VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 replacing 34 centre bolt

I'm about to replace a missing centre bolt on the front springs.

The spring man said I'd have to clamp the springs together, and I was under the impression the springs had to be still attached to the chassis, whilst replacing the centre bolt. He wasnt very clear on the refitting procedure.

When I got home, I had a 'quick look' and tried putting the new centre bolt in the hole, but it only went a little way in before stopping which appears one of the springs have slipped out of place. The car was still on the ground at the time.

Whats the correct way of putting in a new centre bolt?

The correct way is to take the spring off the car, align the spring leaves, clamp the springs together, insert the center bolt paying attention to the side the head should be on and then tightening the nut. The head is used to locate the spring on the axle. It fits into a socket in the axle housing or housing support. It is sometimes possible to remove the spring "u bolts" from the axle, and inserting the bolt, then tightening the nut. If you use a longer bolt and cut it off when installed you can use the bolt to draw the leaves together.

Okay.Will let you know how I go. Thanks. :)

When I took the centre bolt out, this was pretty straight forward but slow work. All I had to do was jack car and put stands under chassis, take wheel off, disconnect the front axle away from the spring and knocked/hammered the broken centre bolt out.

I noticed the entire spring assembly had shifted forward starting from the bottom leaf first., so in effect the old centre bolt was not facing directly down, but at a slant.

Aligning the spring leafs up was a pain. For awhile I thought I was going to have to disconnect the spring assembly off the chassis as aligning each hole up with each other took some doing, but found the aid of a small pen torch I could focus the light right into the top leaf hole as there isnt a great deal of room between the springs and the chassis.

I then with a flat peice of steel (the bottom leaf) tapped each leaf back and forwards until the holes 'almost lined up'. I couldnt get them to align perfect.

Putting the new centre bolt in as far as it would go, I then put a piece of wood between the top of the spring assembly near the centre bolt hole and wedged it into the bottom of chassis rail.

The centre bolt head has a slot to allow a screwdriver to be used to hold the centre bolt, whilst doing the nut up.
I used a small fat type (strong) screwdriver and placed this in the head with the handle resting on top of the axle.

Using the jack, I jacked up the axle slow, and by doing so, forcing the centre bolt through the leaf holes. The peice of wood stopped the spring assembly going up with the axle.
Because I had trouble aligning each leaf hole up, the thread was a bit burred, but still okay. The nut went on and after tightened I cut off the excess thread.
Job done.

Glad to read that job was accomplished. Sometimes they go smooth and then there is the typical ones that fight you all the way.

Truck mechanics do a lot of this work but as most of you have discovered it is usually a chore getting the shackle bolts removed from the master spring leaf. removeing the u bolts usually work fairly well, you are going to have to remove them any way you do this job. it is a good idea to clean each and every leaf some spring leaves need to be lubed before being reassembled. be sure to keep the leaves in order top to bottom, and front to rear. Replace any broken leaves, not too hard on a car with only 3 or so leaves.the spring center bolt is called a "tie bolt" because it ties the leaves together and is a one time use item. the correct one should be almost twice the length of the old bolt. and after the spring is cinched together it can be broken off or cut off with a hacksaw. When you see an old car or old truck going down the road semi- sideways it is usually because of a broken tie bolt.The ubolts really do the job of holding the springs together in addition to the tiebolt and they must really be tight and in alignment in order that the spring works properly

Just noticing what MrMack had to say.
A mate of mine and I have noticed on the 34 Standards Springs we have, the left springs have two small type helper springs attached either side of the axle on top of the spring assembly.
These are fixed firmly with the ubolts/straps.

The Right side only has one helper spring at the back part of the spring assembly but none on the front half, with the ubolt/strap on the front indicating a helper should be here, as it has been forced further towards the axle to take up the slack, but with all the right spring assemblys we have, they only have the back helper and all the ubolts/straps located on the front half have been forced/jammed down further closer towards were the axle is located.
When I think about it, there is really nothing to stop the front ubolts/strap moving forward. It's not doing the job as MrMack said it should.

Perhaps two helpers on the left side (right hand drive down here) was to allow the extra weight for the side mount spare???
Certainly it seems really strange as why there is only one helper on the right spring assembly at the back, when the ubolt/strap on the front half indicates there should be one on the front also?
If it was only just one right spring assembly, it could be ascertain that it was missing the front helper spring, but when we have about 3 or 4 sets of right spring assemblys with the front spring helper missing, the mind boggles as to why???

I think I should get some photos up on a website so I can explain better what I'm pratting on about.

Perhaps it could be that with the auto being driven on the otherside of the roadway and allowing for the crown being in the center the helpers are to allow for the weight shift being moved to the left side of the car, maybe the cars are set up for left hand roading, ( duhh) [I blew that one not knowing my right paw from my left paw, right JYD]...seems reasonable that the Aussie cars should have helpers on the left and not the right. ,due to the slant towards the left, and the weight of the driver etc ,rather than towards the left side of the roadway? that would be my reasoning, check it out if you may.EDITED 04/07/2002

Hey Mackie Wackie: Here is a little bit of triva that may help your theory as to why the helpers on the springs are on the left instead of on the right in Australia. Here in the USA, when you flush the toilet, the water swirls counter clockwise. In Australia, when they flush the toilet, the water swirls clockwise. Does that help you out any? It makes sense to me.......I think!?? :eek: :confused: :confused: :confused: :eek:

Cool! I would like to see that because us dogs have a thing about water in toilets you know! :eek: :eek:

This little "helper" springs are also used on the front springs of 1/2 ton trucks and some cars without shocks. They actually do not increase the load capacity of the spring but keep the main leaf flat. Under varying load, such as a bumpy road surface there is a tendency for the spring to flex both in a straight up and down mode but also in a rotational mode. It is the twisting motion about the axle centerline that these puppies reduce. Much like traction bars on race cars. By reducing the twisting the springs last longer, the steering is more stable and the ride is better.

I agree that there should be an equal number on both springs.

Does the '34 standard have shocks?

Boy, is a picture not worth 1000 words? Chip is right IMHO about the helper compensating for axle torque as well as weight on the low side of the roadway,

JYD, I don't watch the toilet flush ( You should drink from thr tap on the lavatory) but I did notice that the water in the shower runs out the drain, in a swirling motion.

Cool! But in which direction does the water swirl when it goes down the drain in the shower? See....ya gotta check stuff like that in case anyone like Standard34 or the JYD asks you! :eek: :eek:

You know, I don't know, swirling was all I noticed!

Check on it and let us know! :confused:

Yep anti- clockwise, but I had already went to Day-light savings time, so my clock is right.

Std'34, Looks like there is more swirling around in there besides a dog and doghair!
I bet old JYD has a scuba suit and mask for not only himself but a curvasious one for ELVIRA, what do you think?

That's what you think! I have been here all along...watching! I have been quiet while I was checking out some Chevy books and also putting air in my Elvira doll. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Yep, I saw the link! Very cute.....but ya know...it ain't nice to try to fool a Junkyard Dog! Besides, it doesn't look anything like me....or does it??

Wasn't my blow up doll because I got her tied down to my 1932 Chevy bumper. She ain't gettin' away from this JYD!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: