I'm guessing that my car has SS springs as it rides like an empty dump truck as stated in other posts and rides real high, especially with the new 17"'ers. I want to put other springs on but the springs have been moved in and the shocks are straight up and down.
Can I just put stock plus 1"'s on, are they the same length? These are the best pics I have for now. The front hanger has 2 holes and it's already in the upper hole.
Thanks!!

http://mopar1.us/cuda/rear1.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/rear2.jpg

I would assume going back to regular springs would soften it and I would assume that all A body springs are the same end to end but iirc some (SS) the center pin is slightly forward or back from normal which is gonna locate the axle & actually the shock being vertical is giving you the most dampenening. OE +1" get recommended alot. I bought a 65 dart roller with 003/003 SS springs & they needed shock extensions but when done it rode high and tight/real nice.

You most likely have SS springs. But I'd verify that by checking the length of the front hanger. Also, are your shocks long enough to be compatible with the extra arch of the spring pack? If they are too short and bottomed out at the end of their travel, ride quality will suffer.

You can take a leaf or two out of the pack to soften them up and maybe get a little less arch in them. Costs nothing but time to try this.

Are the rear shocks adjustable? Are they hydraulic or gas? If adjustable loosen them up. If gas change to hydraulic. My 69 Dart with AA springs and MP drag shocks(gas). Rode like a lumber wagon. Changed to a hyd shock and totally different riding car. JMO

If the car does have SS springs moved inward, you can use A body front offset spring hangers and use reg stock style springs. The front hanger you have now is 2" longer to compensate for the shorter front segment SS springs. Put reg stock spring in there with the longer front segment will help the car ride much better.

The angle of the rear shocks are adding to the stiffness in the ride.

The further you lay a shock down, the less effective it will be. Straight up is the exact opposite.

Go after that problem before you swap springs.

Thanks folks. Sorry about the delay in getting back. I did remove one shock to see if it had travel above and below where it bolts on and I can move it up and down, stiff but it does move. They just like just standard KYB's.
So the SS springs are shorter? I'm thinking about pulling one off and go to local spring place and have them make me a set.

SS springs are A body length... and need a longer front hanger for a B or E body to fit.

Another choice would be to go back to regular E body length, approx +2" with new or new/used front hangers. This would be in the right direction for ride quality... also different shocks. Several folks (eg ESPO or "Springs and Things") will make springs to your specs/needs.

"They just like just standard KYB's."

Bingo

Thanks!

If the car was set up to use real SS springs and someone installed B/E body SS springs they would be too long. Stuffing them in the car would raise the rear end (as yours is) and they would be bent over too far to compress over bumps. It would ride incredibly stiff.

I learned that the hard way when I put the 69 B-body springs on the 65. The 65 main leaf is shorter. The springs were nearly inflexible.

Yeah, that's the problem, not.

If your teeth are rattling it's isn;t the KYB's, unless they are seized or something like that.

I had the same problem for years. I tried mono leafs and Caltracs, but they were brutal too.

I consulted with Dr Diff, and he solved the problem of the buckboard ride. He told me to use two passenger side Super Stock springs, but this time for a 1968 a-body. They are the 2800lbs springs.

It worked. My car rides better than it ever has, sits perfect and hooks up hard.

X2 KYB's made my car as comfortable as a haycart.
Way too much gas pressure in those things imho.

I'll disconnect the shocks and see if the ride is better but it still sits too high so these springs are coming out.

This would be true. If the car sits up like that on the upper hole I think something is off. I bet you have B body S/S springs (454/455 or 456/457) in there instead of E body.

That would be interesting, but not really informative. I suspect based on a number variables, it could possibly improve, I think your time would be better spent borrowing any other shock, to test and see if there is an improvement's at no cost. My guess is the shock is only part of the problem ( I never stated otherwise), and the low hanging fruit here, and KYB's have this reputation pf harshness (although Not all users concur), and I have had the same experience. Your spring package is the next change to consider.

FWIW, I use composite springs, and will likely never consider anything else on my cars.

on my cuda convertible, i went with mopar drag shocks in the rear 50-50 and reg oil shocks in the front,I think monroes..the ride is so smooth , i think i was driving my caddy...but my 71 cuda which has the hemi suspension it, rides like a truck,even with oil shocks..

Man they hacked this thing up, should have looked it over better when I bought it. I counted the leaves and they only have 4 leaves. I have to look at someone's stock E body to see the differences, the back section looks hacked, maybe from previous rust?
Just noticed it has no rear spring shackles, seems be the whole problem!


http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring17.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring16.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring15.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring14.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring13.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring12.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring11.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring10.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring9.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring8.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring7.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring6.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring5.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring4.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring3.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring2.jpg

http://mopar1.us/cuda/spring1.jpg

That mount between the diff and spring looks like for the factory rear sway bar ?