While he was home for the weekend, Aaron and I thought we would get some work done on his Duster project. I had bought some new leaf spring bushings, and we were going to install them.

I had contacted Energy Suspension to have them help me determine the correct bushing set for some super stock springs Aaron bought a while ago. I provided measurements for the front spring eyes, because they are smaller than the stock springs, with a smaller bolt also being used.

They told me which kit to buy for super stock springs and I did so (through another vendor for less than their price). Little did I know that I should have also given measurements for the shackles while I was at it. As luck would have it, the darned bushings in their kit for the shackles were too large. They are 1" diameter, but the openings in the springs are only 7/8".

Due to their appearance, these SS springs are probably older ones (significant pitting due to rust). Therein lies the question: did the rear eyes on SS springs change over the years to a larger 1" diameter? Anyone have a new set lying around that can be measured?

The front bushings fit perfectly, so maybe they can tell me if they have other sizes available for the rear.

Any help is appreciated,
Jerry

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There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Chrysler liked to play with leaf spring bushing sizes. You must measure before ordering. When my friend Dave did the inboard spring relocation kit on his '69 Dart he ended up using part of an Energy Suspension B-body rear bushing kit as the body side needed the bigger bushings and an A-body kit as the original springs needed the smaller bushings. When I put oval track leaf springs in my '72 Dart I used the rest of his B-body kit on my large eye springs and the small bushings on the stock rear body mounts. They make the right bushings, but getting them all in one kit may not be possible.

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Joshua

This is getting, as Alice in Wonderland would say, "curiouser and curiouser". I am at a complete loss, now, and need some clear understanding of what is going on with Aaron's leaf springs.

The stock springs have five leaves, 2" front eyes (with bushings for 5/8" bolts), and 7/8" rear eyes (with bushings for 1/2" shackle bolts). The springs sold to Aaron as "super stock" are the exact same length, have only four leaves, but have the exact same arch when laid on top of the stock springs, have smaller 1-1/2" front eyes (with bushings for 1/2" bolts), and the same 7/8" rear eyes (with bushings for 1/2" shackle bolts).

"OEM (5 leaves)" vs. "SUPER STOCK (4 leaves)" - Same thickness



"SUPER STOCK (top)" vs. "OEM (bottom)" - Leaf number and arrangement is different



REAR EYES FOR SHACKLES and FRONT MAIN EYES



I purchased a 5.2104 bushing kit on the recommendation of Energy Suspension's technical support, for "440, 426, and super stock" applications. The kit has 1-1/2" front eye bushings with 5/8" bolt sleeves (yeah!). However, the rear shackle bushings are larger 1" (not 7/8") and have 1/2" shackle bolt holes. Close, but no cigar.

I'm guessing I can probably work out the bushing issue, but what doesn't add up and is confusing the situation is the similarities between the two sets of springs. I suppose I first need to better understand what exactly "super stock" springs are. I had thought they would be "beefier" with either more arch, more leaves, or thicker leaves to give a stiffer ride. I was told that a set of true "super stock" springs would leave the car a bit higher on the right side because of the extra leaf to resist the torque of a hard launch.

Would some of you who have a good handle on "super stock" springs please explain what we have and is there really any advantage to using them? By the way, I have not been able to find any numbers stamped into either set of springs, so that is not going to help.

Thanks for any help,
Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

I added photos to my previous post.

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Are both of the springs you bought the same or is the right side one different? What you have looks more like the oval track spring than the Super Stock springs.

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Joshua

Both are identical. That's why I began questioning what we have. I was under the impression that a super stock set had an extra leaf on the right side. I certainly don't understand why they would have one less leaf than a stock set of springs used in a slant six-powered A-body.

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

The Super Stock springs should have catalog numbers that end in ...02 and ...03. I forget which one is the right and which one is left. But they are definetly not the same number for both sides.

bwhitejr

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'72 Duster (Performance 360)
'83 Ramcharger (Performance 318)
'80 TrailDuster (360)
'80 D-150 Truck (See Below)
CompCams 252S, Holley 390cfm, Offy manifold
Ported, Polished and Gasket Matched
P4286813 Springs,0.040 Overbore,
0.090 Shaved Head

The stock springs on my '74 dart are 4 leafs. I think the super stock heavy duty springs had 6 leafs. Heavy duty and police springs for a bodys had 5 from what I heva read. I dont think the 4 leaf springs are heavy duty. (Sombody correct me if I am wrong).

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Grandpa's 1974 Dart Custom 4 door 225 auto, Aluminum Radiator, 1920 Holley.

As you can see, these springs are fairly pitted with surface rust, so there are no numbers to be seen any longer.

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Then they are not Super Stock springs. They have fewer leaves, but each one is thicker. They look a lot like my oval track springs which have 4 heavy leaves.

I'd ask for my money back if you wanted and paid for Super Stock springs.

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Joshua

Take another look at the two pics with tape measure, they aren't even thicker. Four springs on both sets measure the same 1".

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.