leaf spring clamps

[b71dodge]

where can you buy stock looking leaf spring clamps.

[maxwellwedge]

Frank Badalson

Real Zinc interliners - OE looking clamps etc.

http://www.rogergibsonautorestoration.com/index.htm

[Chatt69chgr]

I wonder if the Mopar Performance Hemi leaf springs have the zinc interliners and OE looking clamps?

[maxwellwedge]

They probably have inter-riners and cramps...

[bull]

I wonder if the Mopar Performance Hemi leaf springs have the zinc interliners and OE looking clamps?

Clamps - probably. Real zinc interliners - doubtful.

As far as I can determine, Frank at Roger Gibson is the only person on planet Earth who makes real zinc interliners, so unless MP gets them from him...

where can you buy stock looking leaf spring clamps.

You can get those lots of places but make very sure you get the right sizes. IIRC they come in 3 different lengths and you will be very frustrated if you get the wrong ones.

[Chatt69chgr]

What do the zinc interliners do for you?

[bull]

What do the zinc interliners do for you?

Good question. I've thought some about that but my main reason for getting real zinc is because that's what was there originally. I suspect it's for a couple different reasons. Zinc is soft so the constant rubbing will wear the zinc rather than the steel. Also being soft it will keep things quieter than two pieces of steel rubbing against one another. It's non-magnetic and IIRC rubbing two pieces of steel together creates a magnetic reaction which will attract metal particulates from the road dust and from the wear of the springs which would cause more noise and wear. That's just my guess though. Basically I think of it as a lubricant.

[maxwellwedge]

Right on.
Zinc increases the corrosion resistance of the base metal, and improves the sliding friction properties of parts in contact. Probably quieter as well...

[bull]

Bill Rolik has a good price on them: www.billrolikenterprises.com

[maxwellwedge]

Bill's don't really say much in his description....I wonder if the interliners are zinc?

[bull]

Bill's don't really say much in his description....I wonder if the interliners are zinc?

I believe they are, but only because he resells the ones he gets from Frank. I would definitely ask first though.

[gtx6970]

Bill's don't really say much in his description....I wonder if the interliners are zinc?

afaik,,,,,they are, we get them from the same place

[bill440rt]

What do the zinc interliners do for you?

Good question. I've thought some about that but my main reason for getting real zinc is because that's what was there originally. I suspect it's for a couple different reasons. Zinc is soft so the constant rubbing will wear the zinc rather than the steel. Also being soft it will keep things quieter than two pieces of steel rubbing against one another. It's non-magnetic and IIRC rubbing two pieces of steel together creates a magnetic reaction which will attract metal particulates from the road dust and from the wear of the springs which would cause more noise and wear. That's just my guess though. Basically I think of it as a lubricant.

Interesting.    I've got a question, hope this doesn't derail anything here.
Years ago when I restored my '70 the zinc interliners were not available. I restored my original leaf springs by disassembling & sandblasting them, painting each leaf, and reassembled them with new correct eyelet bolts. The original interliners were shot, so I replaced them with some made from thin sheet aluminum. It was the same thickness as the zinc. It was all I could do at the time.
Any potential problems with the aluminum? They've been on there for well over a decade.

[gtx6970]

IMO - The primary purpose of the zinc inter-liners is to add some lubricity to the leaf springs ---  helps aid noise control for squeeks during jounce and rebound

I would think aluminum inter-liners would provide the same effect BUT wear quicker

[Chatt69chgr]

Bill----Probably three years ago I bought a set of the Mopar Performance springs for my 69 that go with the 440/hemi engine (car was originally a 318).  I have not installed them yet.  Can these be taken apart and reassembled using the kit you sell (with the plastic/zinc interliners and new clamps---I'm assuming that the clamps would be destroyed during disassembly)?  I have no idea if the individual leaves of the MP springs are exactly the same thickness as the originals------I do recall that one side has more leaves than the other.  Or probably more to the point---if it is possible is it worth the effort & $$?  I see on your website that you have the rebuild set for $100. 

[bull]

IMO - The primary purpose of the zinc inter-liners is to add some lubricity to the leaf springs ---  helps aid noise control for squeeks during jounce and rebound

I would think aluminum inter-liners would provide the same effect BUT wear quicker

Aluminum would be a good second choice but it would not take as much abuse. IMO putting steel interliners between the leaves is probably no better than going without interliners altogether.

I wonder how carbon fiber interliners would work?

[maxwellwedge]

Bill's don't really say much in his description....I wonder if the interliners are zinc?

afaik,,,,,they are, we get them from the same place

I asked Frank about these today. He does not get any part of his kit from Queely (spelling?).

Him and Roger make all their own components on these. Other suppliers have bought only the zinc interliners off of him and stuck them in the Queely stuff.

[Chatt69chgr]

I talked to Frank today and he said that he had no idea whether the Mopar Performance springs were the same physical size as the original equipment springs and, so, no idea if his clamps and zinc interliners could be used on them.