Replacement Leaf Springs Needed

[HWYCRZR]

I just replaced mine with ESPO (Springs and Things) which was a little less than these at $410 for the pair plus shipping. Although to Europe the shipping may be the differential.
Was $420 for the 7 leaf. I bought the 6 leaf as that was standard for my car ( 5-1/2 leaf), but added the 1/2 leaf from my old pack, so now I have a 6-1/2 spring pack instead of the original 5-1/2.

 

[Stargazer]

I just replaced mine with ESPO (Springs and Things) which was a little less than these at $410 for the pair plus shipping. Although to Europe the shipping may be the differential.
Was $420 for the 7 leaf. I bought the 6 leaf as that was standard for my car ( 5-1/2 leaf), but added the 1/2 leaf from my old pack, so now I have a 6-1/2 spring pack instead of the original 5-1/2.

$ 420 for a pair seems reasonable. Although shipping and Dutch taxes might double that price.

Eaton is asking $475 for a six leaves spring each?!
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[Boydsdodge]

Would these spring sets from either company be a match for looks to the Chrysler sets of springs?

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Eaton Detroit was the OEM supplier to Chrysler back in the 60s.

 

[Big_John]

Eaton Detroit was the OEM supplier to Chrysler back in the 60s.

Sorry for the red X, but that is not correct. Eaton Detroit is a "Mom and Pop" shop that makes replacement springs. The place itself isn't big enough. About - EATON Detroit Spring

I don't have access to Dun & Bradstreet since I retired, or I could give you their numbers. (Employees, annual revenue etc.)

A little more about them: EATON Detroit Spring, Inc. — Corktown Business Association

I'm not sure who the supplier was, but it possibly was Eaton Manufacturing, an entirely different and much, much larger supplier. Eaton Corporation - Wikipedia

 

[HWYCRZR]

$ 420 for a pair seems reasonable. Although shipping and Dutch taxes might double that price.

Eaton is asking $475 for a six leaves spring each?!
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Yes when I looked at both Eaton was double.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Thanks for setting me straight on that, @Big_John .

 

[Stargazer]

Yes when I looked at both Eaton was double.

Wow!

 

[Boydsdodge]

$1200 for a pair of Imperial springs. If they are made to order and are exact, I get it. Just the gas bill in that shop must be huge.

 

[twostick]

Thanks for setting me straight on that, @Big_John .

I think they acquired all the original blueprints for just about every spring ever made. They claim they build to the original blueprint, hardware and all, so the spring will be OEM correct.

I was underwhelmed with the ones I purchased 20 years ago. They looked fantastic but they were only slightly less humped over than the 40 year old originals when installed, and were over $300 at the time.

Kevin

 

[Big_John]

I think they acquired all the original blueprints for just about every spring ever made. They claim they build to the original blueprint, hardware and all, so the spring will be OEM correct.

I'm not sure about the "original equipment blueprints". It's a little vague. That could be just some reverse engineering using a tape measure on an original spring. They could have the real deal blueprints too. Who knows?

But I did find this. Interesting that they have overhead belt driven machinery.

 

[MoPar~Man]

I can't believe that something as structurally simple as a set of leaf springs can't be remanufactured / refurbished locally. Especially when you're in Europe. I fail to see where getting a new set of springs made by some certain special and unique company is that much better vs having your original's re-sprung, and with an extra leaf thrown in (if that's what you're also getting from special-co).

Does Eaton do what any other spring shop would do? Except they go by a thick book of spec's - and they have UPS on speed-dial?

 

[twostick]

I can't believe that something as structurally simple as a set of leaf springs can't be remanufactured / refurbished locally. Especially when you're in Europe. I fail to see where getting a new set of springs made by some certain special and unique company is that much better vs having your original's re-sprung, and with an extra leaf thrown in (if that's what you're also getting from special-co).

Does Eaton do what any other spring shop would do? Except they go by a thick book of spec's - and they have UPS on speed-dial?

The problem is steel eventually always goes back to its original state, which is flat. Spring steel requires a heat treat process that is incorporated into its forming. After a bazillion or 5 load cycles, it too sags back towards flat.

Re-arching for the most part is just putting the spring in a press and bending the arch back in. Without the heat part of the process, the steel will just go back flat several bazillion load cycles sooner.

Kevin

 

[twostick]

Some about info for Detroit Eaton.

About - EATON Detroit Spring

About Our Company Since 1937, car guys and gals have bought from, trusted, and shouted from the rooftops all about EATON Detroit Spring. Here’s just a couple reasons why: We have over 24,000 Original Manufacturer Spring Blueprints. So can we make springs for your vehicle? Probably. And if we...

www.eatondetroitspring.com

Kevin

 

[MoPar~Man]

https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/re-arching-leaf-springs-a-lost-art/

An article written in 2006, so almost 20 years ago. In it, they say:

"Few companies have the equipment and know how required to heat-treat a spring. This makes the process much more costly than cold setting. A pair of leaf springs was recently re-arched by the cold setting process at a cost of $100. It would cost a minimum of $450 to have the same job done by the heat-treating method."

If Detroit Eaton is, TODAY, selling you a NEW pair of springs, sprung and heat-treated to your car's specs, for $450, then that is some trick. And you have only their word that they simply didn't take existing spring bar stock, cut and cold-bend it to shape, put it in a box and ship it to you.

 

[Metalmarty]

@Stargazer
I've received a pair of 7 leaf springs from ESPO Springs n things last week with hangers, bushings and bolts.
Price and Laura's help are both great!

I've used a freight forwarder to get parts from the US to the netherlands paying for volume and not by weight.
Takes a couple of months since it's sea freight, but that was fine by me.

 

[Stargazer]

Yes when I looked at both Eaton was double.

Yes. Maybe better quality..

 

[Stargazer]

@Stargazer
I've received a pair of 7 leaf springs from ESPO Springs n things last week with hangers, bushings and bolts.
Price and Laura's help are both great!

I've used a freight forwarder to get parts from the US to the netherlands paying for volume and not by weight.
Takes a couple of months since it's sea freight, but that was fine by me.

Ok thanks. Good to know. I will keep that in mind. Just curious, what did you have to pay for shipping, and Dutch taxes? If you don't mind me asking.

 

[Metalmarty]

Using the freight forwarder I needed to send the parts to South Carolina where it's packed in the container. Can't remember shipping cost from ESPO to SC, think it was low 100USD???
From there I've paid 165eu for shipping, 64eu for export declaration, 21eu for import declaration (that was for shipping 2 leafs/shackles/bolts, but also for a new driveshaft and a full box of A&A transmission stuff)

So base price for shipping is 250eu and Handling cost is 12.50eu per box.
For specifically Leafs/shackles/bolts VAT was around 160eu and import duty around 35eu I think.


Not cheap, but still cheaper than sending the leafs directly.
Don't remember exactly what the shipping costs directly from ESPO to me were, but I think somewhere around 350-450USD and VAT/Duty is calculated on Part price + Shipping.


Because I've combined shipping with other heavy/large/odd dimension parts which drastically lowers total shipping cost it was worth it.

If you only need the springs and no other parts you can also think of ordering it via moparshop germany.
Leaf Spring C-Body 67-69 Full Size 4dr Htp., 349,78 €
(No idea what brand/quality it is)

 

[MoPar~Man]

If you're buying new 7-leaf packs when you're car originally had 5 or 5.5 leafs, then the argument about obtaining "properly" heat-treated leafs that match the original factory specs is thrown out the window. You have no argument that you end up with a better or longer-lasting or more proper end result vs taking your original leafs to a local shop, have them cold-reform them and add an extra leaf to them.

I understand a lot of heavy trucks and trailers having their existing leafs is common, so that's why there are still these local companies that do it.