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SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico #1605417 04/10/14 03:38 PM 04/10/14 03:38 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,894 Florida Locomotion OP master
Locomotion OP master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,894 Florida	I've heard the stories for years that since the manufacturing of Mopar SS springs was moved to Mexico, the quality of the metal has gone down and caused premature "settling". My question: Is there a way to tell the difference visually between them if "Made in Mexico" isn't spray painted on or has faded/worn off? In other words, did anything like the stampings of numbers or anything else change? Naturally, part #'s stayed the same, but there are other stampings as well. I have an older, little used, dirty, dusty set with no signs of anything having been painted on and trying to determine if it's an early set or newer set.

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: Locomotion] #1605418 04/10/14 03:46 PM 04/10/14 03:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,763 Walton's Mountain, Pa Steve1118 master
Steve1118 master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,763 Walton's Mountain, Pa	Can't be sure, Myron, but I've had a couple of sets. The first set Made in Mexico went away pretty quick. But, this latest set has been on a couple of years now, and still work very well. Perhaps that issue has been resolved? "Old age and treachery trumps youth and enthusiasm, every time!" East Central Director / Chrysler Power Magazine www.reasbeckracing.webs.com

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: Steve1118] #1605419 04/11/14 12:50 AM 04/11/14 12:50 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md 3 383man Too Many Posts
383man Too Many Posts 3 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md	I know I bought my SS springs from Mancini about 6 years ago and they have stayed the same. I just figured they were Mopar SS springs but to be honest I cant remember if they were a spring Mancini calls their SS spring or if they were the MP springs which I believe they were as they were listed as 3400 lb SS springs. But I have been happy with them. I dont see anything on them saying where they were made. Ron Last edited by 383man; 04/11/14 12:51 AM.

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: 383man] #1605420 04/11/14 01:18 AM 04/11/14 01:18 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,894 Florida Locomotion OP master
Locomotion OP master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,894 Florida	Thanks guys. Mine are getting tired after many years and am hoping I have a good set to replace them with. I'll have to take a closer look at the ones on my car to see if there are any differences. Most of the info appears to be covered up by the shock plates.

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: Locomotion] #1605421 04/11/14 01:39 AM 04/11/14 01:39 AM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI MR_P_BODY Master
MR_P_BODY Master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI	Quote: Thanks guys. Mine are getting tired after many years and am hoping I have a good set to replace them with. I'll have to take a closer look at the ones on my car to see if there are any differences. Most of the info appears to be covered up by the shock plates. IF there is any data on the springs it wouldnt be in the actual spring area.. that would be a failure point(a stamped number or a scribed number) so it would be at either end, maybe on the spring eyes.. when I was on the transverse torsion bar project(for the F & M bodies) we etched the lab number on the hex of the bar... so look at any dead points on the springs

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1605422 04/11/14 03:01 AM 04/11/14 03:01 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,431 USA S SSAAHemiFan top fuel
SSAAHemiFan top fuel S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,431 USA	I remember my "good ones" were just stenciled with white spray paint made in Canada You could also look into Tri-City Competition Launcher Springs

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: SSAAHemiFan] #1605423 04/11/14 10:24 AM 04/11/14 10:24 AM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 6,849 F fullmetaljacket master
fullmetaljacket master F Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 6,849	I concur. Tri-City. The Good stuff is long gone.

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: fullmetaljacket] #1605424 04/11/14 11:59 AM 04/11/14 11:59 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,160 Texas dannysbee master
dannysbee master Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,160 Texas	If you were happy with what you have why not take your springs to a local spring shop and use them for a blueprint to build a quality new super stock spring? I have had springs made in my area and was pleased with the results. Getting old just means you were smarter than some and luckier than others.

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: Locomotion] #1605425 04/11/14 12:05 PM 04/11/14 12:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,439 Val-haul-ass... eventually B BradH Taking time off to work on my car
BradH Taking time off to work on my car B Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,439 Val-haul-ass... eventually	I don't know the timing of when all this happened, but I'd been hearing about how the Mexican-made SS springs were sagging quickly even when I bought my Challenger back in '95. At that time it had Canadian-made springs that seemed to have held up fine over the years. Tri-City stuff is (was?) really high-quality; I don't know if the father & son team that used to run Tri-City Competition are still in business. When I checked maybe ten years ago about their stuff after seeing some people using their springs successfully, I found it wasn't any cheaper than switching to CalTracs, so I went w/ the latter because of increased tuning capabilities. Let's just say they wanted a LOT of $$$ for a pair of leaf springs... Good luck w/ your purchase decision.

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: BradH] #1605426 04/11/14 01:27 PM 04/11/14 01:27 PM
Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,163 CT GTX MATT master
GTX MATT master Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,163 CT	I don't know about quality of the steel, mine seem OK, but they assembled and THEN painted them and my leafs are rusting in between. So I have to take them apart clean them and paint them right. Now I need to pin those needles, got to feel that heat Hear my motor screamin while I'm tearin up the street

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: GTX MATT] #1605427 04/11/14 02:39 PM 04/11/14 02:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,103 Phila Pa S scatpacktom master
scatpacktom master S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,103 Phila Pa	I think Caltracs hurt Tri City's spring business pretty bad, I'm not sure Greg does springs anymore. To be honest I think the Caltrac monoleaf spring is a piece of junk. They wear out very quickly IMO. Way faster than any Mexican SS spring Last edited by scatpacktom; 04/11/14 02:45 PM.

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: scatpacktom] #1605428 04/11/14 07:37 PM 04/11/14 07:37 PM
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,318 State of confusion T Thumperdart I Live Here
Thumperdart I Live Here T Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,318 State of confusion	Quote: I think Caltracs hurt Tri City's spring business pretty bad, I'm not sure Greg does springs anymore. To be honest I think the Caltrac monoleaf spring is a piece of junk. They wear out very quickly IMO. Way faster than any Mexican SS spring Pretty bold statement I mean Calvert invented something years ago that works and mine and thousands of others have been flawless for years........... 72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: Locomotion] #1605429 04/11/14 11:12 PM 04/11/14 11:12 PM
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,186 OHIO T THE GLASS MAN super stock
THE GLASS MAN super stock T Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,186 OHIO	What year did they start making s/s springs in Mexico?

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: THE GLASS MAN] #1605430 04/12/14 01:23 AM 04/12/14 01:23 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,103 Phila Pa S scatpacktom master
scatpacktom master S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,103 Phila Pa	Pretty Bold... Maybe, but maybe I'm the only one who's front segments have changed direction in less than 2 years.

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: scatpacktom] #1605431 04/12/14 01:28 AM 04/12/14 01:28 AM
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,318 State of confusion T Thumperdart I Live Here
Thumperdart I Live Here T Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,318 State of confusion	Call Calvert I`m sure the`ll make it right cos looking back, there was a batch of springs doin what you`re talking about.............that`s the answer in my mind not saying they are junk just cos yours had issues. 72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: Thumperdart] #1605432 04/12/14 02:04 AM 04/12/14 02:04 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,103 Phila Pa S scatpacktom master
scatpacktom master S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,103 Phila Pa	Not just me man. I would say everyone that was racing in F.A.S.T has been through them at least once. We all got them at the same time so MAYBE there was a bad run at that time. We don't run the bars just the springs. Most have moved on.

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: scatpacktom] #1605433 04/12/14 02:19 AM 04/12/14 02:19 AM
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,318 State of confusion T Thumperdart I Live Here
Thumperdart I Live Here T Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,318 State of confusion	Gotch and being it`s a mono leaf deal I would ASSume it needs the cross bolt to stop it from wrapping up and I`d bet money Calvert tells ya the same thing........or not. It`s called a "system" for a reason........... Last edited by Thumperdart; 04/12/14 09:43 AM. 72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: Thumperdart] #1605434 04/12/14 01:07 PM 04/12/14 01:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,103 Phila Pa S scatpacktom master
scatpacktom master S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,103 Phila Pa	In less than 2 years the springs won't hold the car up. That has zippo to do with the "System". I'm not debating the Caltrac system... I am simply saying the quality of the spring steel sucks. Worn out in less than 20 races, who would be happy with that? All the SS springs that I own that are ancient are the best. I had some newer XHD mopar springs on as well... They wear out very quickly too. Maybe it's just me

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: scatpacktom] #1605435 04/12/14 01:36 PM 04/12/14 01:36 PM
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,318 State of confusion T Thumperdart I Live Here
Thumperdart I Live Here T Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,318 State of confusion	Quote: In less than 2 years the springs won't hold the car up. That has zippo to do with the "System". I'm not debating the Caltrac system... I am simply saying the quality of the spring steel sucks. Worn out in less than 20 races, who would be happy with that? All the SS springs that I own that are ancient are the best. I had some newer XHD mopar springs on as well... They wear out very quickly too. Maybe it's just me 72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....

Re: SS springs - orignal vs Made in Mexico [Re: scatpacktom] #1605436 04/12/14 03:03 PM 04/12/14 03:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,439 Val-haul-ass... eventually B BradH Taking time off to work on my car
BradH Taking time off to work on my car B Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,439 Val-haul-ass... eventually	Quote: ... We don't run the bars just the springs... I really believe that's the root of the issue. CalTrac's mono-leaf springs aren't there for any other purpose than setting the ride height of the car. All the load is supposed to be handled by the link system, not the springs. The ones I have on The MoPig have shown no sag problems or any other issues. IMO, running them w/o the CalTrac bars is a misapplication of the mono-leaf springs.

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