Leaf Spring Questions

[Toy350GT]

What is this top spring for?
Is it original to the car?

Also the passenger spring clamp is in a different position than the driver side.
Is this normal.

See attached pics.


Thanks
Bruce Wertman

[TA Coupe]

From memory, I do not believe the top leaf should be like that. The clamps look like their aftermarket, and sometimes people would clamp the leaves together when they were drag racing. You used to be able to buy aftermarket clamps to do that, and I think likewood was one of the companies that sold them.

     Roy

[Bob Gaines]

What is this top spring for?
Is it original to the car?

Also the passenger spring clamp is in a different position than the driver side.
Is this normal.

See attached pics.


Thanks
Bruce Wertman

Those are not original Shelby springs .They are some kind of aftermarket spring.

[CSX4781]

In that top photo, the main leaf appears to be damaged (bent).

Dave

[roddster]

Of did someone take the spring stack apart and shuffle the spring? For whatever reason.

[Bob Gaines]

Of did someone take the spring stack apart and shuffle the spring? For whatever reason.

The physical characteristics of the springs in the spring stack are different than original Ford .

[Toy350GT]

In that top photo, the main leaf appears to be damaged (bent).

Dave

Both sides the top spring is identical with the same arch.
I figured that in might have something to do with traction or wheel hop.
It would work like a helper spring but opposite.
If the main spring wound up and hit that top spring it would reduced the wind up and hop.
I found it because the passenger side was hitting the floor board over certain bumps.

I figured it was the same issue with the clamp difference it was for traction or to reduce wheel hop/spring wind up.

[Toy350GT]

In that top photo, the main leaf appears to be damaged (bent).

Dave

Both sides the top spring is identical with the same arch.
I figured that in might have something to do with traction or wheel hop.
It would work like a helper spring but opposite.
If the main spring wound up and hit that top spring it would reduced the wind up and hop.
I found it because the passenger side was hitting the floor board over certain bumps.

I figured it was the same issue with the clamp difference it was for traction or to reduce wheel hop/spring wind up.

Also isn't it typical that the top spring is connected to the chassis?
That would rule out that it is bent or missing a clamp.

[Bob Gaines]

In that top photo, the main leaf appears to be damaged (bent).

Dave

Both sides the top spring is identical with the same arch.
I figured that in might have something to do with traction or wheel hop.
It would work like a helper spring but opposite.
If the main spring wound up and hit that top spring it would reduced the wind up and hop.
I found it because the passenger side was hitting the floor board over certain bumps.

I figured it was the same issue with the clamp difference it was for traction or to reduce wheel hop/spring wind up.

Also isn't it typical that the top spring is connected to the chassis?
That would rule out that it is bent or missing a clamp.

The speculation one way or the other doesn't really matter if you plan on replacing the spring with something more historically correct . If historically correct doesn't matter then you may be interested to know that a day two type traction or wheel hope helper would have been a set of traction master traction bars. The odd spring configuration like what is there now and other similar reverse eye etc. leaf springs weren't typically seen until the 1980's to begin with.

[pbf777]

    No, the top spring as installed isn't really going to aid in controlling "wheel-hop", wrong position, won't be involved in anything but gross main leaf distortions, but this after they already existed; now it might aid in limiting "axle drop" when the suspension were unloaded. 

    Right now, it's just dead weight! 

    Scott.