Restore leaf springs or buy new ones?
#159634
12/01/08 04:08 PM
12/01/08 04:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,288
Danville, NH
Mopar_Mike
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,288
Danville, NH
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I am restoring a 67 Coronet RT and have the original leaf springs. The car actually sits ok, but I want to put new stuff on the car. These are the original with six leafs on one side and seven on the other. My question: Is it cheaper it to restore these or just buy new ones. Thanks.
RS23L7 4-Speed
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Re: Restore leaf springs or buy new ones?
[Re: Mopar_Mike]
#159635
12/01/08 04:26 PM
12/01/08 04:26 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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New ones aren't going to look correct and they aren't going to last 40 years. I would clean and paint what you have. I think you can buy new, correct spring clamps for them.
Sheldon
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Re: Restore leaf springs or buy new ones?
[Re: LYNCHROAD69.5]
#159637
12/01/08 05:22 PM
12/01/08 05:22 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 545
Massachusetts
LYNCHROAD69.5
mopar
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mopar
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 545
Massachusetts
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Quote:
Mike, heres my  , Cost of kit (new inter linners, brackets ect) to do both springs is about $100. Then there's your time to take apart, clean, paint then assemble is significant. They sound like Heavy Duty springs so they are probably worth restoring but for $400 your could get a set of HD springs that are nice (not the Mopar Performance Mexico junk) that look factory correct for the most part. There is a vendor who sells nice springs I can't remeber the name...some one else can chime in. good luck!
Just remembered vendors name..."ESPO". For the most part I have heard positive feedback on their springs. I'm sure others will provide comments.
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Re: Restore leaf springs or buy new ones?
[Re: LYNCHROAD69.5]
#159639
12/01/08 06:47 PM
12/01/08 06:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
BradH
Taking time off to work on my car
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Taking time off to work on my car
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
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Quote:
Just remembered vendors name..."ESPO".
Unless they've changed their product significantly since I bought a set of their springs in 2000, ESPO's springs do NOT look like OEM parts. For a true restoration, I'd keep the original springs described above and replace the liners, clamps, etc.
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Re: Restore leaf springs or buy new ones?
[Re: gtx69]
#159642
12/02/08 08:05 AM
12/02/08 08:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,288
Danville, NH
Mopar_Mike
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OP
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Posts: 4,288
Danville, NH
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Thanks Guys for the responses. Seems it is a split decision..
RS23L7 4-Speed
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Re: Restore leaf springs or buy new ones?
[Re: ThermoQuad]
#159647
12/02/08 03:29 PM
12/02/08 03:29 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,516
Santa Cruz, California
Lefty
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,516
Santa Cruz, California
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Quote:
Ohhhh Lefty...those look like competition tires on your hot rod...please share some more
Whoops busted!  I'd share more but the restoration folks would have me lynched in a heartbeat.  I think i'll just mosey back over to the general section where I fit in better.  
You can see more here, it's a work in progress -
http://members.cruzio.com/~dane/
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Re: Restore leaf springs or buy new ones?
[Re: Mopar_Mike]
#159649
12/02/08 06:15 PM
12/02/08 06:15 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 15,134
Kelowna, B.C. Canada
DPelletier
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 15,134
Kelowna, B.C. Canada
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Quote:
Is part of re-doing them include re-arching the leafs? or replacing the leafs? I mean sure anyone can paint and clean them (as mentioned above) but they are still 40+/- years old leafs.
Nope; car sat right with them in place despite them being 38 years old, so I'm just going to strip them, refinish them and bolt them back in using new bushings.
My 'Cuda still has the factory springs (and rad hoses, wires, etc. etc.) and I have no intention of replacing them either. "If it ain't broke...." comes to mind.
Dave
1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack
1974 'Cuda
2008 Ram 3500 Diesel
2006 Ram 3500 Diesel
2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel
2003 Ram 3500 Diesel
2006 Durango Limited
[url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]
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Re: Restore leaf springs or buy new ones?
[Re: LYNCHROAD69.5]
#159650
12/02/08 10:16 PM
12/02/08 10:16 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 545
Massachusetts
LYNCHROAD69.5
mopar
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mopar
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 545
Massachusetts
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Quote:
Quote:
Mike, heres my , Cost of kit (new inter linners, brackets ect) to do both springs is about $100. Then there's your time to take apart, clean, paint then assemble is significant. They sound like Heavy Duty springs so they are probably worth restoring but for $400 your could get a set of HD springs that are nice (not the Mopar Performance Mexico junk) that look factory correct for the most part. There is a vendor who sells nice springs I can't remeber the name...some one else can chime in. good luck!
Just remembered vendors name..."ESPO". For the most part I have heard positive feedback on their springs. I'm sure others will provide comments.
My bad...Eaton Detroit Spring was the vendor I heard mostly positive feedback on.
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Re: Restore leaf springs or buy new ones?
[Re: Mopar_Mike]
#159651
12/03/08 10:39 AM
12/03/08 10:39 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,828
Houston, Tx
hemi68charger
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,828
Houston, Tx
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If you're not looking for the absolute concourse brand new look and they don't sag, I'd rebuild them.. I rebuilt the ones on my '68 Hemi Charger R/T. Yes, there's cost associated with the new bushing, rebuild kit and possibly getting a tool or two. But, the satisfaction of knowing you did it is nice. I had fun with my rebuild. Sure, there was some slight roughness due to natural weathering, but all-n-all, they looked fine once wire-wheel cleaned. I sprayed a coat of Krylon Matte clear for protection. I decided to leave mine natural since that's the way they were originally. Cheers, PS: yes Dave. I have the proper u-bolts now that look dead-on accurate. 
Last edited by hemi68charger; 12/03/08 10:40 AM.
TroyHouston Mopar Connection Club'69 Charger Daytona 440 - auto - 4.10 Dana (now with 426 hemi) '69 Charger 500 440 - 4speed - 3.54 Dana '70 Road Runner 383 - 4speed - a/c (now with 440)
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So I'm now faced with the same decision and despite the hassle, I'm just gonna redo my orig Hemi springs. 
