replaced leaf springs

Author Topic: replaced leaf springs  (Read 3819 times)

Offline 74challenger03

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replaced leaf springs
« on: November 18, 2011 - 09:17:46 AM »
hey guys just my opinion but i put on new mopar performance leaf spring and shocks. was disappointed in results. car looks like its sagging in rear end. was told it looks like factory. so after spending $250+ now going to buy the extended shackles. i dont want the rear end up high just dont want the tires in wheel well. just my opinion, before you buy leafs get the extensions first,  if anyone is looking for factory leafs pm me. thanks and god bless
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Offline burdar

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Re: replaced leaf springs
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2011 - 09:34:29 AM »
You can't put long shackles on an E-body.  They will hit the valance.  To get the back end up a little you can add another leaf to the spring pack.  If you still have your original springs, you can cut off the front/rear spring eye's from the main leaf.  Take the new spring packs apart and put the old leaf under the new main leaf.  This was done to my original springs back in the 90's.

I'm glad you mensioned you're running thte MP springs.  I just ordered those myself.  I was worried that they would make the car too tall in the rear.  It looks like I'll be getting the look I want.

Here's mine in the 90's.  The rear was sagging very low.  Adding an extra main leaf got the back end up to this height.



« Last Edit: November 18, 2011 - 09:48:40 AM by burdar »

Offline 74challenger03

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Re: replaced leaf springs
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2011 - 02:51:47 PM »
yes your right the shackle extensions are to long so i ended up putting the air shocks on the car came with.
What does it profit a man to gain the whole would and lose his soul.

Offline HP2

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Re: replaced leaf springs
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2011 - 04:02:23 PM »
Sadly, this is a common mistake that many have made. The MP XHD spring set is design to replicate the factory ride height specs with the additional ability to resist torque wrap delivered by big block engines. They are not designed to lif the rear of the car at all and when installed, will appear to be almost flat.

What many seem to forget is that when factory new, most E bodies looked droopy in the rear and it was only the addition of aftermarket wheels and tires that tended to create the rake that is so fondly remembered by most.

I'd recommned you add an extra leaf or two to your pack  to get lift rather than use the air shocks. Air shocks have a tendancy to beat up the corssmember on anything less than smooth roads, however, so long as you aren't cranking the air up in the pressure in the shocks, they may not be as destructive.

Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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Re: replaced leaf springs
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2011 - 04:17:59 PM »
This is a live and learn moment that I went thru.

I wanted to pick up my car's saggy butt. So I found someone selling big block leaf springs from a Challenger R/T that was wrecked with a few hundred miles on it. They just saved them all these years before they gave them up to me. I put them on, and my car sat exactly like it did with my original springs.   :stomp:  I bought springs from Espo(springsnthings) with an additional height added. You can specify 1" over stock height or 2" over. That was my ticket. Although an expensive way to solve the saggy butt syndrome.   :o

Mike

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Offline RB2929

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Re: replaced leaf springs
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2011 - 05:40:15 PM »
Are leaf-spring helpers available?  It’s been some 20+ years now, but I’m pretty sure that a Cuda friend of mine bought helpers from J.C. Whitney.  They look like mini leaf-springs and bolted (somehow) to the car’s leaf-spring.  And these helpers raised the backend.  I know that there’s been a lot of beer since then, could I be wrong (or maybe correct)?

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: replaced leaf springs
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2011 - 06:34:02 PM »
Are leaf-spring helpers available?  It’s been some 20+ years now, but I’m pretty sure that a Cuda friend of mine bought helpers from J.C. Whitney.  They look like mini leaf-springs and bolted (somehow) to the car’s leaf-spring.  And these helpers raised the backend.  I know that there’s been a lot of beer since then, could I be wrong (or maybe correct)?

Yes they are but the Add-a-Leaf option, similar to burdars suggestion, is a better solution IMO, helper springs look odd and are meant for utility vehicles with changing loads demands.

A SEARCH for add-a-leafs  will reveal several members who have used & been happy with the result.  Same for issues with Mopar leaf springs, lots of posts complaining.   
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Offline burdar

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Re: replaced leaf springs
« Reply #7 on: November 18, 2011 - 06:42:10 PM »
With most people wanting a little more height in the rear, I'm surprised MP hasn't releaced the T/A and AAR springs.  That is the rake that most people want. :2cents:

Offline RB2929

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Re: replaced leaf springs
« Reply #8 on: November 18, 2011 - 06:45:01 PM »
Yes they are but the Add-a-Leaf option, similar to burdars suggestion, is a better solution IMO, helper springs look odd and are meant for utility vehicles with changing loads demands.

A SEARCH for add-a-leafs  will reveal several members who have used & been happy with the result.  Same for issues with Mopar leaf springs, lots of posts complaining
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Offline dodj

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Re: replaced leaf springs
« Reply #9 on: November 18, 2011 - 09:01:33 PM »
With most people wanting a little more height in the rear, I'm surprised MP hasn't releaced the T/A and AAR springs.  That is the rake that most people want. :2cents:
Unless you want the car to handle well around corners.........

The factory service manual shows the tires tucked up into the wheel wells by an inch or so.
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Offline 72bluNblu

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Re: replaced leaf springs
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2011 - 09:28:17 PM »
Yup, the mopar XHD's put the car pretty low in the back. I have XHD's on mine, you can see how low it is in the back in my signature. I keep a VERY slight rake on it, but that's accomplished by having the front end in the weeds...

Offline burdar

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Re: replaced leaf springs
« Reply #11 on: November 18, 2011 - 09:34:27 PM »
Quote
Unless you want the car to handle well around corners.........

The factory service manual shows the tires tucked up into the wheel wells by an inch or so.

The T/A and AAR were built to handle.  That was the whole point of their existance.  The back of those cars only sat about an inch higher then the standard cars.  The T/A springs should be an improvement as long as a rear swaybar is also used.  Remember, there was no rear swaybar before the T/A and AAR's were relieced.