SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Aug 31, 2014 11:42:17 GMT -8
If anyone has replaced their leaf springs on their first generation Compact, could you please tell me what size/model/source you replaced them with? I know I can measure them but mine are pretty flattened. I really need to go ahead and order some or call the local trailer place and have them order them so they can put them on when I'm finally finished (soon I hope).
Edit: My 1962 Shasta Compact has 27" double eyelet springs. They fit without having to move the brackets.
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Aug 31, 2014 17:04:26 GMT -8
If anyone has replaced their leaf springs on their first generation Compact, could you please tell me what size/model/source you replaced them with? I know I can measure them but mine are pretty flattened. I really need to go ahead and order some or call the local trailer place and have them order them so they can put them on when I'm finally finished (soon I hope). The best way to do it is to remove the springs, and take to a spring shop for a rebuild. They have everything "in stock" to rebuild the leaves. They will re-arch the springs for about $75 per side. Even better, take the entire trailer to them so they can see and measure the amount of sag. They will rebuild the springs and put it right on the money. Rebuilding old original springs, is better than the steel you will get in the new Chinese replacement springs, and they will be the correct length, width, arch, and weight rating.
The go to places in Los Angeles are Atlas Spring in City of Industry, CA. (In business for about three generations)
In Orange County it is Deaver Springs, in Santa Ana, CA. (In business over 100 years)
Every large area has a local truck spring shop. Call around and ask the off road 4-Wheeler guys.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Aug 31, 2014 17:47:43 GMT -8
John, I don't want to be the one to attempt to remove the springs and I don't live near a large city. I'm on a timeline now. I need to get this finished.
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Aug 31, 2014 18:03:11 GMT -8
John, I don't want to be the one to attempt to remove the springs and I don't live near a large city. I'm on a timeline now. I need to get this finished. Leaf springs are old (very old) school technology. They are more common in rural areas on trucks, and farm equipment trailers, than any city area.
Somebody in your area does this work, and they would pull the springs and repair them as necessary, for a reasonable price. The two Southern California shops I listed, do heavy duty semi trucks/trailer's, "large" tow trucks, dump trucks, garbage trucks, and any kind of leaf spring vehicle, they also do lots of four wheel drive off road vehicles, call around before you give up.
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Post by bigbill on Aug 31, 2014 18:06:38 GMT -8
SusieQ You might be surprised what is close to you check around as John suggests. I would bet that there is a spring repair shop not very far away. Trucks are everywhere and trucks break springs so ask around, even if you have to take it a little way away it will most likely be to your advantage to have a professional shop check out your springs bushings and shackles along with the mounting points. You can get an idea of the amount of sag you have by comparing it to pictures in advertisements, check where the wheel sits in relation to the bottom of the trailer sides in the ads then look at yours.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Aug 31, 2014 18:34:59 GMT -8
Yes, somebody does it. I know where to go. I can't take my trailer now to have them removed and rebuilt or for them to look at it and order the correct springs. If I wait until I have everything else ready to roll, then order springs and have an app't for them to be installed, I'm going to miss my deadline. I just need to order some new springs or tell them what to order for me.
I know I have sag. I can barely crawl under it and that is with it on leveling jacks. Also, they are very rusty including the cotter pins holding the bolts in.
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Post by bigbill on Aug 31, 2014 20:19:43 GMT -8
If they can repair springs and possibly make new leaves you should be able to make an appointment to have it repaired and they should be able to take it in and repair it in a few hours. What John is talking about is re-arching the old springs which they probably can do, if not they most likely have trailer springs in stock. I would call them and ask a few questions you may be surprised. Ask about having your existing springs rebuilt and the bushings and bolts replaced while you wait or can you pick it up later in the day after you are done shopping.
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Post by vikx on Aug 31, 2014 22:48:29 GMT -8
Also, keep in mind that *new* springs are not made in the same lengths as our older springs. I've had trouble and had to re-weld the spring brackets. Nothing is easy with these things...
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Post by bigbill on Sept 1, 2014 4:49:41 GMT -8
Also, keep in mind that *new* springs are not made in the same lengths as our older springs. I've had trouble and had to re-weld the spring brackets. Nothing is easy with these things... A decent spring shop should either have the right size springs in stock or be able to make them. Most leaf springs are just a matter of selecting the right leaves and then using a bending press to form the proper arch and bolting them together. If in doubt as to stock, measure the main leaf exact length following the arch from bolt center to bolt center plus the width and thickness of the leaf and the shop should be able to tell you if they can supply the proper main leaf and bend it to the right arch. The secondary leaves are just flat stock that they bend to the proper arch. I have watched our local shop make a spring in less than 30 minutes.
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nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Sept 1, 2014 5:23:00 GMT -8
When our Forester needed springs, I took it down to a truck spring shop. The springs are easy enough to get off but when they haven't been changed in 50 years it can be a real tug of war. For $100 extra they did the install. 30 years ago I would have climbed under and spent the day knuckle-busting to save $100, but not now. Finding "off the rack" springs was impossible. The old-timer who owned the shop said the best thing would be to reweld (as Vikx said) the spring brackets. It's been a year and several trips later and it seems to be working perfectly.
On a side note, many spring shops wanted to "raise" the camper. In the South it's common on old campers as they make the transition to off road hunting lodges to jack them up several inches. Make clear you want it the original height. I actually drew a line on the tire and said "No more than this much tire showing in the wheel well". They grumbled, but they did it.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Sept 1, 2014 5:37:04 GMT -8
Also, keep in mind that *new* springs are not made in the same lengths as our older springs. I've had trouble and had to re-weld the spring brackets. Nothing is easy with these things... This is my concern about trying to find new springs. I just want some info from someone out there who's had theirs replaced on a trailer like mine. I understand all the above info and thanks, but THERE IS NO SPRING SHOP HERE! I can find someone to rebuild them, but it won't be a thirty minute job. I have one vehicle that's been in the shop since Nov., waiting for new head gaskets. If I were back home in Mississippi, this would not be a problem. IF they are a standard size, I can get someone to replace them. And Vikx, I've read other accounts of people having to re-weld the brackets to make them fit. I think there's a hotel room in my future.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Sept 1, 2014 5:58:49 GMT -8
Found a spring shop in Richmond, VA, 83 miles from me.
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Post by bigbill on Sept 1, 2014 7:26:04 GMT -8
Found a spring shop in Richmond, VA, 83 miles from me. Good now measure your springs then call them and see if they stock or can make springs to fit. Also ask them about rearching your old springs and possibly adding an extra leaf or two for more support. I was not saying thirty minutes to completely make and install a spring, I was talking about just making one spring.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Sept 1, 2014 7:53:25 GMT -8
I will, Bill. I've got a knowledgeable friend trying to find a competent person/business closer to me.
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Sept 1, 2014 8:28:54 GMT -8
Here's the scoop as to why in many cases "new trailer springs" don't always fit on our "old trailer's".
Trailer springs have become more or less standardized over the years. You can go on line and buy really cheap "common size" spring replacements, and yes they are all made in China today. The dimensions are the length from spring eye to spring eye. The width, and the rate for (1/2) the weight of the trailer on a single axle trailer.
Here's why the above springs won't fit your old trailer in many cases. Most of the 1950's trailers we are rebuilding were built originally with WWII surplus materials. One of the common surplus parts was, you guessed it, axle SPRINGS. They were originally made for Willy's ARMY Jeeps, and they were sold dirt cheap to the trailer manufacturers as war surplus materials after the war! They have a unique length for the width and rating. Not any problem for the trailer manufacturer at the time, because they welded the mounting points to fit. Custom made Willy's springs are no longer cheap, and no war surplus springs exists today. It's now much cheaper to rework your original springs.
This information was given to me by a local spring shop that is still located today only a couple of miles from the El Monte, CA location that was the birth place for thousands of travel trailer's built under many different brands after WWII in the 1950's.
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