FC Ute Front Springs - What is the extra bit?

[Jolls]

Hi Team,

Stumped with this one. Stripped out the front end this morning and found this:



The insulator is still in the spring tower on both sides and the flat one is the shim on the drivers side to level out the ride. What is the extra round metal coil on either side. Everything is tied together loosely with copper wire and as they pictured is how they were pulled out of the ute.

It may all be correct - just that I haven't seen it before and is is not shown that way in the manual.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

[ardiesse]

Craig,

I've never seen the steel rings before.   In factory springs at the closed-coil end, the spring wire changes in profile from round to rectangular, which tapers.  The part number is stamped into the rectangular-profile section.  I can't see the closed-coil ends clearly in the photo, but you may have original-equipment front springs.

In aftermarket springs (thinks Lovells or Selbys) the spring wire at the closed-coil end is round in profile.

OK.  It could be that your springs are wound from larger-diameter wire and they don't seat properly into the crossmember tower.  Maybe not.  It could be that the steel rings are a home-made "country pack" which gives an extra 1/2 ride height.  Beats me.

I have a loose pair of FE-FC ute/van/wagon front springs.  Please hold.

---------------------------------------/---------------------------------

7410727.  7-1/4 active turns of 0.540" diameter spring wire.
FE-FC sedan front springs are 7408860 and both mine have a coil broken off the bottom end.  Shop manual says 0.530" diameter spring wire.

Master parts catalog says -

FB, EK, EJ, EH wagon/ute/van and all HD king-pin front springs are 7419138. 0.560" diameter wire.
FB, EJ, EH sedan front springs are 7412465.  0.560" diameter wire.
EK sedan front springs are 7419137.  0.560" diameter wire.  Don't know why EK sedan front springs are "sui generis".

Rob

[Jolls]

Thanks Rob, will grab the verniers and a tape measure and get back to you with what I find.

Cheers

[Jolls]

Craig,

I've never seen the steel rings before.   In factory springs at the closed-coil end, the spring wire changes in profile from round to rectangular, which tapers.  The part number is stamped into the rectangular-profile section.  I can't see the closed-coil ends clearly in the photo, but you may have original-equipment front springs.

In aftermarket springs (thinks Lovells or Selbys) the spring wire at the closed-coil end is round in profile.

OK.  It could be that your springs are wound from larger-diameter wire and they don't seat properly into the crossmember tower.  Maybe not.  It could be that the steel rings are a home-made "country pack" which gives an extra 1/2 ride height.  Beats me.

I have a loose pair of FE-FC ute/van/wagon front springs.  Please hold.

---------------------------------------/---------------------------------

7410727.  7-1/4 active turns of 0.540" diameter spring wire.
FE-FC sedan front springs are 7408860 and both mine have a coil broken off the bottom end.  Shop manual says 0.530" diameter spring wire.

Master parts catalog says -

FB, EK, EJ, EH wagon/ute/van and all HD king-pin front springs are 7419138. 0.560" diameter wire.
FB, EJ, EH sedan front springs are 7412465.  0.560" diameter wire.
EK sedan front springs are 7419137.  0.560" diameter wire.  Don't know why EK sedan front springs are "sui generis".

Rob

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the assistance there.

The springs are stamped 7410727, so they are standard FE/FC commercial springs. I checked the spring diameter and they are 0.547" - I expect the extra .007" is rust build up. They fit perfectly in the tower without the addtional ring.

Looking at the bigger picture the rear springs have the Rogers Overload Shock Absorber Leaves added so she was clearly a work horse in the day. Being a country ute maybe the extra 3/8" ride height made a difference. So I suspect your poor man's country pack may be on the money. Interested to see if anyone else has come across this. I don't think I will put the addtional coil back in - but will keep it aside justin.

Cheers