QuestionQUESTION: is the coil spring for a 1965 Cadillac deville the same as the 1962 Cadillac deville coil spring. I can find the 1965 coil spring for much cheaper but need to know if the right height will be the same.
And my 62 cad. has a problem when turning right only right not left, it has a kind of jerking braking motion sometimes it is even enough to stall the engine. Do you think it is a differential, rear wheel baring, or brake problem.
thanks for any help
Richard
ANSWER: I need to know if you are asking about the front spring or the rear spring, whether or not either car has AC, and the model number of both cars. There are about 20 different springs for each end of the car - the chances of finding the right spring from another year of car is pretty remote. I don't see any that are the same for 62s and 65s, but if you give me the above information, I can at least tell you what part number you need, or if you have the part number from the cheap spring you have found, I can tell you which cars it will fit.
Your dragging problem sounds like a locking differential with serious problems. I suppose it could be a failed left side wheel bearing, but if it were that bad, it would make a real racket even going straight.
Dick
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QUESTION: The coil springs I am taking about are front springs on a 1962 Cadillac with ac. I have an interchange manual that says the front coil springs for 1961 - 1965 coil springs are the same but all of the places that sell coil springs say that they are different. I need a front coil spring the will not cause my caddy to bottom out. Do you think it would be ok to put the 65 coil springs on and add an air shock to replace the small gas shocks I have now, I think this would be best if it would work.
the front coil springs I pulled off my 62 caddy are 18.5 in free standing height, 4 in inner diameter, 5 5/8 outer diameter, and the coil diameter is .68 in. I don't think these are originals seeing as my grandpa was very cheap the are probably whatever he found that would work. I have a Cadillac shop manual but It gives no coil spring dimensions.
what I was thinking of was using the coil springs from a 1965 Cadillac which have a free height of 17.5 in, inner diameter or 4 in, coil wire diameter .67 in and then use an adjustable air shock inside the front coil with has a diameter of 3 in that way I could adjust it when and if needed. do you think there is enough clearence?
I was afraid the different was bad, the problem is the rear diff on 62 Cadillac is non serviceable what should I do? do you know anyone that can repair them? do I need too or should I get a new differential from a different car?
thanks for all your help and for answering these questions I been trying to figure this out for months now.
AnswerYour car takes a 1476078 front spring. That spring is used only in the 1962 - 1964 series 60 and 62 cars with AC. I do not have the dimensions - that info would be in the trade publications that were provided to the alignment shops - maybe if you found one that had some old books, they would let you look it up.
If you replace your spring with a shorter one with a smaller wire diameter, you are going to have worse problems, it seems to me. Why don't you put the air shocks in your existing springs?
As for the rear axle, your car has a 3512654 differential (1962 only). If you could find a used 3511930 from a non-limited slip 1959-1962 car, it would bolt right in and wouldn't be likely to cause any problems - they last forever, pretty much. Contact one of the Phoenix AZ wrecking yards that specialize in these cars - for example Desert Valley Auto Parts - they should have both the differential and the front springs.
Dick
