Mopar Muscle Association UK

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?

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/exp-13120/none/images

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?



Any tips on what to do would be appreciated.

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.

Thanks Pete I will check them out.

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.

I should add t I have 8 X 15 tear tyres with same backspace as you with no rubbing at all. Tyres are 255s

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.

Thanks MilesnMiles, did you notice it stiffen the ride at all?

If I went the add a spring route, do I need any other parts such as new U bolts or shackles and/or bushings?

Also if I had my springs re-done, what parts would I need to get in ready for them to go back on?

I just want to get everything need here first.

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.

I think ill give those summit ones a try.

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?

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/h ... el/charger

I can't see polybushing for the front hanger, only part of a set like this

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/e ... el/charger

And the add a leaf

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/exp-13120/none/images

Thing I can't find are the U bolts? Once I sort those does that get me e dry thing I need?

While I'm here I need lower A arm bushings for the front, is this all I need and good parts?

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/p ... el/charger

Blimey you are going to town!

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

Pete wrote:Blimey you are going to town!

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.

This is me doing shocks



Getting to the rear of those top bolts round the fuel tank is definitely fun!