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New leaf springs or rebuild originals? #508534 10/26/09 09:37 PM 10/26/09 09:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 63 Maryland B brianz426 OP member
brianz426 OP member B Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 63 Maryland	I'm replacing all my brake lines and detailing the rearend housing on my '69 383 A/T Road Runner. My rear springs are sagging so I might as well do all of this at the same time. I noticed there is a big difference in some of the prices of new springs. Eaton , ESPO, any pluses or minuses to either brand? I'm reluctant to have originals rebuilt because I here some companies add a leaf. I"d prefer the stock look and ride height. What do you all think? Thanks

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: brianz426] #508535 10/28/09 07:18 PM 10/28/09 07:18 PM
Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,274 Ontario.Canada C can.al pro stock
can.al pro stock C Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,274 Ontario.Canada	...if you restore and re-arch your springs you can get your ride heght were you want it and it can be economical. Some say re-arching will eventually 're-sag' Mine have held up for about 9 years. Maybe I got lucky. ....al

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: brianz426] #508536 10/28/09 08:26 PM 10/28/09 08:26 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,426 weymouth,mass. M meepmeep70 master
meepmeep70 master M Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,426 weymouth,mass.	i went espo 1" over stock for my 70 runner,it sat higher then stock for a short time til i drove it,now it sits great like factory,price was right as oppose to rebuilding old

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: meepmeep70] #508537 10/28/09 08:29 PM 10/28/09 08:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 299 Fitchbug, Mass. WannaRunner enthusiast
WannaRunner enthusiast Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 299 Fitchbug, Mass.	Is ESPO the best quality spring?

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: WannaRunner] #508538 10/28/09 08:48 PM 10/28/09 08:48 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,426 weymouth,mass. M meepmeep70 master
meepmeep70 master M Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,426 weymouth,mass.	i think it is a great quality spring,best? i couldn't say,but many members here have used them,pretty much identical to my originals,i blasted and painted my originals and put under the bench,if next owner wants restored he can do it.i did give espo a better paint job,but very happy with

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: meepmeep70] #508539 10/28/09 09:41 PM 10/28/09 09:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 63 Maryland B brianz426 OP member
brianz426 OP member B Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 63 Maryland	I do prefer the stock ride height. So the question is do I get the 1" over and wait for them to settle or get stock ride height and run the risk of them sagging? How long did it take for the springs to go down to stock ride height on your '70 RR? Did you get all new hardware and u-bolts from ESPO also? Thanks

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: brianz426] #508540 10/28/09 10:46 PM 10/28/09 10:46 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,426 weymouth,mass. M meepmeep70 master
meepmeep70 master M Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,426 weymouth,mass.	got everything new from them,i did a total restoration,so ride looked high,til i got bumper,tank,glass,back seat,lid ect.,i kept 100lbs of sand in the trunk til i finished assembly(few months)by time i was ready to ride they had settled,look at it this way,if you get stock height it will take another 20yrs to settle,1" over just give the rear a little stance. good luck

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: meepmeep70] #508541 10/29/09 12:48 AM 10/29/09 12:48 AM
Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 982 W. Sacto CA. USA P phantomx super stock
phantomx super stock P Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 982 W. Sacto CA. USA	I just installed a pair of right hand XHD mopar springs in the rear of my GTX. The car sits really nice, maybe a tiny bit high, but the car is missing the rear bumper and seat right now. Oh yeah, they were only like $110 ea Travis.. 70 GTX project, orig 440-4, 4 spd, track pack, FC7, stripper/street racer special.

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: phantomx] #508542 10/29/09 07:11 AM 10/29/09 07:11 AM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,000 Millersville, PA HemiChallenger master
HemiChallenger master Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,000 Millersville, PA	In my opinion if the springs need re arched or you want the car higher in the rear find a good pair of stock replacements or buy the Heavy duty Super Stock springs(you can order two of the same part number of you dont like the passenger side higher than drivers). Reasoning for it is that the stress that they go under if its actually driven they will slowly start to drop. This is much more noticed on re arched springs because of the process used to re arch them, the springs loose their strength easily.

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: HemiChallenger] #508543 10/29/09 07:14 AM 10/29/09 07:14 AM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,000 Millersville, PA HemiChallenger master
HemiChallenger master Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 8,000 Millersville, PA	I rebuild my springs and its not something that anyone cant do with some patience unless your under a time line. Everything to rebuild them cost a little less than $60. That included new eye bushings for the front perch, plastic sliders, clips, and Studded bolt with nut. Steve

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: HemiChallenger] #508544 10/29/09 02:58 PM 10/29/09 02:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 63 Maryland B brianz426 OP member
brianz426 OP member B Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 63 Maryland	Thanks for your input guys. If my springs weren't sagging I would rebuild them myself. So it looks like I'm going to give ESPO a try. The MP springs have the best price but in the past I've heard complaints of them prematurely sagging. I was originally going to try Eaton but at over $500.00 with hardware they are just too high for me to justify.

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: brianz426] #508545 10/29/09 03:15 PM 10/29/09 03:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,799 ILL M MLR426 master
MLR426 master M Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,799 ILL	Eaton is the better spring logan426

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: MLR426] #508546 10/29/09 05:49 PM 10/29/09 05:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,476 G gtx69 super gas
gtx69 super gas G Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,476	Who sells the rebuild kits for the leaf springs?

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: MLR426] #508547 10/29/09 08:58 PM 10/29/09 08:58 PM
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 545 Massachusetts LYNCHROAD69.5 mopar
LYNCHROAD69.5 mopar Joined: May 2007 Posts: 545 Massachusetts	Quote: Eaton is the better spring logan426 you get what you pay for in this case

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: LYNCHROAD69.5] #508548 10/29/09 09:54 PM 10/29/09 09:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 63 Maryland B brianz426 OP member
brianz426 OP member B Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 63 Maryland	Quote: Quote: Eaton is the better spring logan426 you get what you pay for in this case Can anyone give me any differences between the two? I was originally planning on going with Eaton, but I have not heard any complaints about ESPO. Thanks again

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: brianz426] #508549 10/30/09 12:14 AM 10/30/09 12:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,570 San Francisco Ca SCATPK master
SCATPK master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,570 San Francisco Ca	I had my original springs re-arched over 14 years ago at a local facility that deals with H/D trucks and they are holding up fine. So I guess it depends on who does the work because I would not hesitate to do it again. 5575588-DSC03796.JPG (85 downloads)

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: brianz426] #508550 10/30/09 07:55 AM 10/30/09 07:55 AM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,799 ILL M MLR426 master
MLR426 master M Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,799 ILL	Quote: Quote: Quote: Eaton is the better spring logan426 you get what you pay for in this case Can anyone give me any differences between the two? I was originally planning on going with Eaton, but I have not heard any complaints about ESPO. Thanks again With a little shaping of the bottom spring you have a more original appearing spring and a spring that holds up well. Do you want to do it once or twice ?? logan426

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: MLR426] #508551 10/31/09 08:37 AM 10/31/09 08:37 AM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 63 Maryland B brianz426 OP member
brianz426 OP member B Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 63 Maryland	Quote: Quote: Quote: Quote: Eaton is the better spring logan426 you get what you pay for in this case Can anyone give me any differences between the two? I was originally planning on going with Eaton, but I have not heard any complaints about ESPO. Thanks again With a little shaping of the bottom spring you have a more original appearing spring and a spring that holds up well. Do you want to do it once or twice ?? logan426 I only want to do this once. If you are saying that the Eaton spring looks noticeably more like stock and will hold up better than the ESPO, than it would be worth it to pay a little more. There is a spring place in downtown Baltimore that has been around for 50 years, I guess it can't hurt to talk to them also. Thanks Last edited by brianz426; 11/02/09 10:09 PM.

Re: New leaf springs or rebuild originals? [Re: brianz426] #508552 10/31/09 06:13 PM 10/31/09 06:13 PM
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,126 Hunt Valley, Maryland 1fastrunner top fuel
1fastrunner top fuel Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,126 Hunt Valley, Maryland	I'm also interested in this, but I would like my ride height a tad taller than stock. Jim

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