I want to replace the leaf springs on my 1967 Imperial, but the rubber isolator's are all cracked and split. Is there a source for new ones? Or good used? Got my springs from Espo, but they do not have a source for them. Any help appreciated. These are the ones by the shock plates.
1967 Imperial leaf spring isolator
- Thread starter dge472
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Can you post a picture of what you're referring to?
Most of the parts to rebuild leaf springs are available from various vendors on eBay, however, they may be known by other terms.
The plastic pads (interliners), the fabric inner liners, the zinc liners, the spring pack clamps and rubber bits, the spring eye bushings, the spring centre bolt, the u-bolts, etc. etc. Just gotta search for it by the right name.
Also, most good spring shops will have aftermarket sources for most of these parts.
Learn about what parts make up leaf spring assemblies and then search for the parts on eBay. The factory parts catalogue is a big help for that. Once I knew the names of the parts, in a 5 minute search I found these hits:
There are these:
Reinforcing Plates
Although these are for A/B/E body cars, many of the actual parts are generic, and can be bought individually. This shows the plastic pads, zinc liners and clamps and rubbers I speak of:
Leaf spring rebuild package
Interliners
Interliners
Rubber pads for spring pack clamps
Rubber spring clamp pads
Most of the parts to rebuild leaf springs are available from various vendors on eBay, however, they may be known by other terms.
The plastic pads (interliners), the fabric inner liners, the zinc liners, the spring pack clamps and rubber bits, the spring eye bushings, the spring centre bolt, the u-bolts, etc. etc. Just gotta search for it by the right name.
Also, most good spring shops will have aftermarket sources for most of these parts.
Learn about what parts make up leaf spring assemblies and then search for the parts on eBay. The factory parts catalogue is a big help for that. Once I knew the names of the parts, in a 5 minute search I found these hits:
There are these:
Reinforcing Plates
Although these are for A/B/E body cars, many of the actual parts are generic, and can be bought individually. This shows the plastic pads, zinc liners and clamps and rubbers I speak of:
Leaf spring rebuild package
Interliners
Interliners
Rubber pads for spring pack clamps
Rubber spring clamp pads
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These?
Is that an Imp only rubber pad that is in the spring pack centre, and the centre bolt runs through it? Hard to tell from that photo.
Regardless, one could make something that works well, I would think.
Great pencil by the way!
Regardless, one could make something that works well, I would think.
Great pencil by the way!
Yikes - thems some worn out springs! Glad you got new ones.
So I did some more digging - and I owe you an apology - you are totally correct with the terminology for that part. Leaf Spring Isolator. Group 17-10-11.
There are two per pack - one above, one below, at least according to the 1967 parts catalogue. They are an Imperial only part, and from what I can ascertain, they also have a central bushing within them to deal with the centre bolt. So a total of 4 per vehicle.
The part number is 2403 456 I expect they're the same for 68, if not the same for 66 as well, since the cars are very similar. I haven't checked the parts books.
Where to find them? Who knows? No joy on PartsVoice. However, I would talk to the truck and large car spring people - I expect there are alternatives that would do the job.
Rummaging around on Google comes up with things like this:
Leaf Spring Isolator Pads by Energy Suspension
They even have the little bushings... so perhaps, not all is lost. I expect one could carefully drill out the centre hole if required, and install the bushings...
Nolathane also makes similar products:
Steele Rubber makes similar ones for Ford full size cars:
1964-1973 Ford Rear Leaf Spring Insulator | Steele Rubber Products
Whether these are the right size is a research question, but there is hope!
There are two per pack - one above, one below, at least according to the 1967 parts catalogue. They are an Imperial only part, and from what I can ascertain, they also have a central bushing within them to deal with the centre bolt. So a total of 4 per vehicle.
The part number is 2403 456 I expect they're the same for 68, if not the same for 66 as well, since the cars are very similar. I haven't checked the parts books.
Where to find them? Who knows? No joy on PartsVoice. However, I would talk to the truck and large car spring people - I expect there are alternatives that would do the job.
Rummaging around on Google comes up with things like this:
Leaf Spring Isolator Pads by Energy Suspension
They even have the little bushings... so perhaps, not all is lost. I expect one could carefully drill out the centre hole if required, and install the bushings...
Nolathane also makes similar products:
Steele Rubber makes similar ones for Ford full size cars:
1964-1973 Ford Rear Leaf Spring Insulator | Steele Rubber Products
Whether these are the right size is a research question, but there is hope!
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I have the complete rear axle with leaf spring assembly that I pulled from the 1966 convertible and it does not have these isolators. They are definitely 1967, 1968 and I would be willing to bet. Also used in 1969 and possibly later.
Presumably you could add these isolators to any C body to get similar road noise isolation and ride quality?
fury fan
Senior Member
You would need to have the 2 metal parts called 'clamp'.
And potentially the centerpin hole in the axle's spring perches might need to be enlarged.
IIRC the mid-late 70s cars all used ISO-clamp, and the one car I fiddled with had large holes in the perches.
So I installed my leaf springs last week. I ended up using isolators made for Volare and Aspen's. They fit the spring fine. They were a tad short in length, but they seem ok. I did have to remove just a tiny bit of material from the outside of the nub that that fits in the centering hole. I used Energy Suspension polyurethane isolators by the way. One spring the center bolt was broken off. I bought new springs from Espo. Heavy duty with 1 inch lift. I painted all the spring hangers and shackles. New bushings all around and U bolts. Also new shocks. Rides great!
Great info. Will be going this route on my 67 Crown shortly. Appreciate you clarifying the Volare/Aspen isolators fit with minor tweeking. Since I've never done this upgrade I have a few questions before I proceed.
- The 1" lift does not look too excessive. Do you have photos showing the side and rear view? I'm looking to get a slightly more aggressive stance (I know - sensitive issue), but not come off as a lifted hot rod.
- What spring rate and capacity are the ESPOs? I could ask Laura at ESPO, but if you got it please share.
- I assume you replaced the track bar bushings? OE rubber or poly and source? Any issues with the lift from the springs in connecting the bar? On a side note, the bar in your picture appears to be bowed downward - hopefully it's just the picture optics?
- What shock and tire combo are you running?
Since everybody's definition of "rides great" is different some observations about firmness and handling would be helpful to ease my concerns about using the HD springs and poly combo on my "Stella".
Thanks for your help. Btw, nice looking LeBaron!
- The 1" lift does not look too excessive. Do you have photos showing the side and rear view? I'm looking to get a slightly more aggressive stance (I know - sensitive issue), but not come off as a lifted hot rod.
- What spring rate and capacity are the ESPOs? I could ask Laura at ESPO, but if you got it please share.
- I assume you replaced the track bar bushings? OE rubber or poly and source? Any issues with the lift from the springs in connecting the bar? On a side note, the bar in your picture appears to be bowed downward - hopefully it's just the picture optics?
- What shock and tire combo are you running?
Since everybody's definition of "rides great" is different some observations about firmness and handling would be helpful to ease my concerns about using the HD springs and poly combo on my "Stella".
Thanks for your help. Btw, nice looking LeBaron!
I can add a few pics, not sure if they are the angles you need. I do not know the spring rates. The track bar is straight, must be a trick of the lighting? I had to reuse the old bushings until I find a source for new ones. It was kind of a pain to reinstall, but I could not get the other side loose and I didn't want to heat it up and damage the bushing. I used KYB Excel G shocks. It rides so much better than wonky old springs with air shocks! To me I think it sits perfectly
Cool, Thanks for the additional pics and info. Yes, I too like the stance.
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Iirc the track bar bushings are the same found on your common shock absorber.
I just bought 3 NOS leaf spring isolators and will be looking into getting them reproduced.
I just bought 3 NOS leaf spring isolators and will be looking into getting them reproduced.
Ditto the thanks for the info on track bar bushings.
Keep us posted on your effort to get the leaf spring isolators reproduced. Many years ago I purchased 2 NOS isolators under the mistaken belief that only one was needed per side. Oh well.... Happy to offer them as templates or assist you in this quest if needed.
Keep us posted on your effort to get the leaf spring isolators reproduced. Many years ago I purchased 2 NOS isolators under the mistaken belief that only one was needed per side. Oh well.... Happy to offer them as templates or assist you in this quest if needed.
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Got the template part covered now but thanks. I just need to start making some calls.
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