Lou Madsen has been telling me for years the rear springs on my Dart were too strong leading to sometimes sudden, violent over-steer. When I was down there in August I picked up a pair of replacement springs that used to belong to Brian Bimken. (Hope I spelled his last name correctly).

I threw them in the trunk with the idea of putting them in when I install the Ford rear, which also came from Lou. They are still in the trunk, but I can tell already they are going to improve the handling because the extra 70 pounds in the back has already improved the way it handles. NO KIDDING! I can tell the extra weight in the rear has toned down its tendency to break loose going into a corner. The springs will probably stay right where they are until it is time to install them.

Thanks Lou!

Sam

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Then will you throw the old ones into the trunk?

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"Louise", a 1976 Dart Custom project, (now sadly reverted to being just an "organ donor" to our other project Darts.)

Weight balance and spring rate (or roll resistance) have a huge effect on handling. Nice observations!

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Maybe.

Lou, I ordered the poly bushing kit today. Well, my son-in-law did. It is a happy birthday present from him. Thanks for the link.

Sam

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Fun with suspenion frequency! The ratio of sprung to unsprung mass is also crucial.

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Joshua

Fun with suspenion frequency! The ratio of sprung to unsprung mass is also crucial.

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Joshua

I have been running six leaf rear springs on my 67 ragtop for six years, and has been mostly rear end hop free. We have some fairly rough crowned roads around here, and the Dart tracks competently over them with ease. Perhaps the 8 3/4" rear is a good combination with heaver springs.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC