MTFCA Forum

Hello all,

I eventually want to swap in the rebuilt front spring I have. My 26 Touring has Hasslers on it. My question is the Hassler springs look to be worn out. Do you think they are or is it just that the front spring itself is so worn that it is collapsing the Hassler springs down?

I noted the front spring/axle is shifted off center by about 1/2" I'll fix that with the new spring.

Thanks,
Mike

A weak front spring will allow the Hassler springs to compress more than normal.
All the parts of both the original equipment suspension and steering and the Hassler accessory equipment need to be in good condition. Be sure your front crossmember is not bent, cracked, heavily rusted, or loose at the rivets.

Hard to tell, since the leaf spring is at issue. But my first impression is if the springs were the same size to begin with. There were 3 different heights made for the single style . They were color coded not sure what heights go with what number (6", 7" & ?). Then there were different ones for the TT & Double spring style
You need to be very careful in removing/installing them. You need a tool to compress them when removing or installing them. They can break a jaw.
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/5 ... 1208891118
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Other styles.....
Double --
-- one-ton truck

Applications of the different styles

Hopefully someone on the forum knows the proper way to remove and place Hasslers. I do not know that and on a car which I installed Rocky Mountain brakes the rear Hasslers were in the way so I wanted to remove them and place standard shackles. As I disconnected things the spring shot across the garage. Fortunately no one was in that direction or there could have been a serious injury.
Norm

I think this might help.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1208891118

You need the special spring compressor to be safe about it - I believe Lang's sells a repro of the Hassler compressor.

This?
https://www.modeltford.com/item/HAS-T.aspx

Not sure if this could be an issue, but, 26-7 front springs have less arch to lower the car.
This could effect the compression on the Hassler springs.

I did buy the tool. I have changed springs on my 68 Cougar and 74 Bronco on all 4 corners....I've come to respect the process and buy the proper tools! I believe my rebuilt front spring is the pre-26 version so I may get a little lift. With that said, the current spring has the incorrect number of leaves anyway. When I eventually do this job, I will check over the cross member. When I look up through the spring mount, I can see the tie bolt is not centered.

Thanks for the replies. Just wondering if I need to track down "new" Hassler springs. I've considered removing the Hasslers to mount a bumper but I have no press to get those perches out. Ideally, I would keep the Hasslers AND mount the bumpers I have....maybe the little extra lift will provide clearance but I suspect not.

My own educated guess is the worn and shifted spring makes the Hassler springs look shifted and bottomed out. Since the leaf spring takes the load and the Hasslers just some of the shock, I'm guessing the springs are probably not worn but who knows? Anyone ever wear out a Hassler spring?

Mikey1968 wrote: ↑

Tue May 30, 2023 1:19 pm

My own educated guess is the worn and shifted spring makes the Hassler springs look shifted and bottomed out. Since the leaf spring takes the load and the Hasslers just some of the shock, I'm guessing the springs are probably not worn but who knows? Anyone ever wear out a Hassler spring?

Wear out, maybe not but go a little flat, yes.

at least one looks shifted and if you look closely again at the design, they are most certainly carrying some load.

my belief on shifting is based on the imaginary intersection of the arc of swing of the lever and the straight line of compression of the spring. In my mind the intersection of the lever arm and the spring axis should be very close to 90 degrees. One appears to meet that criteria and the other appears to be pressing on the spring at an angle (and the spring base appears more outboard, too)

Norman Kling wrote: ↑

Tue May 30, 2023 11:12 am

Hopefully someone on the forum knows the proper way to remove and place Hasslers. I do not know that and on a car which I installed Rocky Mountain brakes the rear Hasslers were in the way so I wanted to remove them and place standard shackles. As I disconnected things the spring shot across the garage. Fortunately no one was in that direction or there could have been a serious injury.
Norm

I included the original step by step instruction in my first response along with a home made compression tool that looks a lot safer than others The springs need to be compressed, perches need to be orientated correctly rest is simple --
Good tool https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/5 ... 1208891118

I agree with you, Scott. This will be fixed when I swap out the leaf spring.

Thanks!
Mike