Hi guys, I think my rear springs are a little saggy with age and want to get them sorted. I think the car is a little lower than it should be and its a bit soft back there. I have replaced the shocks all round with Bilstein's. I figure I have three options, get mine re tensioned or replaced. With these I keep finding opposing opinions such as re tensioned will sag again soon and new are not the best quality (I was thinking the XHD springs) so can sag soon also. The third is the "add a leaf" which looks like it will stiffen up my spring and give me about 1 1/2" - 2 1/2" lift that I would like. If I did go the add a leaf, is this one in the link from Summit the right one for my 66 Charger?
This is how the car sits, one thing I noticed when I changed the shocks is that the tyres are catching the wheel arch on the inner sides. The wheels I think have a 4 1/2" back space, so I'm thinking the weak springs are letting the wheel come too high?
Many people recommend "Brost Forge" for re-profiling old springs.
The trouble is that many people have found modern springs to be of poor quality and lose tension an shape really quickly. Brost can give you the amount of rise or fall you want.
Yes I'm finding lots of comments that new springs are made of "cheap Mexican steel" and sag quickly, be it standard XHD or Superstock ones. But also others are happy.
The add a leaf worked a treat on my sagging Roadrunner springs. Fixed it in situ.
Just dropped the front Spring hanger, undid the U bolts and dropped it down. Two G clamps and off you go.
The kit from summit has the centre bolts and even nylon/plastic spacers for between the leafs.
Mine sat a good 1,5" taller afterwards.
Can be seen on the MMA calendar for March although bathe take is exaggerated as I temporarily had 14" wheels on the front at that point.
Im thinking of getting my springs re-tempered. Will getting springs re tempered raise the back of the car or do you need to add an extra spring to gain the lift.
1968 Ford Fairlane 500 Wimbledon White. Currently a 302 auto but to be 410 4 speed.
Poly bushing makes a big difference and will tighten it all up. Front eye and Shackles. Lubricate before assembly to avoid annoying squeaks!!!
You are not supposed to re-use "U" Bolts (people do) but they are only about £20 and there is a chance you will break them taking the old ones off anyway.
Thanks Pete, so for shackles, at Summit they sell Hotchkis as a pair with polybushing (these as a pair are the same price as the updated Mopar ones they sell), worth going for?
A full front end rebuild kit costs around £220 and is usually available over the counter at the likes of USAutomotive. WASP used to sell the U bolts, and may still do. Hausers stock U bolts at different lengths.
You will probably need a press to do the front end plus a special tool if you are changing the Upper Control arm Ball joints. You just need to examine the front end and check for wear and order accordingly.
My ride height did increase and the springs were stiffened which made the rise tighter. Car felt tauter immediately.
My springs are a rare one year only and very expensive to source.
I also read too may threads about quality issues, ride heights and even re-tempered springs sagging in due course. Seemed a lot of dollers for an uncertain result.
Add a leaf was a cheap and satisfactory result. Poly using the front end also helps
A full front end rebuild kit costs around £220 and is usually available over the counter at the likes of USAutomotive. WASP used to sell the U bolts, and may still do. Hausers stock U bolts at different lengths.
You will probably need a press to do the front end plus a special tool if you are changing the Upper Control arm Ball joints. You just need to examine the front end and check for wear and order accordingly.
Pretty much everything at the front of the car is replaced, only thing left is lower A arm bushings.
I just changed the shocks for Bilstein's, so apart from the mentioned A arm bushings, all I have left is the springs to deal with. I'm swinging towards the add a leaf with MilesnMiles testament. So if I get everything I linked in my post above all I need is the U bolts?
MilesnMiles wrote:My ride height did increase and the springs were stiffened which made the rise tighter. Car felt tauter immediately.
My springs are a rare one year only and very expensive to source.
I also read too may threads about quality issues, ride heights and even re-tempered springs sagging in due course. Seemed a lot of dollers for an uncertain result.
Add a leaf was a cheap and satisfactory result. Poly using the front end also helps
Thanks for the feedback, this is the way I'm thinking. As you I see as many not happy with new springs or re sprung that are. I don't want to pay for springs and shipping and for someone to fit for them to disappoint soon after. I would like to do the work myself, I fitted the shocks myself (rear upper mounts are fun! ). But not sure if putting in the add a leaf is beyond me, I don't have a press to put bushings in.
). But not sure if putting in the add a leaf is beyond me, I don't have a press to put bushings in.
