Moparts

Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea?

Posted By: vinnyd76

Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 01:26 AM

Anyone have luck with restoring rear leaf springs? Good idea? Does the rearching process last for a while? I looked into a set of stock reproduction 340 A-Body leaf springs through Mopar, but they stopped making them.
Posted By: DaveRS23

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 01:56 AM

Have you thought about just using some good helper leafs? I have had these on the Cuda for several years. They are Hellwigs. They are out of sight and you can adjust the height to your preference instead of hoping the spring guys get it right.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: dIc dOc Deity !

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 04:40 AM

I did it a long LONG time ago with a 20 lb sledge !

No harbor freight presses then ! Do it that way now !
Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 04:45 AM

I would clamp it in 2 places with C clamps a bit out from the center bolt & crack the nut with a nut cracker (nut tends to be frozen & the rounded head bolt is special) then gradually loosen em to dissassemble then bend the main leaf then reassemble. I always wanted to try those zinc liners that speedway sells tho I cant say I ever had an issue with squeaky springs.
Posted By: SportF

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by Doc Fiberglass
I did it a long LONG time ago with a 20 lb sledge !

No harbor freight presses then ! Do it that way now !



Factory springs are the best there ever was. Re-arching is the only way to go. Have done this on my press many times and it lasts, like no other spring. Hammers work too.
Posted By: a12rag

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 02:39 PM

When I restored my Sport Satellite, I went with a set of Mopar Performance rear springs . . . . UGGHHH !!! . . . after about 1 year the car "sank" about 2" !! I really did not like the look of the flat springs and back end going down . . . took the original springs to local shop, they re-arched them, and added 1 leaf ! That was about 3 or 4 years ago now, and they have not sagged at all. Not sure if the Mopar Performance springs are better now, but if I had the choice, I would keep my originals and get them re-arched !
Posted By: MarkZ

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 03:00 PM

I had the factory springs on my 87 re-arched with a helper leaf added by a local spring shop. Car had a serious sag to it beforehand. Raised the car about 2" higher than what I wanted and it settled back down to factory ride height after a couple days - exactly what the spring shop said would happen. It held that height for six or seven years until I pulled the springs and went with new ones while I was rebuilding the entire suspension. They were still at the correct height when pulled and I gave them to another guy who to my knowledge still runs them on his car.

Either get the re-arched or call John R Spring and see if they have something that will fit.
Posted By: 05dakota

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 03:59 PM

www.espo.com
Posted By: fullmetaljacket

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 04:05 PM

Isn't it cheaper and faster to add a SLIGHTLY longer shackle or would that mess with the angle of the shackle.
Posted By: topside

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 04:32 PM

Longer shackle raises teh body above the spring, but also leverages the weight at the most advantage over the spring.
The back half of the spring essentially supports the car's weight.
Re-arching has worked for me in the past. Years back, about $125-$150 from a good shop.
Where I live now, there's 1 spring guy within a 100-mile or so radius, and he's greedy: $400-$450 to re-arch.
I bought springs from Espo for much less than that - about $280 to my door - and I'm very happy with them.
Posted By: therocks

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 04:47 PM

Had the ones on my kids 62 300 done.He had them add a leaf and 1 inch more arch at the time.He drove the car at least 14 years and they were better than any new spring you could buy now.He beat the car to death mileage and racing.My 57 if the mains werent all broke they would have been done also.Just happened that local spring shop had a set they made probally 30 years before that I bought.Rocky
Posted By: Pntastar69

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 04:51 PM

Had mine reached and added another leaf 15 years ago. Still the same stance and ride and cheaper.
Posted By: Jwilli500

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by 05dakota

Most guys on here seem to be happy with these folks.
Posted By: MarkZ

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 05:15 PM

I just noticed you're in Macomb. Northern Spring on Groesbeck is the shop I had re-arch the original springs. John R Spring is at 14 and Dequindre in Troy if you wanted to look into new ones. I paid $240 back when for the re-arch and $280 for the new ones and that included one added leaf over stock (five in total) and rubber bushings.
Posted By: lewtot184

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/03/19 06:46 PM

did it once; wouldn't do it again.
Posted By: jbeintherockies

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 07/05/19 06:21 PM

I just did mine last month. My springs are the MP springs, which are built by JR Spring in Michigan. They are a high quality spring.

The first time the shop in Denver arched them, they went way too much. I had to remove them and bring them back to take 1-3/4" of arch out of them (and yes, pay again). At that point I had $320 in re-arching the springs. For another $100 or so I could have bought new springs. My car is lowered, so I would have to buy springs that have at least 1" less arch. The key takeaway is, take them to a good shop to have them re-arched. It is too early to tell how well they will hold up. The shop said they will probably lose about 1/2" of arch over the course of a year or two.
Posted By: dIc dOc Deity !

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 01/25/20 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by therocks
Had the ones on my kids 62 300 done.He had them add a leaf and 1 inch more arch at the time.He drove the car at least 14 years and they were better than any new spring you could buy now.He beat the car to death mileage and racing.My 57 if the mains werent all broke they would have been done also.Just happened that local spring shop had a set they made probally 30 years before that I bought.Rocky


da rocks KID ? laugh2

His KID is approaching FIFTY ! xmaseek
Posted By: TJP

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 01/25/20 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyd76
Anyone have luck with restoring rear leaf springs? Good idea? Does the rearching process last for a while? I looked into a set of stock reproduction 340 A-Body leaf springs through Mopar, but they stopped making them.

I have been using Laura at ESPO, AKA Springs and things with great success for about 20 years on multiple cars.

CLICK HERE FOR HER WEBSITE
Posted By: SportF

Re: Rearching Leaf Springs - Good Idea? - 01/25/20 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by fullmetaljacket
Isn't it cheaper and faster to add a SLIGHTLY longer shackle or would that mess with the angle of the shackle.
.

This was done ALL the time back in the '60's. I remember seeing many a car with very long (6inch or more) shackles with the car lower than what it was when the springs were weak, and before the shackles were extended. This was especially true on late 50's Fords.

It puts more stress on spring already giving out.

As I said above, re-arching is, to me, the best way to go. Extending the shackles is on the other end of the spectrum.
© 2024 Moparts Forums