leaf spring damaging rear valance ;(

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    Author Topic: leaf spring damaging rear valance ;(  (Read 1653 times)

    Offline willard

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      • 1970 Challenger R/T
    leaf spring damaging rear valance ;(
    « on: May 20, 2015 - 03:44:32 AM »
    Hi. After 2 years of using espo +1 leaf springs they sagged horribly. I took the car to a springs shop where they refurbished the leaf springs adding 2". Finally the car sat level with F70-14s.
    During my ride home I heard a loud knock in the back... I thought the axle must set at the ubolts... wrong:

    What happened? Does my 383 offer so much torque that it twists the leaf springs so much?? When springs were new they worked fine.
    Anybody got this problem?

    Of course springs shop says it's not their fault.

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    1970 383 R/T SE


    Offline Bullitt-

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    Re: leaf spring damaging rear valance ;(
    « Reply #1 on: May 20, 2015 - 09:49:47 AM »
    I suspect there was not enough clearance & the second leaf snagged your valence.
    Probably a combination of the valance which appears to have been repaired before being to close & the increased arch in the spring.  :2cents:
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    Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
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    Offline HP2

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    Re: leaf spring damaging rear valance ;(
    « Reply #2 on: May 20, 2015 - 10:43:59 AM »
    First time I've heard of Espo springs sagging. Interesting.

    In any case, the re-arch and new ride height likely change the  orientation of the spring enough that the arch was put in an interference path with the valance. You may be able to pull the valance down enough to clear without any issue, although I would have thought the spring shop would have verified that before releasing the car to you.
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    Offline willard

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      • 1970 Challenger R/T
    Re: leaf spring damaging rear valance ;(
    « Reply #3 on: May 20, 2015 - 11:27:47 AM »
    Funny that when I bought the car in 2008 it had the valance damaged in the same place... and the same way :)

    I was considering cutting a rectangular notch in the valance but that would kill my OEM look. Probably I will try to force it a little bit out and repair damaged paint.
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    1970 383 R/T SE

    Offline brasil

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    Re: leaf spring damaging rear valance ;(
    « Reply #4 on: May 22, 2015 - 03:23:37 AM »
    Are your shakles   OEM    or are they longer than  OEM..   

    IF ...  that´s would be the reason why the springs touch the valance

    Greetings Juergen
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    Offline jimynick

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    Re: leaf spring damaging rear valance ;(
    « Reply #5 on: May 23, 2015 - 12:00:15 AM »
    What about simply trimming a 1/2" off the bottom edge of the valance or rolling it inwards the same amount, thereby reinforcing the edge?
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    Offline marc70challenger

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    Re: leaf spring damaging rear valance ;(
    « Reply #6 on: May 23, 2015 - 12:43:24 AM »
    Quote from: willard on May 20, 2015 - 11:27:47 AM
    Funny that when I bought the car in 2008 it had the valance damaged in the same place... and the same way :)

    I was considering cutting a rectangular notch in the valance but that would kill my OEM look. Probably I will try to force it a little bit out and repair damaged paint.

    The valance on our Challenger was touching the gas tank after I replaced the filler grommet .... I was able to bend it out 1/4" for piece of mind .... I just went slowly, evenly, and little pulls at a time ....
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    1970 Challenger 340 Performance Package
    1965 Barracuda - "The Pumpkin"  http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=116471.0

    Offline Challenger6pak

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    Re: leaf spring damaging rear valance ;(
    « Reply #7 on: May 23, 2015 - 08:20:41 AM »
    What you have is a common problem, especially with 4 speeds.  Do you have a pinion snubber on the car?  Bend the pan out some as was mentioned by marc70.
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    1969 Sport Satellite H code convertible, 1970 Cuda 440+6, 1970 Challenger R/T 440+6, 1970 Challenger 383 R/T auto, 1970 Challenger R/T 383 4 speed,1971 Challenger convertible.
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