What is this welded to my spring hanger? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Joe Blaze · 08-22-2011, 01:06 PM

Can anyone advise why someone would weld this to the front of my front spring hanger on my '71 Blazer? It is only on the driver's side. I am replacing the springs, and wondered if i need one on the other side, or could i grind it off. I want the suspension setup to be the same on both sides.

navysnipe · 08-22-2011, 01:09 PM

My 72 has the same thing only one of those things on one of the hangars. I think it's a limiter or something like that.

Navysnipe

IGOR · 08-22-2011, 01:20 PM

Factory did that as a safety measure. The thinking (if I recall correctly) was that if the bolt holding in the front leaf spring sheared in half, leaf spring could pop forward, causing rig to lose steering and spectacular end over end crash results.

That strap would keep leaf spring within the pocket, allowing steering to be maintained.

Joe Blaze · 08-22-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IGOR

Factory did that as a safety measure. The thinking (if I recall correctly) was that if the bolt holding in the front leaf spring sheared in half, leaf spring could pop forward, causing rig to lose steering and spectacular end over end crash results.

That strap would keep leaf spring within the pocket, allowing steering to be maintained.

Thanks, that makes alot of sense, i should have figured that by looking at it. great info.

**too much stuff** · 08-22-2011, 07:55 PM

There should also be a bracket on the drivers side at the rear of the leaf spring attached to the frame. It will look home made almost, but that keeps the spring from going too far back if the spring breaks.
And yes the front one is factory also. Keeps things in place. I heard it was drivers side only in case if something broke on that side, you could still steer out of oncoming traffic. If the pass side broke, you just went for the ditch.

68panelman · 08-23-2011, 11:36 AM

That strap is also used because the P/S box will cause a little frame flex, thus it being used only on driver side.

Burt4x4 · 08-23-2011, 02:51 PM

Yes, it is a factory recal from 1969 ~ the eye bolt would sheer and the rig would be uncontrolable. Years ago someone had scanned the actual recall letter and posted on an old Blazer site that is no longer up. I think GM increased the bolt size also.
Yours looks a bit different that any I have seen. When I swapped my springpacks I upgraded the eye bolts to the biggest I could fit in the hole, Grade 8 too. I removed the rear stop but left the front strap.

See mine is from 72 and I only have a front strap (not a bottom & front like yours)....???
I say leave it.

2003 silverado · 08-24-2011, 07:48 AM

True they were added for safety reasons drivers side front and rear of the leaf spring

71jimmy · 08-25-2011, 12:09 AM

UGH, my 71 Jimmy doesn't have either one installed.

Any chance I can take it to the dealer and they will honor the recall?????

Joe Blaze · 08-25-2011, 07:48 AM

check this out:

http://auto-recalls.justia.com/chevr...969/70v031000/

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls...intVersion=YES

71jimmy · 08-26-2011, 07:46 PM

JoeBlaze, thanks for posting those. I've got new grade 8 eye bolts and new springs, so I'm covered there. Neither speaks to the front and rear stops though. I wonder why it would take GM 3 or 4 recalls to finally fix one issue. I guess that's why they finally went broke.

08-22-2011, 01:06 PM	#1
Joe Blaze Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 154	What is this welded to my spring hanger? Can anyone advise why someone would weld this to the front of my front spring hanger on my '71 Blazer? It is only on the driver's side. I am replacing the springs, and wondered if i need one on the other side, or could i grind it off. I want the suspension setup to be the same on both sides.

08-22-2011, 01:09 PM	#2
navysnipe Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sabattus, Maine Posts: 84	Re: What is this welded to my spring hanger? My 72 has the same thing only one of those things on one of the hangars. I think it's a limiter or something like that. Navysnipe

08-22-2011, 01:20 PM	#3
IGOR Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Damascus, OR Posts: 260	Re: What is this welded to my spring hanger? Factory did that as a safety measure. The thinking (if I recall correctly) was that if the bolt holding in the front leaf spring sheared in half, leaf spring could pop forward, causing rig to lose steering and spectacular end over end crash results. That strap would keep leaf spring within the pocket, allowing steering to be maintained. __________________ -Ben 1972 CST K5 - Undergoing frame off, 8.1/4L80E/NP205, 3/4 ton, 8" lift, currently a pile of parts that when assembled resemble a Blazer 1972 K10 - Rust Bucket, TBD 1976 C10 SWB, 350 / T350 My blazer build thread: https://ck5.com/forums/builds/72-k5-...17-update.410/

08-22-2011, 07:55 PM	#5
too much stuff Roadtrip! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Grand Rapids MN Posts: 13,709	Re: What is this welded to my spring hanger? There should also be a bracket on the drivers side at the rear of the leaf spring attached to the frame. It will look home made almost, but that keeps the spring from going too far back if the spring breaks. And yes the front one is factory also. Keeps things in place. I heard it was drivers side only in case if something broke on that side, you could still steer out of oncoming traffic. If the pass side broke, you just went for the ditch. __________________ 67 gmc custom lwb dakota truck. Sold...And bought back 69 swb 4x4 project (in progress) 70 c-10 lwb texas truck 70 4x4/BB/bkts/posi/tach(retired) 70 swb (wifes) 70 jimmy camper 71 K-5 factory 2wd 71 cheyenne 4x4/tach/posi/ plow rig 71 Cheyenne20 BB, buckets, tach, tilt, 4 speed 72 jimmy CST wyoming rig 72 jimmy Colorado rig 72 lifted texas 4x4 3/4 ton burb 65 fury conv. 383/auto 65 chrysler 300 "L" 413 auto

08-23-2011, 11:36 AM	#6
68panelman Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Delaware and Long Island, New York Posts: 3,451	Re: What is this welded to my spring hanger? That strap is also used because the P/S box will cause a little frame flex, thus it being used only on driver side.

08-23-2011, 02:51 PM	#7
Burt4x4 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,842	Re: What is this welded to my spring hanger? Yes, it is a factory recal from 1969 ~ the eye bolt would sheer and the rig would be uncontrolable. Years ago someone had scanned the actual recall letter and posted on an old Blazer site that is no longer up. I think GM increased the bolt size also. Yours looks a bit different that any I have seen. When I swapped my springpacks I upgraded the eye bolts to the biggest I could fit in the hole, Grade 8 too. I removed the rear stop but left the front strap. See mine is from 72 and I only have a front strap (not a bottom & front like yours)....??? I say leave it. __________________ 1972 K5 MPFI454/Sm465/Np205/D60/14FFd/Re-Centerd H1s w/Swamper Iroks

08-24-2011, 07:48 AM	#8
2003 silverado Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Chester Pa Posts: 965	Re: What is this welded to my spring hanger? True they were added for safety reasons drivers side front and rear of the leaf spring __________________ !972 K5 Blazer,Highlander,A/C a twin to the one I Had 1972 K/5 Blazer CST Highlander 15YR project 2003 Silverado Crew 2500HD (Daily driver) 1997 Ford focus (Beater) 2003 ford Taurus (student) 2014 Ford Fusion HYB (wife) 2003 Jetta ( Student)

08-25-2011, 12:09 AM	#9
71jimmy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,084	Re: What is this welded to my spring hanger? UGH, my 71 Jimmy doesn't have either one installed. Any chance I can take it to the dealer and they will honor the recall????? __________________ '71 Jimmy, 350, SM465, NP205, 2in Tuff Country lift, 33s on rallies, TBI, softtop and hardtop "If life was fair you'd be able to afford one of each and a garage large enough to house them all."

08-25-2011, 07:48 AM	#10
Joe Blaze Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 154	Re: What is this welded to my spring hanger? check this out: http://auto-recalls.justia.com/chevr...969/70v031000/ http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls...intVersion=YES Last edited by Joe Blaze; 08-25-2011 at 07:56 AM.

08-26-2011, 07:46 PM	#11
71jimmy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,084	Re: What is this welded to my spring hanger? JoeBlaze, thanks for posting those. I've got new grade 8 eye bolts and new springs, so I'm covered there. Neither speaks to the front and rear stops though. I wonder why it would take GM 3 or 4 recalls to finally fix one issue. I guess that's why they finally went broke. __________________ '71 Jimmy, 350, SM465, NP205, 2in Tuff Country lift, 33s on rallies, TBI, softtop and hardtop "If life was fair you'd be able to afford one of each and a garage large enough to house them all."



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