Author Topic: Leaf spring help  (Read 3563 times)

Offline 73cudakid

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Leaf spring help
« on: May 13, 2008 - 05:45:11 PM »
Putting the rear suspension back in my 73 340 cuda and it seams as if the drivers side rear tire is roughly 1" farther forward than the passengers side. Both leaf springs have the same part #3643594. Are these both for one side causing it to skew the drivers side farther forward? Just wanna make sure this is the problem prior to buying new springs. Thanks
Dave




Offline GoodysGotaCuda

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2008 - 05:50:20 PM »
I do believe on my car the spring perch on my car has two or three holes in each, sounds like you've got the pin in the leaf in different notches. not that i've ever done that before  :angelwings:
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Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2008 - 07:18:03 PM »
I do believe on my car the spring perch on my car has two or three holes in each, sounds like you've got the pin in the leaf in different notches. not that i've ever done that before  :angelwings:

   :iagree:

  That little node on your spring can fit into 3 different holes on top of the rear axle. Did you place each side in the middle hole?



  Mike

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Offline vinb

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2008 - 07:36:06 PM »
Hey, if your going to stagger the wheelbase for starting line advantage you suppose to do it with the front not the back, (just playing with you). Like MEK said make sure you have them both in the middle holes on the spring perch's..
A few photos would help us out to see what you have there.....

Offline 73cudakid

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2008 - 05:36:01 PM »
Just got back to my house. Both the locator pins are in the center hole on the perches.

Offline Moparal

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2008 - 08:28:01 PM »
 :clueless:  Mystery :dunno:

Offline HP2

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2008 - 08:48:08 PM »
How and were are you measuring? Body panels can be moved and altered and are not a good reference point. Frame structures are more reliable.

Offline 73cudakid

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2008 - 09:38:01 PM »
Working back from the firewall to the center of the wheel. I noticed when installing the new trunk floor drop offs that the tire on the one side was way too close to the sheet metal.

Offline HP2

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #8 on: May 15, 2008 - 07:25:34 AM »
Thats an awfully long stretch to put a tape to.

Try measuring from a front spring eye mounting point. Either the frame member or the front hanger or a fixed, factory drain hole in the frame. Measure straight back to the axle mounting pad on each side. Then measure from the same point to the opposite axle pad for a diagonal measurement. These numbers will tell you if the housing is centered in the mains structural area of the rear frame.
 

Offline matt63

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #9 on: May 15, 2008 - 10:52:31 AM »
Has the car just undergone a restoration or did you just have the suspension apart? Perhaps the quarter panel wheel well openings are out.  I would measure center to center distances from the front to rear wheels on both sides as a check.
Matt in Edmonton

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Offline 73cudakid

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2008 - 11:03:35 AM »
Removed trunk floor, 1/4s, drop offs, gutters & tail panel. All while the rear was removed. Braced up the rear frame rails to do some patching, so they "shouldnt" have moved. Im gonna drop some plumb lines tonight to see if the frame is up to par according to the factory numbers. The previous owners have done some shady work to it, so Im trying to fix their doings and save it from the chrusher.

Offline 73cudakid

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2008 - 11:06:18 AM »
What is the difference between the LH & RH springs? I never noticed the axle being shifted before, but i started tearing into it as soon as i got it in the garage a long time ago.

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2008 - 11:09:52 AM »
more leafs on the right side to offset the torque

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Offline 73cudakid

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #13 on: May 15, 2008 - 11:36:09 AM »
I cant remember how many leafs there are, but i know they are the same amount ea. side. I think 5.

Offline GoodysGotaCuda

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Re: Leaf spring help
« Reply #14 on: May 15, 2008 - 12:09:42 PM »
more leafs on the right side to offset the torque

he did mention he has two of the same part number leaf springs which i thought was odd...
Build Page: Goody's 'Cuda Build Page
1976 Dodge Warlock
1972 Barracuda - 5.7 Hemi + T56 Magnum

Wheel & Tire Specs:Link