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stock replacement leaf springs? #3052742
06/23/22 03:22 PM
06/23/22 03:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline OP
I Live Here
an8sec70cuda  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
Who has good quality stock replacement leaf springs? Specifically for a '70 challenger R/T w/ a 440/727/8.75. Just a street cruiser.
Eaton/Detroit Spring has them for $800 a pair.
Year one has them for about $400 a pair.
Mancini has Mopar Performance restoration springs for roughly $275 a pair. I'm leery of the MP springs b/c the newer super stock mexican made springs are junk...as is most everything "made" by Mopar Performance.
Not looking for OE perfect, but not wanting junk that'll need replacing in a year either.

Suggestions?


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: an8sec70cuda] #3052752
06/23/22 03:38 PM
06/23/22 03:38 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,239
north of coder
moparx Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline
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Posts: 19,239
north of coder
what about adding a leaf from another spring pack ?
just throwing something out there to consider.
beer

Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: moparx] #3052754
06/23/22 03:57 PM
06/23/22 03:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline OP
I Live Here
an8sec70cuda  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
Originally Posted by moparx
what about adding a leaf from another spring pack ?
just throwing something out there to consider.
beer

Might have to if we can't find new ones. This car was just put back on the road and after driving it a little bit, we've realized just how much the original springs have sagged.


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: an8sec70cuda] #3052758
06/23/22 04:18 PM
06/23/22 04:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,644
So Near, Yet So Far
topside Online content
Too Many Posts
topside  Online Content
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Posts: 20,644
So Near, Yet So Far
ESPO / Springs 'n Things makes a good product; I've used their springs on a couple of Mopars.
There's also the option of Hellwig EZ550 helper springs.

Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: topside] #3052765
06/23/22 04:35 PM
06/23/22 04:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline OP
I Live Here
an8sec70cuda  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
Originally Posted by topside
ESPO / Springs 'n Things makes a good product; I've used their springs on a couple of Mopars.
There's also the option of Hellwig EZ550 helper springs.

ESPO has them for $260 a pair! 4 week lead time, but that's alright. Thanks! beer


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: topside] #3052821
06/23/22 09:15 PM
06/23/22 09:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,194
Omaha Ne
T
TJP Offline
I Live Here
TJP  Offline
I Live Here
T

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,194
Omaha Ne
Originally Posted by topside
ESPO / Springs 'n Things makes a good product; I've used their springs on a couple of Mopars.

X2
I've used Laura for over 20 years on a multitude of customers cars ZERO issues up

OOPS!! responded before iI saw your post beer

Last edited by TJP; 06/23/22 09:17 PM.
Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: TJP] #3052848
06/23/22 11:29 PM
06/23/22 11:29 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,637
Florida
G
GMP440 Offline
top fuel
GMP440  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,637
Florida

ESPO Springs and Things here too. I bought a set of heavy duty 6 leaf springs for my 68 Coronet. This was back in 04. No sagging to this day. Back then, Laura at ESPO helped me put the order through. Didn't know she is still with ESPO.
Laura is very knowledgeble.

Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: moparx] #3052861
06/24/22 02:03 AM
06/24/22 02:03 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,651
Cut and Shoot, TX
kentj340 Offline
top fuel
kentj340  Offline
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Posts: 1,651
Cut and Shoot, TX
Originally Posted by moparx
what about adding a leaf from another spring pack ?

beer


This. Worked for me. Added to each side one more of the second layer, the longest leaf without eyes, about 1975 to my '69 A body that had wheel hop. Almost 50 years later, both spring assemblies are functioning as designed. The rear of the car sits about 1" higher than spec, which I think gives it a very nice stance for a muscle car.


If you don't see two dolphins, you need a vacation.
Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: an8sec70cuda] #3052907
06/24/22 10:23 AM
06/24/22 10:23 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,801
S.E. Michigan
ZIPPY Offline
I Live Here
ZIPPY  Offline
I Live Here

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Posts: 17,801
S.E. Michigan
Yep. Many years ago.....(here comes the boring story).........

OK I will shorten it up. I went after that at one point.

Chrysler's Mexico spring plant KNOWS how to make leaf springs. I've had a couple Rams with 200k + miles on the original springs
and no problems. Plant Engr defended their process, even pulled several from production to prove
they were making MP springs to print......This was true....however the prints allow way too much variation, and don't
get detailed enough to make as consistent a product as I would prefer.

I'm not going to say exactly what information is missing from the OEM stock replacement XHD spring prints as well as the SS prints, but
it was substantial in that there was just not enough detail in them.

I tried but was not able to get an MP engineer on board with an addendum or alteration to the '60s specs. I think he had bigger fish to fry at the time.

The MP springs are hit and miss, and that's not going to change.
The SS springs on my car were reworked by a local spring shop and that's probably why they have not sagged out.

It'd probably be a better story to tell over a couple beers, tacos, or both.
I forgot to contact you the one time we went to Myrtle Beach, remembered on the way home, and was mad at myself for a couple days about that.


Rich H.

Esse Quam Videri




Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: ZIPPY] #3052909
06/24/22 10:39 AM
06/24/22 10:39 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 566
WA
T
tman Offline
mopar
tman  Offline
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T

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 566
WA
Im in the same boat for springs and I hear Espo is good stuff. Which ones did you order and are you going stock height? Can't find those photos of cars with Espo springs with varying heights.

Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: an8sec70cuda] #3052917
06/24/22 10:50 AM
06/24/22 10:50 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 531
Charlotte, NC
Kowal Offline
mopar
Kowal  Offline
mopar

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 531
Charlotte, NC
I have used Eaton on three different occasions with three different cars. They are really great. Easy to deal with, arrive quickly, look very factory. I have not had problems with sagging with them over time. I do normally order them at a +1 inch to get a little more stance. Also, for cars that are very part number correct, I swap the small leaf on each side with the original that has the part number on them. So yes they are pricey, but they are really good. They come with the bushing pressed in place in case you are curious.


'69 Hemi Charger 500, ‘70 U code Challenger R/T
(These and a bunch others at www.dkowal426.com)

P.J. O'Rouke: "The old car ran perfectly, right up until it didn't."
Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: Kowal] #3052944
06/24/22 11:41 AM
06/24/22 11:41 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,788
Greer, SC
TooMany62s Offline
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Posts: 1,788
Greer, SC
Originally Posted by Kowal
I have used Eaton on three different occasions with three different cars. They are really great. Easy to deal with, arrive quickly, look very factory. I have not had problems with sagging with them over time. I do normally order them at a +1 inch to get a little more stance. Also, for cars that are very part number correct, I swap the small leaf on each side with the original that has the part number on them. So yes they are pricey, but they are really good. They come with the bushing pressed in place in case you are curious.


Here ya go:https://www.eatondetroitspring.com/

Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: TooMany62s] #3052955
06/24/22 12:10 PM
06/24/22 12:10 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,914
Calgary, Alberta Canada
a12rag Offline
master
a12rag  Offline
master

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,914
Calgary, Alberta Canada
Years ago when I did the Sport Satellite, I went with the MP SS springs . . . lasted about 1 year and then sagged out so much, they were FLAT verging on arching opposite direction !! I still had the original springs I took off the car, took them to local spring shop and had them re arch them, and add a leaf . . . that was over 10 years ago - not sagged out at all ! . . .

Re: stock replacement leaf springs? [Re: ZIPPY] #3053727
06/27/22 08:13 AM
06/27/22 08:13 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline OP
I Live Here
an8sec70cuda  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,319
Marion, South Carolina [><]
Thanks for the suggestions yall. We'll be getting stock height HD springs from ESPO.

Zippy...definitely let me know if you come back down this way!


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax






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