Assembling Leaf Springs

[ChallengerHK]

Project Axle Swap proceeds apace, but I've got a few questions on leaf springs.

1) Most importantly, they both look the same to me, but I know there are left and right springs. Since I've got to put the shock plates and sway bar plates on them, how can I tell which one is right and which one is left?

2) Speaking of the sway bar plates, same question (these came from a parts car, else I would have marked them when they came off). They might be the same, but just from eyeballing them they look a little different. If they are, which is right and which is left?

3) Finally, the sway bar plates have a bolt to go through the center of the leaf springs. I'm assuming that I should remove the bolt that is in them (after clamping them together) and use the bolt that is in the sway bar plates, correct?

As always, thanks for the help.

[Chryco Psycho]

if they have a part # even is Always right side , odd is left
 as far as I remember the sway bar plates are the same L & R
 the sway bar plates just sit ovet the center bolt , no need to undo the center bolt

[ChallengerHK]

Thanks, Chryco, good info. One more question, same project, different topic:

Brake adjusters - left hand thread on the left, right hand thread on the right?

I don't see any PNs on the leaf springs, but I haven't unwrapped them in case they had something on the wrapper. I'll give ESPO a call.

[Chryco Psycho]

not nessisarily , depends how the brakes are set up with the auto adjuster as to which thread is on which side

[ChallengerHK]

Can you give me some idea what would make it one way versus the other? I'm assuming that the "flat" side of the adjuster teeth should but against the doohickey that prevents it from rotating?

[Chryco Psycho]

the adjuster on the cable doesn`t only prevent it from turning , it turns it to adjust play so it should lenghten the adjuster in the direction opposite the way it stops it from turning

[ShelbyDogg]

If you put an adjusting tool into the hole and lift up, the adjuster will tighten. If you put it on the wrong side, it will loosen.  'Nuff said?

Rob

The doohickey that keeps it from turning lifts it up to tighten it, when you apply the brakes in reverse.

[ChallengerHK]

Thanks Rob.

On the sway bar plate, to verify my understanding, the bolt in the attached pic is being held in by rust and the paint I've put over it, and I should just knock it out?

[Bullitt-]

install your adjuster & with the brake drum off have someone pump the pedal. The adjuster should unscrew/lengthen to push the shoes out, if it doesn't swap adjusters & repeat. 

[Chryco Psycho]

Yes the center bolt is stuck in the sway bar plate , knock it out

[ShelbyDogg]

Bullit, 
The pedal should NOT be pumped when the brake drum is off.  The pressure will pop the wheel cylinder apart and contaminate the brakes.

You better read up on how those adjusters work. 

Drum brakes adjust while applying the brakes in reverse.

Rob

[Bullitt-]

Bullit, 
The pedal should NOT be pumped when the brake drum is off.  The pressure will pop the wheel cylinder apart and contaminate the brakes.

You better read up on how those adjusters work. 

Drum brakes adjust while applying the brakes in reverse.

Rob

Rob, I'm sure your correct on some level, I can only say It worked for me with no problem, as I just did this myself a few weeks ago.(ignorance is bliss) Now I was not pushing them to the floor, just a light pump to see if everything was free & working and the adjuster did start backing the adjuster nut out.

[ChallengerHK]

Alright, I'm starting to get a handle on this, from a physics standpoint. When I push on the brakes in reverse, the outward movement of the rear shoe will pull the lever at the adjuster upwards. This would seem to indicate that the "flat" of the adjuster teeth facing outward should be on the "bottom" and the angled segment on top, so that the upward movement of the lever will pull up and rotate the adjuster.

So I need to orient the adjusters the way I've described, and put the one that expands with that motion I've described on the appropriate side.

Does that make a lick of sense? 

[Bullitt-]

check the pic,

[ChallengerHK]

Thanks for the effort, Bullitt. I found my manual a few days ago, and it looks like the same art as you posted. Unfortunately there's not enough resolution in either one for me to figure out which way the teeth on the adjuster should be pointing. I think I've got it figured out anyway, though. Bottom line, if I'm right then the easy way to explain is that the lever that sits against the adjuster is supposed to be able to pull upward on the adjuster, correct?