stock replacement leaf springs?
#3052742
06/23/22 03:22 PM
06/23/22 03:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357 Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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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
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Re: stock replacement leaf springs?
[Re: moparx]
#3052754
06/23/22 03:57 PM
06/23/22 03:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357 Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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what about adding a leaf from another spring pack ? just throwing something out there to consider. 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
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Re: stock replacement leaf springs?
[Re: topside]
#3052765
06/23/22 04:35 PM
06/23/22 04:35 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357 Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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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!
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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Re: stock replacement leaf springs?
[Re: topside]
#3052821
06/23/22 09:15 PM
06/23/22 09:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,323 Omaha Ne
TJP
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I Live Here
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Omaha Ne
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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 OOPS!! responded before iI saw your post
Last edited by TJP; 06/23/22 09:17 PM.
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Re: stock replacement leaf springs?
[Re: moparx]
#3052861
06/24/22 02:03 AM
06/24/22 02:03 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,653 Cut and Shoot, TX
kentj340
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,653
Cut and Shoot, TX
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what about adding a leaf from another spring pack ? 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.
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Re: stock replacement leaf springs?
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#3052907
06/24/22 10:23 AM
06/24/22 10:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,841 S.E. Michigan
ZIPPY
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I Live Here
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Posts: 17,841
S.E. Michigan
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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
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Re: stock replacement leaf springs?
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#3052917
06/24/22 10:50 AM
06/24/22 10:50 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 531 Charlotte, NC
Kowal
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 531
Charlotte, NC
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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."
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Re: stock replacement leaf springs?
[Re: Kowal]
#3052944
06/24/22 11:41 AM
06/24/22 11:41 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,788 Greer, SC
TooMany62s
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,788
Greer, SC
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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/
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Re: stock replacement leaf springs?
[Re: ZIPPY]
#3053727
06/27/22 08:13 AM
06/27/22 08:13 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357 Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,357
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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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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