EATON Detroit Spring

The leading manufacturer of leaf and coil springs for the street rod and restoration automotive industries

We Help Maintain American Icons by Manufacturing Leaf and Coil Springs Right Here in America

Phone: 1 (313) 963-3839
Fax: 1 (313) 963-7047

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Products
    • Suspension Parts
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Shocks
      • Attaching Parts And Hardware
      • Installation Kits
      • Leaf Spring Shackle Replacement Kits & Parts
    • Street Rod Suspension Parts
      • Mustang II Front End Springs
      • 48 Inch Truck Springs
    • Allstate - Chrysler
      • Allstate
      • American Motors
      • Bricklin
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chevrolet Truck
      • Chrysler
    • Daimler - Ford
      • Daimler
      • DeSoto
      • Dodge
      • Dodge Truck
      • Edsel
      • Ford
      • Ford Truck
    • GMC - Jeep
      • GMC
      • Honda
      • Hudson
      • Hudson Truck
      • Hummer
      • International
      • Jeep
    • Kaiser Darrin - Nissan
      • Kaiser Darrin
      • Kaiser-Frazer
      • LaSalle
      • Lincoln
      • MAHINDRA
      • Mercury
      • MG
      • Nash
      • Nissan
    • Oldsmobile - Rambler
      • Oldsmobile
      • Plymouth
      • Plymouth Truck
      • Pontiac
      • Rambler
    • Sterling - Willys
      • Sterling
      • Studebaker
      • Studebaker Truck
      • Toyota
      • Willys
    • Request A Custom Quote
    • Search For Parts Here
  • Spring Tech
    • Learn About Leaf & Coil Springs
      • Spring Tech Articles
      • Tech Questions
      • Spring Tech Videos
      • Featured Elsewhere
      • EATON Detroit Spring Podcast
      • Buy Ford Manuals
    • Spring Tech 101

      We have been manufacturing springs for American vehicles for over 80 years. Our process and expertise has been continuously refined and improved over the century and our Spring Tech section reflects some of that specialty knowledge.

      Browse our many articles, watch videos produced in partnership with AutoRestoMod, and learn all about your spring suspension here.

    • Browse By Topic
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Attaching Parts
      • Ride Height & Stance
      • Ride Quality
      • Manufacturing Springs
      • Replacing Springs
      • Modifying Springs
      • Ordering Springs
  • About Us
    • About EATON Detroit Spring
    • Customer Showcase
    • Send Us Photos Of Your Ride!
    • Free Stuff For Car Shows!
    • Facebook
    • YouTube Channel
      • Spring Tech Videos
  • Order Here
    • Lookup & Purchase Your Vehicle's Parts
    • Request A Quote
    • Email Our Sales Team
    • Dealer Information
  • Find Parts That Fit Your Vehicle
  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Products
    • Suspension Parts
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Shocks
      • Attaching Parts And Hardware
      • Installation Kits
      • Leaf Spring Shackle Replacement Kits & Parts
    • Street Rod Suspension Parts
      • Mustang II Front End Springs
      • 48 Inch Truck Springs
    • Allstate - Chrysler
      • Allstate
      • American Motors
      • Bricklin
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chevrolet Truck
      • Chrysler
    • Daimler - Ford
      • Daimler
      • DeSoto
      • Dodge
      • Dodge Truck
      • Edsel
      • Ford
      • Ford Truck
    • GMC - Jeep
      • GMC
      • Honda
      • Hudson
      • Hudson Truck
      • Hummer
      • International
      • Jeep
    • Kaiser Darrin - Nissan
      • Kaiser Darrin
      • Kaiser-Frazer
      • LaSalle
      • Lincoln
      • MAHINDRA
      • Mercury
      • MG
      • Nash
      • Nissan
    • Oldsmobile - Rambler
      • Oldsmobile
      • Plymouth
      • Plymouth Truck
      • Pontiac
      • Rambler
    • Sterling - Willys
      • Sterling
      • Studebaker
      • Studebaker Truck
      • Toyota
      • Willys
    • Request A Custom Quote
    • Search For Parts Here
  • Spring Tech
    • Learn About Leaf & Coil Springs
      • Spring Tech Articles
      • Tech Questions
      • Spring Tech Videos
      • Featured Elsewhere
      • EATON Detroit Spring Podcast
      • Buy Ford Manuals
    • Spring Tech 101

      We have been manufacturing springs for American vehicles for over 80 years. Our process and expertise has been continuously refined and improved over the century and our Spring Tech section reflects some of that specialty knowledge.

      Browse our many articles, watch videos produced in partnership with AutoRestoMod, and learn all about your spring suspension here.

    • Browse By Topic
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Attaching Parts
      • Ride Height & Stance
      • Ride Quality
      • Manufacturing Springs
      • Replacing Springs
      • Modifying Springs
      • Ordering Springs
  • About Us
    • About EATON Detroit Spring
    • Customer Showcase
    • Send Us Photos Of Your Ride!
    • Free Stuff For Car Shows!
    • Facebook
    • YouTube Channel
      • Spring Tech Videos
  • Order Here
    • Lookup & Purchase Your Vehicle's Parts
    • Request A Quote
    • Email Our Sales Team
    • Dealer Information
  • Find Parts That Fit Your Vehicle
  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839

How To Measure Leaf Springs

Measuring leaf springs seems simple enough, doesn’t it?

The truth is measuring leaf springs can be tricky to somebody who hasn’t done it before. But with this guide, a measuring tape, and a set of leaf springs to measure, you’ll be off sending in the correct measurements for springs in no time.

Download our printable leaf spring measuring form to make sure you get all the measurements you need the correct way.

Download Leaf Spring Measuring Form

The Wrong Way To Measure Leaf Springs

The wrong way to measure springs is eye to eye. You know, taking the tape and measuring the spring straight from one end to the other.

It’s wrong because springs flex up and down depending on the weight applied, which changes the length of the spring a different amount depending on the spring’s rate (and whether it was properly built.) So that method doesn’t tell you your spring’s size at all.

Worse yet, it also doesn’t tell you where your center bolt is located. The location of the center bolt is where your axle and spring meet.

Do I need to stress the importance of making sure your spring is connected to the axle correctly? No? Oh, good.

The Right Way To Measure Leaf Springs

You need to measure the spring as though the spring were flat. Relax, that doesn’t mean you need to learn advanced calculus. All you need is this handy picture and your own trusty measuring tape.

Leaf Spring Diagram

Divisional Length

  • A.) Follow the curve of the spring, measuring from the center of the front eye back to the center bolt
  • B.) Then, measure from the center of the other eye back to the center bolt.
  • Record the length like so: “24 inches x 24 inches” or maybe “21 inches by 27 inches,” depending on your measurements and center bolt location.

These measurements are called the divisional length.

You see, when you give the length of a spring as two lengths going from the center of each eye to the center bolt, you kill two birds with one stone and give us the location of the center bolt as well.

Spring Arch

Spring arch is measured by splitting the center of the spring’s eyes with a straight edge. (Grab a yardstick or anything you can reasonably call straight.)

Don’t try and flip your spring upside down and measure that way.

I know it feels clever, but those pesky spring eyes just won’t let you do it. So take an extra step and measure it this way.

Your ride deserves it, right?

  • C.) Measure from the line created by the straight edge to the main plate right next to the center bolt.

Measure Free Arch

This is true no matter which way the spring is bending. So don’t fret if you get a negative number. It’s ok.

And that’s all!

That’s all it take to measure springs the correct way. See, that was easy now, wasn’t it?

Download our standard leaf spring measuring form to make sure you get all the measurements you need the correct way.
Download Leaf Spring Measuring Form

Filed Under: Spring Tech Article Tagged With: Leaf Springs, Measuring Springs, Ordering Springs

Find Parts For Your Vehicle

"*" indicates required fields

 

Can’t Find What You Need?

If you can’t find your vehicle in the above search form, be sure to call us! We are in the office every weekday. Call 1-313-963-3839

Sign Up For Weekly Newsletter

Every Wednesday we send spring tech videos, articles about classic cars and hot rods, and feature customer vehicles in our showcase.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

OEM Replacement & Custom Springs

  • Classic Cars Springs, Hot Rods, & More
  • Over 24,000 OEM Spring Blueprints
  • 166,000+ Stock Spring Applications
  • Design Staff Available For Custom Applications
  • Spring Experts Since 1937
  • Made in Detroit, Michigan
  • Made in the U.S.A.

How To Order Springs For Your Vehicle

To find the correct springs for your vehicle, you need to provide as much information about your car as possible. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all spring.

We try to make this easy by providing many ways to order your springs and send in as much information as possible:

  1. Call Us at 1 (313) 963-3839
    For Quickest Order Completion
  2. Fill Out Our Quote Request Form
    To Spell Out Details
  3. Browse For Parts Online
    To Browse By Make, Model, Body Style, & Engine Size

Quick Spring Tech Videos

Listen To Our Classic Suspension Podcast

Top Hat John, Classic Car Appraiser Extraordinaire

Subscribe to the EATON Detroit Spring Podcast

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAndroidby EmailRSSMore Subscribe Options

Need Spring Wisdom?

Just ask the Spring Guru!
We love helping with any leaf or coil spring problem.

WARNING:

This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

  • About EATON Detroit Spring, Inc.
  • Custom & Replacement Leaf Springs
  • Custom & Replacement Coil Springs
  • Consumer Policies

Contact EATON Detroit Spring

  • Request A Quote
  • Order Online
  • Ask Suspension Questions To The Spring Guru

Locate & Connect To EATON Detroit Spring

EATON Detroit Spring, Inc.
1555 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48216
Phone: 1 (313) 963-3839
Fax: 1 (313) 963-7047
Email: inquiries@eatonsprings.com

Content Copyright 2022 EATON Detroit Spring, Inc.