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leaf springs seem flat - #83467
07/03/08 11:57 AM
07/03/08 11:57 AM
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michigan
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440whiteboy Offline OP
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with my 71 barracuda I have installed new 'stock' shocks, the original leaf springs have new bushings & dont have a good arch and/or seem flat. the car is 5" off ground from the front frames, rear frame is 5 1/2" -

should I change the leaf springs or could I add coil over shocks?

I'm looking for performance & want a good ride.
running a 440 - 430hp + 8 3/4 auto. 14" tires 24 1/2" tall -


They only see Stars...
when hit by a Mopar!
Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: 440whiteboy] #83468
07/03/08 12:23 PM
07/03/08 12:23 PM
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central PA
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mopartial Offline
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Leafs definitely fatigue and sag over time. Popular vendor here is "springs 'n things", I think $200 - $300 for replacement. (I dont know about using coil over shocks.) My orig were 4 leafs. I luckily found JY replacemnt "340/HD" springs that are 7 leafs and worked great for me.

Do your shocks have any spring? Mine are orig and resist travel but have no spring at all. Also they seem way short now that body is higher. Do I need longer shocks?

Last edited by mopartial; 07/03/08 12:27 PM.

If it aint broke, dont break it.
Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: mopartial] #83469
07/03/08 12:28 PM
07/03/08 12:28 PM
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michigan
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440whiteboy Offline OP
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Quote:

Do your shocks have any spring?




just stock replacements - no spring,
unless you mean when I push down on the rear of the car -
then its normal 1 1/4 times to stop -

these leaf springs have 5 -


They only see Stars...
when hit by a Mopar!
Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: 440whiteboy] #83470
07/03/08 12:42 PM
07/03/08 12:42 PM
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Pauls69 Offline
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the springs should be flat & have no arch to them, as that's the way they were originally engineered. brand new leaf springs will be the same.

if you'd like something w/ some arch in order to achieve a raked look, you'll probably have to order them from espo (+1/2/3").

Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: Pauls69] #83471
07/03/08 12:48 PM
07/03/08 12:48 PM
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snuggles Offline
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Quote:

t

if you'd like something w/ some arch in order to achieve a raked look, you'll probably have to order them from espo (+1/2/3").


or try checking with a local spring shop to add a leaf/rearch.

Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: 440whiteboy] #83472
07/03/08 12:49 PM
07/03/08 12:49 PM
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North Riverside IL & Lowell IN
GTXKen Offline
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Get an old set of leafs (salvage yard), cut the eyes off the main leaf and add them to your spring pack. You will get the arch and the lift you want, the new leaf bolts are like $6 at a spring shop. Its an easy project.


Ken

Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: GTXKen] #83473
07/03/08 01:20 PM
07/03/08 01:20 PM
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east side of Ohio
basketcase Offline
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Quote:

Get an old set of leafs (salvage yard), cut the eyes off the main leaf and add them to your spring pack. You will get the arch and the lift you want, the new leaf bolts are like $6 at a spring shop. Its an easy project.


Ken




that's wht I did a couple weeks ago to my car. it only had 4 leaves, and were flat. added a couple leaves($0)and new u bolts ($10). has a nice rake to it.

4528516-Multimed.jpg (81 downloads)

Dave


1981 Dodge D150 360 auto
Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: basketcase] #83474
07/03/08 01:27 PM
07/03/08 01:27 PM
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NW 'Burbs Chicago, IL
A_Roldan Offline
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Am I understanding this right; this works with your tired, old leaf springs? Just get the main spring off an old set, cut the eyes off, add it to your leafs and bolt it back together? This will add a nice little lift to the rear of the car?

Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: A_Roldan] #83475
07/03/08 03:47 PM
07/03/08 03:47 PM
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Florida
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scratchnfotraction Offline
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yes it works

had up to 8 leafs per side on a 68 Dart one time

had the rake to it rode a little stiff but deff no wheel hop and would haul 5 people and not bottem out

had great weight tranzfer the front raised a lot on launch

po boy ss springs

Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: A_Roldan] #83476
07/03/08 05:39 PM
07/03/08 05:39 PM
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east side of Ohio
basketcase Offline
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Quote:

Am I understanding this right; this works with your tired, old leaf springs? Just get the main spring off an old set, cut the eyes off, add it to your leafs and bolt it back together? This will add a nice little lift to the rear of the car?




here's mine before the springs. the bottom on the whel opening was even with the outside of the rim. now it's well above it. cheap and easy.....

4529012-P1010005.jpg (93 downloads)

Dave


1981 Dodge D150 360 auto
Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: basketcase] #83477
07/03/08 07:17 PM
07/03/08 07:17 PM
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MA.
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plymguy Offline
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Some years back I added a leaf to both of my rear springs on my '67 Fury III convertible. I bought 2 leafs from a spring shop along with new u bolts and new center bolts. It wasn't that expensive. I didn't remove the springs to do this. I supported the rear axle and used c clamps on each end of the spring to keep all of the leaves in place. I removed the u bolts and center bolts and slowly opened the calmps until the leafs were open enough to slide the new leaf under the main leaf. I then tightned up the clamps bringing everything together, installed the new center and u bolts.
Like has been stated here, it puts a nice arch in your springs. Well worth the effort.
John

Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: plymguy] #83478
07/03/08 07:52 PM
07/03/08 07:52 PM
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Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline
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I have leafs in my '65 dart that a prior owner added MANY leafs to in a '74 valiant so he could haul blocks etc to swap meets. I don't know if these backyard deals are engineered correct for a 1/4 miler or even a hot street car but it rides high & tight just like I like it. Only bad is if I run over anything taller than a piece of gravel my head is bouncing off the dome light.


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: RapidRobert] #83479
07/04/08 09:29 AM
07/04/08 09:29 AM
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michigan
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440whiteboy Offline OP
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thanks for your suggestions!
will give that a try -

my last car had super stock springs that had a good arch to them. had the rear up about 7" so I could raise the front up to 6" apx.
abit of a hard bounce on the road.

maybe you can see in this pic of my car now, how she seems to sit low with the rear frame is only 1/2" higher off the ground.


4530284-DSCN0942.JPG (81 downloads)

They only see Stars...
when hit by a Mopar!
Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: Pauls69] #83480
07/04/08 10:58 AM
07/04/08 10:58 AM
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Bitopia
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jcc Offline
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Quote:

the springs should be flat & have no arch to them, as that's the way they were originally engineered. brand new leaf springs will be the same.





I guess its a free country, you get to choose looks, or handling

What this all means is, in this situation, with the more arch present vs flat, the more likely the car will go into oversteer when cornering


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: leaf springs seem flat - [Re: jcc] #83481
07/04/08 12:17 PM
07/04/08 12:17 PM
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Florida
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scratchnfotraction Offline
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IMO

I would just add an main leaf with the ends cut off under your main leaf

should not be any handling probs,and give it a slight lift and not be harsh on the road

you could have a spring shop rearch them for cheap also








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