which leafs???

black8driver · Post by **black8driver** » Mon Mar 09, 09 9:37 pm

ok ive got a rhd barracuda.
my rear leafs springs are shot and i need some more..
will be using it everyday to and from work etc but having said that driving stripped out race cars with only 1/2 of suspention travel before the bumpstops i am used to and can live with the harsh ride ok..
i will do some 1/4 mile work but its not really 100% what i want it for.
will still do the odd trackday, hillclimb, sprint and as i say use uit daily so has to be an all rounder..
i was thinking superstock springs as it will limet spring windup but i want it to be ok round corners aswell (yes i know im asking a lot!)

but was thinking left side ss springs on both sides (remember my car is rhd)
what do people think????
any comments welcome..
5/6 linking on coilovers is possible and will prob happen in the future but one step at a time..
si

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Mar 09, 09 10:59 pm

id just got coil over for what you wont. fully adjustable and a QA1 kit ain't much more expensive, check out summit racing .com.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Mar 10, 09 8:41 am

Don't fit a coil over. The top shock mount is not designed to take the weight of the vehicle.

Just get the existing springs re-tempered and an extra leaf added. Simple and cheap.

black8driver · Post by **black8driver** » Tue Mar 10, 09 8:57 pm

Dave wrote:Don't fit a coil over. The top shock mount is not designed to take the weight of the vehicle.

Just get the existing springs re-tempered and an extra leaf added. Simple and cheap.

as i said the orig springs are Bananarama! so even pulling them appart rehaping and retempering them is no good , so new springs made would be the only answer really..
si

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Mar 10, 09 10:39 pm

Bananarama!?
Is that a technical term?

In what way are they Bananarama!?

I can't believe that. I have never seen a set that couldn't be re-tempered and re-cambered. A spring place will make them like new again. They will fit new bushes and hardwear.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Mar 10, 09 11:04 pm

Dave wrote:Don't fit a coil over. The top shock mount is not designed to take the weight of the vehicle.

Just get the existing springs re-tempered and an extra leaf added. Simple and cheap.

i meant the qa1 kit that comes with the proper weld in cross member, easy the fit safe and fully adj' !!!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Mar 10, 09 11:10 pm

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetai ... toview=sku

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Wed Mar 11, 09 10:32 am

I think you've made your point Pete!

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Wed Mar 11, 09 11:58 am

chrysler springs always look flatter on the car than you would expect. i.e looks like there is less bow than there should be

and the diff mounts up nearer the front which if compared to other vehicles adds to the illusion of clapped out springs...

this is actually really quite beneficial for keeping the diff facing the gearbox when under acceleration instead of it winding its self into the floor of the boot... short front section of spring much more ridgid than if you had the diff in the middle where it would bend the spring into an S shape

am with dave on this one no matter how crusty a blast re curve and new rubber spacers and metal clips.

commercial/HGV/plant places can often recommend a local spring place.

its often cheaper than a new set and any second hand set no matter how good they look could really be rubbish (there were numerous spring rates for different models of the same body type all of which can fit) unless you know the history and see them under a car...id say better the devil you know unless they are snapped, you can then say arc of this spring = ride height of 2 inches lower than i want when you take em in, they stiffen or bend to what you need.

dave

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Wed Mar 11, 09 6:08 pm

Were you not the guy who was after a pattern to make your own? Have you decided against it now?

I think I'm right in saying that I have the superstock springs Blue made in my garage. Prior to that, they hauled the Brisbane taxi down the strip. They still look absolutely fine, so I can vouch for the fact that it can be done and done well.

Just wondered. Best of luck whatever you decide.

black8driver · Post by **black8driver** » Wed Mar 11, 09 8:25 pm

Dave wrote:Bananarama!?
Is that a technical term?

In what way are they Bananarama!?

I can't believe that. I have never seen a set that couldn't be re-tempered and re-cambered. A spring place will make them like new again. They will fit new bushes and hardwear.

ok when i said they are "no good"
what i meen is between the clamps they splay out over 8 to 10mm between the leafs and so the springs are very "wavy" between each clamp. at least 2x clamps have blown open with the corrosion in between.
due to the corrosion they will be thinner in those sections once cleaned back so inconsistant in thickness and therefore strength along there length.
plus they have worn steps into the springs where the shorter spring ends have been wearing into the upper spring...

this is why id say they are Bananarama!!!
i restore cars for a living and its suprising what can be recycled reused and repaired but these arent those such things..

new is the only way as one can see..

so back to superstock springs...
where is the best place to get them. from get them made or ship them in from the us...?

and yes it was me asking for dimentions..
i was (and still may) make them myself..
but looking at the price of spring steel in the lengths needed plus the time i want it done by and all the other jobs ive got to do on it in the short amount of time i may have to ship this out....
and the dimensions will be good for getting the work done on these shores also....

who runs S/S springs on th road?
ive heard lots and was thinking of l/h springs both sides....
????????

cheers all si

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Mar 11, 09 9:22 pm

Never even heard of springs that bad before.

OK suggestion one.
The same place that repairs/restore springs can make you new ones based on your old. They don't just repair a spring if one leaf is gone. They can cut them all to length and assemble them just as they should be.
All they need is to measure what you have already.

Second suggestion.
If you insist on buying a set already made by someone either in another country like mexico or china using inferior recycled steel then you can.

But the best place in the world to buy springs from (and one of the cheapest when the Pound was worth something) is ESPO (Springs n Things) http://www.espo.com/

You speak to the lady there and she will sort you out with a perfect pair no problem.

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Thu Mar 12, 09 8:31 am

black8driver wrote:but looking at the price of spring steel in the lengths needed plus the time i want it done by and all the other jobs ive got to do on it in the short amount of time i may have to ship this out....

Gotcha.

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Mon Mar 16, 09 5:41 pm

I've only ever seen springs that bad on my '34 Austin ten, which I used as daily transport...it had done nearly half a million miles!

I would be interested to find out if anyone finds a decent spring manufacturer that a0 knows what they are doing and b) is sensibly priced, so keep us up to date Si!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Mar 17, 09 8:27 pm

Caltracs and Mono leaf

do you a good deal