Leaf spring information

Post by **Duvel78** » 07 Sep 2006 02:02 am

(the boss is back lol)

Hello chaps,

I had to change the leaf springs on my '87 360 GLT (one of the springs was cut after an exhaust replacement) but the problem is that the new ones are from a '85 360 GLS saloon and... from my point of view, the car is a bit higher on the back now! Can anyone tell me the differences between the leaf springs? The numbers on it were different but visually it was difficult to say if there was a difference or not...

I know that the front suspension is different from one model to the other (340, 360 with B19A, with B19E...) but I have no information concerning the leaf springs! I suppose they are different too?

Thanks in advance for your help...

Post by **pettaw** » 07 Sep 2006 07:30 am

Aymat we were wondering exactly the same thing

There's no information out about the leaf springs at all, and yet there's different part numbers for them and the 360 GLTs seem to sit about 20mm lower at the back than, for instance my 360 GLE did.

Having stripped them and compared the two, the GLE spring didn't seem to be any different free standing but the GLT ones did seem a bit softer when we stood on them.

Post by **5lab** » 07 Sep 2006 01:43 pm

the ride height of the 360 was (according to broscures) 10mm lower than that of the other cars. whether this is due to leaf springs - not sure. might just be that one was more worn out than the others..?

Post by **mac** » 07 Sep 2006 03:11 pm

Got a little bit on springs - but nothing on rates i'm afraid.

All 300 rear springs are :- Asymetric, parabolic, single rolled leaf.

Length - upto ch.no.435625 (1980ish) 1260mm - after 1250mm.

From 1984 4 versions available,
340 B14/B172K pt.no. 3201759
360 (ex.GLT) pt.no. 3205441
360 GLT pt.no. 3201761
360 H/duty pt.no. 3284425 (also std. on Australian mkt.)

Within same part no. slightly different rated springs were supplied (depending on supplier) These carried different colour codes.

The rear shackles (pt.no.3100884) are the same across the whole range.

Mac.

Post by **Duvel78** » 07 Sep 2006 03:24 pm

Ahhh thanks for the info!

(Mac I don't forget to put the CVT article on the forum soon

)

Ok now it's an evidence that the springs aren't the good ones on my GLT...

Andy said that it wasn't available anymore from Volvo dealers... Problems begin lol

It's strange that it's so difficult to have info about the different rates between the springs...

Post by **5lab** » 07 Sep 2006 05:13 pm

mac wrote: From 1984 4 versions available,
340 B14/B172K pt.no. 3201759
360 (ex.GLT) pt.no. 3205441
360 GLT pt.no. 3201761
360 H/duty pt.no. 3284425 (also std. on Australian mkt.)

haha. austrailians = teh fat.

Post by **foggyjames** » 07 Sep 2006 10:07 pm

I think we *might* have a spare set of GLT springs available....ask Mr Farrell.

cheers

James

Post by **petefarrell360** » 07 Sep 2006 11:43 pm

Mr Farrell is here........

My name was mentioned. Yes, a spare set of GLT rear leafs are available, and if we're both going to be at the Hugh roof removal weekend, then your problem is sorted, as long as you're able to get them home. You *must* bring the 360!

Pete

Post by **foggyjames** » 08 Sep 2006 12:39 am

Get them home? You mean we're not fitting them?

I think I've just shot myself in the foot - I was eyeing up that second set of springs

cheers

James

Post by **5lab** » 08 Sep 2006 10:15 am

well, the plan *might* be :

take 2 sets of springs, chop the ends off one set
create a double-strength spring by placing one atop t'other

if we do that, we'll need your springs in return for the set on the glt

Post by **petefarrell360** » 08 Sep 2006 05:25 pm

Well, Foggy........ I may have a third set available sometime soonish!
Pete

Post by **dalahare** » 09 Sep 2006 11:33 am

5lab wrote:well, the plan *might* be :

take 2 sets of springs, chop the ends off one set
create a double-strength spring by placing one atop t'other

if we do that, we'll need your springs in return for the set on the glt

Let us knows how this goes, i'm thinking of doing that to my GLT, local wreckers have springs for $6 each, so it's not going to be expensive, and i think i will need longer bolts. that's easy.

Do the springs have anything to centre them? a locating pin ect that could cause problems?

PS go screw yourself (aussie comment)

Post by **Dustydick** » 09 Sep 2006 12:59 pm

360 H/duty pt.no. 3284425 (also std. on Australian mkt.)
[/quote]

haha. austrailians = teh fat.[/quote]

Sorry mate but we need the bigger springs because we get a lot of pommie girls hitch-hiking around our big country.

Post by **jtbo** » 11 Sep 2006 09:10 am

Formula to calculate leaf spring rates is:

Width*Count/12*(1000*Thickness/Length)^3-14.09

Count is number of leafs which in our case is 1

All units must be imperial and result will be given as LBS so you need to convert that with google or something...

However I have not succeed calculating proper values yet, it seem to give very low values, width I was guessing to be around 70mm thickness is 5,5mm for 340 (1,4 & 1,7) and 6,5mm for 2ltr models.

That formula did came some web page where they sell springs, so I guess it is correct, but I get quite low results, don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Anyway probably rear springs are bit softer than front springs and 2ltr models have bit stiffer springs because of extra weight, but I would need to get that formula to work to say anything sure.

Post by **Duvel78** » 11 Sep 2006 01:43 pm

petefarrell360 wrote:Mr Farrell is here........

My name was mentioned. Yes, a spare set of GLT rear leafs are available, and if we're both going to be at the Hugh roof removal weekend, then your problem is sorted, as long as you're able to get them home. You *must* bring the 360!

Pete

Pete, can you tell me the number printed on your leaf springs? (you will find it on the end of the spring) Thanks!!