Re: [FWDLK] Leaf Spring Questions

[Wayne Graefen <wgraefen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Brian,

 

Hopefully the old spring shop you are talking to has a specifications book giving the free arc of leaf springs for your two models back in those years.  Wagons probably automatically came with HD springs.  The extra leaf is a first sign of this. 

 

BUT, heavy duty leaf springs actually have less arc than standard springs so the vehicle rides lower.  Chrysler 300 letter cars and Dodge D500s and Furys are witness to this.  If they rearc your wagon springs to factory specs, you may not bring your sedan back to factory height. 

 

To use HD springs now in 2002 is a very good idea because we expect cars to have good handling because of the newer cars we drive.  Also they are more stable and therefore safer.

 

My opinion would be to have them rearc the wagon springs to the free arc specification of the sedan springs.  They will settle some anyway.  Another option would be to ALSO take the torsion bars out of the wagon parts car because they are probably heavy duty also.  Compare their thickness (diameter).  If thicker than your sedan bars, I would definitely swap them.

 

My suggestions will only slightly firm up the ride of your car.  They will not in any way make it harsh.

 

NOTE:  Any time you change leaf springs or torsion bars BE SURE they go back into the SAME SIDE they came out of.  Most people are not aware that leaf and coil springs may have just slightly different spring rates to compensate for the weight of a single passenger (the driver) on the left side or for how the gas tank is positioned left to right in the chassis or spare tire position.  The torsion bars MUST go back on the same side or they will soon break.

 

Wayne

 

----- Original Message -----

From: 57plymouth

Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 9:02 AM

Subject: Leaf Spring Questions

I need to re-arch or replace my springs in my 57 Plymouth.  I can have them re-arched for $35 each from a very old company in town.  The big question I have is should I re-arch the ones that came on my car (4 door sedan) or should I re-arch the ones under my parts car, which is a station wagon?

 

Either way I have to pull a set off and have them re-arched, and it will cost $35 for the stockers or the station wagon springs which have an extra leaf. 

 

What would you do?

 

Brian Cooper