The new rear spring saga...
#2423296
12/24/17 09:39 PM
12/24/17 09:39 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,740 A collage of whims
topside
OP
Too Many Posts
|
OP
Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,740
A collage of whims
|
So, I went to replace some dead rear springs on a Duster with a pair of the 002/003 SS springs. The hangers front & rear are an aftermarket 3/4" relocation kit. One might assume spring-eye locations would be same as OEM. Saw where the center-pin location on the shock plates had been moved forward about 1/2" by drilling a 2nd hole. Hmmm. Well, with everything back together, the rear hangers refuse to go rearward past vertical, even with maybe 500 lbs of weight in the trunk; obviously binding the rear springs. Looks like I need to whip up some 1/2" spacers for the rear hangers to move 'em forward so I can a proper angle: unless by some weird voodoo magic merely moving the shock plates corrects the rear hanger angle, but I don't see how it would. Seems that the dead springs masked the front eye location being too far forward. Frankly, the 3/4" relocation doesn't appear to really buy any room at the spring/forward sidewall of the tire anyway, in case anyone reading this is thinking about doing that, but at least it makes fitting 2.5" tailpipes a tight proposition, haha.
|
|
|
Re: The new rear spring saga...
[Re: topside]
#2423526
12/25/17 01:03 PM
12/25/17 01:03 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,277 West Coast, USA
jbc426
master
|
master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,277
West Coast, USA
|
I run SS springs on both my A-Body and E-Body. The springs bolted right in to the A-body, but I had used Dr Diff's inset hanger kit for the E-Body.
That E-Body kit also moves the front spring Eye mounting bolt reward just over an inch (guessing) and the rear shackles and spring locating pin line up like stock.
Dr Diff makes a 3/4" inset kit for the A-Bodies. It leads me to think you mounting bracket may be drilled incorrectly. A quick measurement and call to Dr Diff could verify that.
Another variation I have with these springs is that I run two passenger side SS springs on both cars so they sit level. I also run a lighter spring than they recommend for the street. They ride beautifully and the cars hook up harder that with any other suspension I've tried in 30+ years. Learned that trick from Dr Diff. I also run properly adjusted slapper bars on them.
1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)
|
|
|
Re: The new rear spring saga...
[Re: topside]
#2424058
12/26/17 08:00 PM
12/26/17 08:00 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 273 WV
Danny
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 273
WV
|
|
|
|
Re: The new rear spring saga...
[Re: cruzin]
#2424864
12/28/17 01:42 PM
12/28/17 01:42 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,277 West Coast, USA
jbc426
master
|
master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,277
West Coast, USA
|
jbc426,
What adjusted slapper bar are you using? Also, do you have any 60' times with & w/o the slapper bars? I have the same setup (i.e. 2x passenger-side SS leafs per Dr. Diff and you) on a Challenger and looking to improve 60' times. I know they got a lot of bad press for not belonging on Mopars, but that is because a lot of people bolted them on straight out of the box, and they were not fitted properly. How many of you remember seeing cars driving around with these bars installed and a 3 or 4 inch gap between the rubber snubber and the bottom of the front spring eyelet? They don't do anything when mounted like that, hence the bad rep. I buy the universal Lakewood sets from Summit and cut & weld them to fit properly. They need to be up tight against the bottom of the spring for max clearance and the rubber snubber needs to be just touching the bottom of the front spring eye. I also cut the rubber snubber in half to reduce deflection even more. They are not designed or fitted specifically for Mopar out of the box. Because of the semi-elliptical design of our rear springs, they are actually perfectly suited to eliminate spring wrap and push the tires downward into the pavement upon acceleration. They function similarly to a pinion snubber, but without the harsh ride that the snubbers produce by stopping the rear suspension from compressing. They do create significant torsional stress on the differential housing, but neither one of my cars have ever had any problems as a result. They are inexpensive, easy to install, virtually eliminate spring wrap and my cars hook way harder with them on. I don't have any tracks near me, so no before and after time comparisons, but I can tell you once you try them, you will never take them off.
1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)
|
|
|
|
|