind giving the site where you found the information? I would much appreciate it, as, like I say, I will be doing something like this in the near future with some Chevy springs for my own truck. It looks like the one you have pictured here came out pretty nice. Will be very interesting to see how they hold up. Must have made a healthy bang when you broke the one.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

1st post edited for site

 

[upnsmoke]

I see now. They actually bent the spring far enough to reverse the arc on it and put it back on upside down. I am surprised that can be done without breaking the spring, but then again, I don't know anything about springs. You didn't go that far with the one you did, did you?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The two bends 6" in from the ends are bent at least that far, probably farther as it's one sharp bend. That's probably why the first one broke, the second one I didn't bend quite as far. I don't think there will be any worries about breakage if you are bending in the same curve as original.
edit; online info suggests that you should NOT bend more than the radius of 25 times the thickness of the spring.
Richard

 

[upnsmoke]

How about that. Well, I guess this is a good excuse to get myself a hydraulic press, been wanting one anyway. My pop already flipped his lid at me the other day when I dragged in a WWII belt sander I picked up for free, now he's really going to lose it. Anyway, judging by what you have done, I think this definitely works. I think I will go ahead and swap springs when my 8.8 goes back in (another thing taking up floor space right now), get rid of my lift blocks and go this route. Good work man, and thanks for taking the time to post it.
edit in regard to your edit- Okay, we have a number to go by then, that's good.

 

[Uncle JuJu]

I have heard a lot of mixed reviews about this process! I would also like to try it out. I think it works as long as you add that spring to a pack with more arch. Or in their case simply reinstall it in the same pack. So the spring isn't fighting the others.

From what I know this process weakens the springs! And therefore they will snap sooner or later.. Not saying that it won't last for some time though..

I may try this with a set of yota springs I have just for grins! Afterall my Harbor Freight pipe kindergarten should work nicely for this!

 

[Uncle JuJu]

edit; online info suggests that you should NOT bend more than the radius of 25 times the thickness of the spring.
Richard

Could you expand on this?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Who knows how good the info is and I'm not an engineer but....as a general rule to start with, I'm game. My thoughts and observations so far is that it's something to pay attention to. The first spring that I bent broke, and I was trying to put in a sharp, reverse angle bend. I will have to take some measurements and see how close I came to the 'radius rule'.
I agree that this is not going to last like a lift spring would as you are adding to the natural curvature and quenching and heat-treating that was put in from the factory. But as a cheap 'person' I want to see how far this will take me. I could spend $700.00 or more on a set of leafs....oh, damn, I don't have $700.00!
If I get 6 months out of this I'll be happy. At the same time I'm doing this mod I'll be cleaning up the springs and shackles and bushings. Once that's done it should not be hard to re-arch the springs again when they need it.
Buy the way, it took me a lot longer to clean the spring than bend it. I wish I had a sand blaster...and a compressor to run one.


Richard

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Some links with good info;
http://www.eatonsprings.com/rearching.htm
http://www.eatonsprings.com/techquestions/mainpage.htm
http://www.eatonsprings.com/techinfo.htm

Richard

 

[Explorin94]

Be very careful doing that. There is alot of stored energy in those springs. My suggestion is put something over the long end of the spring while it is in the press just so it doesn't fly across the shop and either destroy or kill someone or something. Put something over it like you would with a cable from a vehicles winch with tension on it.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

^^^ very good advice. In my first post I showed a broken spring that happened to me the first time I tried this but this needs repeating!!!! BE VERY CAREFUL! DO NOT HAVE YOUR BODY/PARTS IN FRONT OF OR ABOVE THE SPRING WHEN BENDING!

Richard

 

[straycat]

Be very careful doing that. There is alot of stored energy in those springs. My suggestion is put something over the long end of the spring while it is in the press just so it doesn't fly across the shop and either destroy or kill someone or something. Put something over it like you would with a cable from a vehicles winch with tension on it.

+2 on this. Plus, springs can be totally unpredictable as well when trying to alter them for your ride. You can have severe stress and fatigue issues after a load has been placed on them. It really is best to have a pro do this so you don't have to worry about an accident happening and causing injury or death. Reading something on the web and then trying to do it is sometimes great and other times it is not. Just be careful, Bro!!!