Ford part numbers are divided in to 3 sections – A 4-digit Prefix, the Basic Part Number andthen a Suffix The 4-digit Prefix breaks down like this – First Digit: Decade – C5ZZ5560D A = 1940’s, B = 1950’s, C = 1960’s, D = 1970’s, E = 1980’s, F = 1990’s, etc. Second Digit: Year […]
Spring Tech, One Minute At A Time
Watch the latest of our One Minute Monday series or browse the archive below
The Most Common Automotive Body Styles
Your car’s body style plays a significant part in your spring’s engineering. Make sure you’re using the correct terms when ordering your springs.
Measuring Leaf Spring Free Arch
Measuring your current leaf springs right will ensure your replacement springs fit and perform just as you need. First tip: Don’t measure the arch from the floor!
What is Spring Rate? And How Does It Effect My Ride?
Spring Rate, simply put, is the amount of rate required to deflect a spring one inch. But what does that mean to you?
Rubber Vs. Urethane Suspension Bushings
Bottom line: if you prefer comfort, go for rubber. If you need performance, go for urethane.
Finishing Your Spring Install
You just installed your springs, but hold on! Make sure you finish the job right!
Installing New Springs Is Like Putting On New Shoes
It’s easy to take a worn part out. Not as easy to put a fresh part in.
Vibrations After Installing New Springs?
When a car’s springs sag over time, other parts get worn down too. Installing new springs with old hardware may cause vibrations in these parts. This is why it’s important to use fresh attaching parts when installing new springs.
Got Driveline Vibration? Check Your U-Bolts
Make sure you tighten your U-joint U-bolts properly to avoid driveline vibration.
Which Direction Should Leaf Springs Be Bowed?
Leaf springs do their job whether they’re smiling or frowning. Some do their job with a completely flat expression. They all do their job well, if that was how the manufacturer designed it.
How Leaf Spring Lowering Blocks Cause Axle Wind Up
Lowering a leaf spring suspension should be done correctly to avoid handling issues. Here’s why lowering blocks aren’t the magic bullet.
Measuring Ride Height Drop From Reversing Leaf Spring Eyes
Reversing your leaf spring eyes will provide a drop, but exactly how much of a drop? Here’s how to calculate ride height drop when you reverse your spring eyes.
How To Fix Squeaking Leaf Springs
There are two causes of leaf spring squeak: tight eye bolts or shackles, and mis-torqued u-bolts.
Rebound Clips Group Leaves To Make Them Stronger Together
Multi-leaf springs resist breaking thanks to rebound clips. Here’s why.
All About Leaf Spring Centerbolts
Ever wonder the function of a leaf spring centerbolt? There are several more than you’d imagine!
The Difference Between Standard & Heavy Duty Springs
It’s easy to get confused about spring terms, so here’s a quick primer on standard vs heavy duty springs. Heavy duty springs can carry a heavier load than standard springs, but they do not set the vehicle higher.
The Cars of Cuba – Cienfuegos
The Cars of Santiago, Cuba
We Make Springs For Launch Pads, Tackling Dummies, and Wienermobiles Too
On this One Minute Monday, we look back at the extreme variety of applications we manufacture springs for.
When To Replace Your Springs
If your vehicle rides OK, sits OK, and the leaves and coils look OK, then your springs are OK. If you want to change your stance or ride quality, or if a spring is broken in any way, it’s time to replace your springs. Give us a call and we’ll be glad to help.
Get Your U-Bolt Torque Right
Torque is more than the force required to open a beer bottle. The proper torque will keep your leaf spring from breaking. Use your manufacturer’s torque specs when tightening your u-bolts, or use our recommendations.
Why Shot Peening Is Important For Your Leaf and Coil Springs
Shot peening significantly extends the life of your springs.
How To Get Original Brochures For Your Classic Car for Free
The original brochures for classic vehicles are a snapshot of history and valuable mechanical information about your vehicle. Plus, they’re beautiful! Go to our parts lookup page to look up your vehicle’s brochure for free!
How To Properly Torque Your Leaf Spring’s U-Bolts
Here, Mike Eaton explains how and when to torque your leaf spring’s u-bolts. Here’s the recommended specs we mentioned.
Do Lowered Cars Have Stiffer Rides?
Here, Mike explains why lowering your vehicle can cause a stiffer ride, how a vehicle can be lowered too much, and explains the safe threshold to lower your vehicle with new springs and minimal effect on ride quality.
The Danger of Improperly Chromed Springs
Chromed springs look cool, and show an immaculate attention to detail. However, if done wrong, the results could be disastrous. Here, Mike explains how dangerous hydrogen embrittlement caused by improperly chroming springs is.
Why Do My New Coil Springs Fall Out?
A customer writes in to ask why their new coil springs fall out so easily during installation. Coil springs that have been in a car for a long time accumulate all sorts of cruft and debris that eventually sticks it in place.
Dennis Gage on Getting American Made Springs
Dennis Gage visits National Parts Depot in Florida and talks about getting correct, American-made springs from EATON Detroit Spring
Five Keys To A Good Leaf Spring Suspension
Here are the five key factors to keep in mind when working with leaf spring suspensions for your classic car or hot rod.
Selecting Mustang II Springs For Your Street Rod
So you need springs for your street rod’s Mustang II front end. How do you pick a spring when there are 23 options?
Why Unfinished Vehicles Tend To Sit Too High
Springs support weight, so if you measure the ride height of an unfinished vehicle, you won’t be measuring the final stance.
Mike Eaton Interviewed on Sam’s Garage
In this extended episode, listen to Mike Eaton talk with Sam Memmelo on his radio show, Sam’s Garage.
Installing Model A Leaf Springs
Model A springs need to be stretched around six inches before you’ll be able to install them into your vehicle.
How To Readjust Tip Inserts Into Place
Sometimes tip inserts get whacked out of place during delivery. Here’s how to fix it with a screwdriver.
Always Use Coil Spring Compressors When Installing Coil Springs
Whenever you are changing coil springs, especially the front springs, always use a coil spring compressor. Never try changing springs without a compressor. You will get hurt. For coils used on struts, use the compressor that grabs the coils on the outside. For non-strut coils, use the compressor that goes inside the spring. Need a […]
The Difference Between Important Spring Terms
Mike explains a few key terms related to the design and manufacture of springs of all kinds.
Three Types of Leaf Spring
Mike Eaton explains the basic distinction between multi-leaf springs, mono-leaf springs, and parabolic leaf springs.
Calculating Spring Rate
Mike Eaton explains how to find your coils spring rate using a simple equation. This process is useful for those seeking to cut their coil springs, as it shows how cutting coils lead to a stiffer ride. (Hint: ordering new coils to custom specs can preserve or even enhance your ride quality and stance, a […]
Leaf Spring End Types
Which leaf spring end-type is best for trucks, and which end-type gives you the smoothest riding springs? Mike Eaton explains the different end types leaf springs can have.
Cutting Coils Springs
Mike Eaton explains how to cut your coil springs for a desired ride height.
Coil Spring Ends
The three basic coil spring ends are tangential, square, and pigtail. Here, Mike Eaton shows you how to recognize each type.
Painting Leaf Springs
Here, Mike shows you how to paint your leaf springs. – Hang your spring in a well ventilated area – Clean your spring with acetone – Paint four or five coats of high-temperature engine paint, letting each coat dry – Wa la! A painted leaf spring
Measuring Ride Height – Don’t Use A Jack Stand
Mike Eaton explains why not to use a jack stand when measuring your ride height. The full weight of the completed vehicle, the wheels, and tires are all part of the equation.
How Easy Changing Leaf Springs Really Is
You’ve seen our leaf spring removal and reinstallation videos, but those are polished and edited for brevity. When you work on your springs yourself, you may find things don’t always go as smooth at the textbooks. This One Minute Monday is two minutes long to make a point.
How To Reinstall A Rear Leaf Spring
Watch as Mike explains the steps for how to install rear leaf springs.
Removing Leaf Springs
How to remove leaf springs, step by step from Mike Eaton at EATON Detroit Spring
Tip Inserts for Leaf Springs
Mike Eaton shows the variety of tip inserts and leaf liners used by manufacturers to reduce inter-leaf friction.
How To Use The Ordering Form
Here we show how you can use the online ordering form to have springs manufactured for your exact vehicle.
How To Order Leaf and Coil Springs Online
Go to the ordering page here.
Measuring U-Bolts
This week, Mike explains the two different types of u-bolts you may encounter and how to measure them.
How To Measure Shocks
When you need new shocks but you don’t know which shocks will fit your vehicle, you must do some measuring.
Different Types of Mounts on Shocks
Shocks mount on both ends, but what kind of ends are they? In this video, Mike points out shocks with studs, eyes, t-bars, and a few combinations.
Different Shocks for Classic Cars
Here, Mike shows the different types of shocks we offer for classic vehicles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2RGPU3lKHI
How Coil Springs Are Made
Mike Eaton explains how coil springs are manufactured on this One Minute Monday.