Need advice for new rear leafs, stock height to match 1.03 bars.

-
340doc

340doc

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 8, 2010
Messages
2,719
Reaction score
997
Location
Dunnellon Fl
Looking to replace the mushy stock 5 leaf springs, on my son's 70 Dart. We just upgraded to 17" rims and good tires and the soft springs really show up now. Looking for stock height and a rate to match 1.03 front bars. Can't wait to put on a better set!

IMG_20180611_183342.jpg
 
340doc said:
Looking to replace the mushy stock 5 leaf springs, on my son's 70 Dart. We just upgraded to 17" rims and good tires and the soft springs really show up now. Looking for stock height and a rate to match 1.03 front bars. Can't wait to put on a better set!

View attachment 1715186423
Click to expand...

Looks great already! :thumbsup:

ESPO is probably your best bet, a set of XHD's with the stock arch should be the ticket.

The factory spring rate wasn't as far off in the back as it was in the front. The XHD's should be ~110 lb/in, most of the road handling springs are set up to be in the 120- 130 lb/in range. Peter Bergman has a set of springs that he sells at Bergman AutoCraft that are custom spec'd and made by Eaton, that's a 130 lb/in spring. I run the discontinued AFCO 121 lb/in springs on my Duster, and they actually work pretty well with a rear sway bar and the 1.12" torsion bars I run up front. The Mopar Performance Oval Track springs that are being sold again are also 120 lb/in, but they're being made in Mexico so the quality may not be what it was when AFCO was making them. I have a set of the oval track springs but I haven't run them yet.
 
72bluNblu said:
Looks great already! :thumbsup:

ESPO is probably your best bet, a set of XHD's with the stock arch should be the ticket.

The factory spring rate wasn't as far off in the back as it was in the front. The XHD's should be ~110 lb/in, most of the road handling springs are set up to be in the 120- 130 lb/in range. Peter Bergman has a set of springs that he sells at Bergman AutoCraft that are custom spec'd and made by Eaton, that's a 130 lb/in spring. I run the discontinued AFCO 121 lb/in springs on my Duster, and they actually work pretty well with a rear sway bar and the 1.12" torsion bars I run up front. The Mopar Performance Oval Track springs that are being sold again are also 120 lb/in, but they're being made in Mexico so the quality may not be what it was when AFCO was making them. I have a set of the oval track springs but I haven't run them yet.
Click to expand...
Thanks blu, we're happy with the height of the car and hoping new stock height springs wont be too far off, compared to the old soft springs. We have the adjustable front hangers on stock hole now, so we got a little wiggle room.
 
Get a set of stock replacement springs from ESPO. They will raise the back of the car, compared to the 50yr old springs you have now. Use the other hole on the adjustable hanger, which drops it 1" I believe ?
Good to go.
 
Johnny Dart said:
Get a set of stock replacement springs from ESPO. They will raise the back of the car, compared to the 50yr old springs you have now. Use the other hole on the adjustable hanger, which drops it 1" I believe ?
Good to go.
Click to expand...
Thanks Johnny D. I'm worried how much it will raise it, hopefully not too much. I'm reluctant to get a lower spring than stock, its easier to drop the back than raise it.
 
340doc said:
Is this a lower spring than stock?
Click to expand...
Call or do the online chat with ESPO. They can build the stock spring with a - 1 or -2 inch drop to keep the look that you want.
 
tanis4457 said:
I run the mopar performance oval track springs with zero arch, if you opt for that route they are a little shorter than the stock springs so you'll need this A-body with Oval Track springs | AR Engineering
Click to expand...

They’re not shorter. The front section of the spring is slightly longer, so if you use them with stock hangers it moves the axle back about a 1/2”. Probably a little less. If you read the description on the link you’ll see it says the hangers are shorter, not the springs.

It allows for a taller tire, and does the same thing all the drag race guys do when they shim their hangers back.

340doc said:
Is this a lower spring than stock?
Click to expand...

The zero arch spring is about the same height as stock. Maybe slightly lower, but not much.

Those have the same arch as my AFCO speings. I’m actually pretty sure it’s the same spring, just made by MP. But they’re made in Mexico. I run the Mopar XHD’s that also made in Mexico on my Challenger. They’re fine, but they sagged quite a bit after install.
 
i have used the oval track springs and if i remember correctly the front half is 1/2" shorter so the extended front mounts were required.They were made in Mexico and both had grinder marks were they were tested for hardness.I was impressed with the ride.
I also have used the espo stock 6 leaf springs. I think they sent me 1" over because the dart sat too high for my liking so I made new front spring mounts to lower the rear to stock height.The ride is good.
 
ir3333 said:
i have used the oval track springs and if i remember correctly the front half is 1/2" shorter so the extended front mounts were required.They were made in Mexico and both had grinder marks were they were tested for hardness.I was impressed with the ride.
I also have used the espo stock 6 leaf springs. I think they sent me 1" over because the dart sat too high for my liking so I made new front spring mounts to lower the rear to stock height.The ride is good.
Click to expand...

No. The oval track springs have a LONGER front section. By a 1/2”. The special hanger is shorter, not the spring. Just look at the link for the special AR hangers, which says the hangers are shorter by a 1/2”.

And regardless, they work just fine with a standard hanger, because the axle wasn’t centered in the wheel opening from the factory.
 
72bluNblu said:
No. The oval track springs have a LONGER front section. By a 1/2”. The special hanger is shorter, not the spring. Just look at the link for the special AR hangers, which says the hangers are shorter by a 1/2”.

your response got me thinking so i went out and dug them out to measure them.
You are absolutely correct.The front section is 20 1/2"...1/2" longer than stock, PN #4529414, 5 leaf mopar oval track springs.zero arch,120lb. per inch
..thanks!
Click to expand...
 
72bluNblu said:
They’re not shorter. The front section of the spring is slightly longer, so if you use them with stock hangers it moves the axle back about a 1/2”. Probably a little less. If you read the description on the link you’ll see it says the hangers are shorter, not the springs.

It allows for a taller tire, and does the same thing all the drag race guys do when they shim their hangers back.



The zero arch spring is about the same height as stock. Maybe slightly lower, but not much.

Those have the same arch as my AFCO speings. I’m actually pretty sure it’s the same spring, just made by MP. But they’re made in Mexico. I run the Mopar XHD’s that also made in Mexico on my Challenger. They’re fine, but they sagged quite a bit after install.
Click to expand...
Oops my bad thanks for the correction
 
ir3333 said:
your response got me thinking so i went out and dug them out to measure them.
You are absolutely correct.The front section is 20 1/2"...1/2" longer than stock, PN #4529414, 5 leaf mopar oval track springs.zero arch,120lb. per inch
..thanks!
Click to expand...

tanis4457 said:
Oops my bad thanks for the correction
Click to expand...

No worries, I have to check myself all the time when I just go off the top of my head.

But yeah, the front section is a 1/2" longer than stock. That doesn't necessarily mean you need different hangers though. I use mine with stock hangers, and the result on most A-bodies should be a wheel that is closer to centered in the wheel opening than it was from the factory. You can see that on my Duster, this is it below with the AFCO 121 lb/in springs. They're the same dimensions as the Mopar Oval Tracks. I'm actually pretty sure they're the same springs, just made by AFCO instead of MP, as they were discontinued by AFCO at the same exact same time the MP oval tracks went back into production, and the AFCO springs with different spring rates are still available.

At any rate, you don't need the special hangers to run them, and most people will actually benefit from not using the special hangers as it will center the wheel. You should check your driveshaft engagement, but in most cases it should be ok.
IMG_2484a_zpscao5szar.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top