Shocks

[PLUM 70]

My 70 R/T challenger has springs over the shock absorbers has anyone ever heard of this?  I don't think they belong.

[hemiken]

And do they look like a coil over shocky................. this was an old drag racing trick and if memory serves me correctly was a common max wedge installation back in the day on the 63-65 days and beyond.  Do not know why they are on your car, do you know any history about the car.   
As it may of been raced many moons ago..........

[FJ5_440]

Besides the old school drag racing use, it was often done to get the rear into the air much like air shocks, or to help out saggings springs without the expense of new rear springs.  Like air shocks, they can put a lot of load on the shock crossmember where it doesn't belong.  I would get rid of them.

[Super Blue 72]

Besides the old school drag racing use, it was often done to get the rear into the air much like air shocks, or to help out saggings springs without the expense of new rear springs.  Like air shocks, they can put a lot of load on the shock crossmember where it doesn't belong.  I would get rid of them.

Yep, I think they still sell them.  I remember my brother's '80 Trans Am had them, made that car ride like a truck!    Lifted the car like about 1.5 inches. 

Like the airshocks, you have to worry about the amount of stress that's put on the rear shock crossmember since now not all of the weight is being carried by the leafsprings if we are talking about the rear shocks I assume..

[PLUM 70]

I don't know if it was raced, but odds are it's been down the track a few times. The rear end does sit a little high, but I have had a lot of compliments on the stance.  I think it could ride a little smoother. I guess I should look into replaceing the rear springs, then decide if I like the stance or not.  Thanks guys that answers my question.

[Chryco Psycho]

the coil overs are very bad for traction they set up an ocillation & cause the rear end to bounce besides damaging the shock crossmeber as mentioned

[ChallengerHK]

I used to have a very cheap set of coilovers on the front of my car. As near as I can tell without any scientific testing, they did no good whatsoever for handling. The coils were so close they were binding under heavy loads, and to keep the ride height correct I had to uncrank the torsion bars, releasing some preload. When I put the new engine about a few years back I replaced them with Edelbrock IAS Performers, and it's a lot better now.

[PLUM 70]

yup the rear end bounces sometimes . I will be replacing the springs, because I don't want to cause any damage.  I hope the croos members havent already been damaged. I guess the problem is going to be getting the rear end to site at the same height, I really like the current stance.

[drewcrane]

you may have to re-arch the springs, sometimes people put those on cause the rear leaf springs were sagging, remove them and im kinda interested in what happens,let me know

[Super Blue 72]

Hey PLUM, I just posted a new thread because I was thinking of the coilover situation and was thinking about the viability of add a leaf helper springs to give you an idea to think about...    Whether or not it's a good idea is to be seen... 

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=43792.0

[Moparal]

I once used load level shocks with the springs on my 71 340 4 spd cuda I had in 1980. I pulled my 18' boat with the car and it helped so the back end didnt squat. Road ruff when I just drove it normal. But it was the only thing I had to pull my boat at the time, my wifes car was a 72 vega 4 spd 4cyl.

[Aussie Challenger]

  If your rear is sitting at your desired height, measure it, then remove the coils, bounce the vehicle's rear a few times and re measure the height. When you get your springs reset you will know how much they will have to be lifted.

[PLUM 70]

Ok I,m going to go with the  Edelbrock Performer IAS Shocks, but I am looking for suggestions on the rear springs.  Some buddies have said to just buy the heavy duty springs for the hemi . I also saw that I can order arched springs from Mancini to get the rear height that I want. Any suggestions. If i,m in this far what else should I be replacing or consider replacing?  Never done this before

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Ok I,m going to go with the  Edelbrock Performer IAS Shocks, but I am looking for suggestions on the rear springs.  Some buddies have said to just buy the heavy duty springs for the hemi . I also saw that I can order arched springs from Mancini to get the rear height that I want. Any suggestions. If i,m in this far what else should I be replacing or consider replacing?  Never done this before

I, along with a few others here have been happy with the Espo springs.  http://www.springsnthings.com/

You can get stock height, or 1", or 2" over stock height. They can even give you springs lower than stock height. I suggest buying new rear shackles and U-Bolts as you do this. I even bought new front hangers along with the BIG bolt that goes thru them.


  Mike

[HP2]

The OEM, Hemi style springs when installed with the weight of the car on them, will only have 1.5-2 inches of arch to them. They will appear to be almost flat. Uninstalled this arch should be around 5-6 inches. This is the source of a lot of disappointment when people buy new, original style Hemi springs because they think a new spring should have lots of arch. In a mopar, it just wasn't designed that way.

If you remove the shock coils and the rear sags flat or reverses the arch on the springs, you can mock up new springs with your car using a floor jack. Crank it up until you have the slight arch described above. This would be stock replacement springs. If you like the height, then get the stock arch. If you don't, then take a measurement, crank up the jack, and keep track at what + position you like, then order those from Espo.