Saggy springs!

[XP29]

To re-arch and re-temper is around £200 and to add and extra leaf is about another £40.

Thanks Anton, so the costs are not too far apart if I have to buy new sliders, clips etc. Flip side of that is for every good bit of feedback I've seen for new springs there's also bad.

[XP29]

Cant help on the costs but I know quite a few people have bought new springs and found that they raise the car way too much, although, as has been said, they can tend to settle (sag) quite quickly after fitting.

Although your springs clearly need at least re-aching, don't forget 15" wheels might raise the rear anyway, dependant on what size tyres you go for.

eg - I just checked on this handy chart, 225/70-14 have the same overall diameter as 245/60-15. Which I found surprising

(scroll down a little way)

http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference/tires.html#chart

Yep that's my worry, it would be easier to just buy new ones, but if they did sag it would be a waste.

With wheels I was probably going 295/60/15 on the rear and about 235/60/15 on the front. Although bigger they would just lift it up a bit and I'll still have a saggy arse down issue.

[XP29]

You'll also need a spring kit of new clips,sliders and interleaves.

http://www.manciniracing.com/lespreki.html is an example,shop around prices vary.

those interleaves are galvanised steel


with only a few microns of zinc they don't work very well

get some of this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Preweathered- ... uJVekqFWdw
cut to width of spring
drill hole in 1 end for the spring bolt
hole should be exactly the length of one of the plastic sliders in from the end, and in the middle of the strip

put between springs facing forward
trim to length necessary

job done

no need to lube springs zinc against steel is self lubricating

the plastics can be purchased as a separate part.

https://www.npdlink.com/store/catalog/L ... 031-1.html



Dave

Thanks Dave, so if I have mind re tempered I need to supply them with the zincs, plastics, clips?

On the site you linked, what is the difference between the 125 and 300 kits? The 300 is $90 and seems to have everything for both sides.

https://www.npdlink.com/store/products/ ... 90031.html

[morgan]

Cant help on the costs but I know quite a few people have bought new springs and found that they raise the car way too much, although, as has been said, they can tend to settle (sag) quite quickly after fitting.

I fitted spanking brand new Hotchkis springs to mine (supposedly 1" under stock) and to be honest its sitting a little low. Handling and 'recoil' (for want of a better term) feel massively improved but I couldnt swear they have not sunk a bit. Certainly my rear shackles are not vertical...

[XP29]

Cant help on the costs but I know quite a few people have bought new springs and found that they raise the car way too much, although, as has been said, they can tend to settle (sag) quite quickly after fitting.

I fitted spanking brand new Hotchkis springs to mine (supposedly 1" under stock) and to be honest its sitting a little low. Handling and 'recoil' (for want of a better term) feel massively improved but I couldnt swear they have not sunk a bit. Certainly my rear shackles are not vertical...

The Hotchkis stuff sounds good, just I need it to go the other way.

[XP29]

Does anyone know if the 66/67 Charger/Coronet uses the same spring as the 68-70? Classic industries have an ok price on the clip and shims set

http://www.classicindustries.com/produc ... n7007.html

[steveo]

Does anyone know if the 66/67 Charger/Coronet uses the same spring as the 68-70? Classic industries have an ok price on the clip and shims set

http://www.classicindustries.com/produc ... n7007.html

I would have thought so , but looking at the parts manual , they are not

see below ,

ive had a look at a few parts places in the US & none seem list the clamp & inter liner kit for 67 & earlier cars ,

no offence , don't know much about this year , maybe measure your originals & if someone can measure their second generation 383 springs so compare ,

[steveo]

been having another look , seems lots of places list a leaf spring rebuild kit for 66 -72 440 & hemi cars , but not for 383/318 ,

heres one I found , don't say year or engine size -1601068

http://www.rtspecialties.net/products.asp?cat=17

[Dave999]

You'll also need a spring kit of new clips,sliders and interleaves.

http://www.manciniracing.com/lespreki.html is an example,shop around prices vary.

those interleaves are galvanised steel


with only a few microns of zinc they don't work very well

get some of this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Preweathered- ... uJVekqFWdw
cut to width of spring
drill hole in 1 end for the spring bolt
hole should be exactly the length of one of the plastic sliders in from the end, and in the middle of the strip

put between springs facing forward
trim to length necessary

job done

no need to lube springs zinc against steel is self lubricating

the plastics can be purchased as a separate part.

https://www.npdlink.com/store/catalog/L ... 031-1.html



Dave

Thanks Dave, so if I have mind re tempered I need to supply them with the zincs, plastics, clips?

On the site you linked, what is the difference between the 125 and 300 kits? The 300 is $90 and seems to have everything for both sides.

https://www.npdlink.com/store/products/ ... 90031.html

just depends how many leaves you have as far as I can tell

spring clips won't be a problem over here every leaf spring uses them. its the rest of the gubbins that is mopar specific

dave

[steveo]

Does anyone know if the 66/67 Charger/Coronet uses the same spring as the 68-70? Classic industries have an ok price on the clip and shims set

http://www.classicindustries.com/produc ... n7007.html

something else I come across the other day ,

http://www.manciniracing.com/chlespdi.html

[ANTON]

If you add a leaf to stiffen the car up the standard clips wont fit and you will be sliders short. Brost Forge will make you new ones as the time.

[MilesnMiles]

My add a leaf fitted before the need for the spring clips and also came with plastic/nylon sliders. It's quite a shirt leaf and fits in such a way that the clips don't come into play.

[XP29]

Does anyone know if the 66/67 Charger/Coronet uses the same spring as the 68-70? Classic industries have an ok price on the clip and shims set

http://www.classicindustries.com/produc ... n7007.html

something else I come across the other day ,

http://www.manciniracing.com/chlespdi.html

Thank you guys for your help, it's always appreciated

This is where I have been getting confused. When I looked at Summit, springs for 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 (I didn't look any further) Charger all have the same part number. But to rebuild a spring they only sell 68-70 kits!

Anyway, the more I looked at my springs, the more I'd been thinking the main leaf is maybe too far gone for re tempering. The way they are bending over the 2nd leaf has me questioning how good they would hold up. So I found a place called Epso and ordered a pair of heavy duty springs with 1" lift. My thought with this is they are bound to settle in time so I'm hoping I'll end up at the height I want. Failing that it's going to look like a 70's Hotwheels toy. If they end up no good I can always have my originals re done later on. I've not found any negative comments on the company or the springs. They say they match a pair up rather than just pull them off the shelf. They were $553 for pair, Ubolts/nuts, front eye bolts/nuts. Front bush is already fitted, including delivery. They were here in a week!

Only annoying thing is I'd already ordered my shackles elsewhere with some other bits that are on back order so I have to wait to try them out.

http://www.springsnthings.com

[Super Sloth]

Could you look at making a lowering block from a large piece of aluminium until they settle a bit to give you the height you want? You'd need some longer U bolts, too.

[XP29]

The U bolts I got are right for these springs as they have an extra leaf. I'm guessing it's like putting Hemi springs on. I've never changed springs before, but excited to get my shackles and have a go and see what it looks and rides like.