| Slant Six Forum https://slantsix.org/forum/ |
|
| Rear Leafs https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15500 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | dakight [ Sat Dec 24, 2005 1:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Rear Leafs |
Earlier this month I picked up a pretty disheveled 62 Lancer Coupe with a 62 Valiant front clip to strip of parts for my 62 Valiant. Today I was out working on it and when I examined the rear springs and compared them to those in the Valiant; I found that the Lancer has 5 leaves while the Valiant only has 4. What do I have? Is it a heavy duty rear spring set perhaps? I'm just wondering if it would be worthwhile taking them apart to clean them and put new pads in them. |
|
| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Sun Dec 25, 2005 11:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
4-leaf: Standard 5-leaf: HD and wagon 6-leaf: XHD (HD Wagon) All varieties are readily available new, e.g. from Espo. |
|
| Author: | Slanted Opinion [ Mon Dec 26, 2005 4:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Dan - Do you know if the 6 leaf XHD option extend into the late 60's (1968 Dart) as well? -Mac |
|
| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
The more I think about it (look at the timestamp on my initial response...) the more I remember that the "6-leaf" option was actually an XHD 5-leaf stack with a little stub leaf at the bottom. And yeah, HD options were available in the late '60s. Remember that all A-body rear spring assemblies are interchangeable, though some mount plate modification is required to put '64-up springs in a '60-'63 car. |
|
| Author: | dakight [ Mon Dec 26, 2005 11:40 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
I originally posted that they were 6 and 5 leaves respectively but I was smoking something I think because the Lancer has 5 and the Valiant 4. I've also looked at the cost of the interleaf liners and bushings and have concluded that I can get brand new springs for little or nothing more than the cost of rebulding the old ones. I might take them apart and clean them to get by for a while but I will probably replace them in the long run. What would be really sweet is if the T-bars are also heavy duty. The ones in the Valiant are badly rust pitted, a sure recipe for a broken bar, so they must be replaced. The bars in the Lancer are in excellent condition but I don't have them out yet to see what they are. Maybe next weekend I can make some progress. |
|
| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Mon Dec 26, 2005 3:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
T-bars, also, swap clear across all years and models of A-body. As far as AZ vs. OR -- they're my two favourite states! |
|
| Author: | Avenger2040 [ Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Talking about leafs, my father long time ago added a extra leaf to my actual ´71 Duster, since now I´m making my car ride lower, front is now one inch lower, but now the tricky part is in the back. Can I just remove the extra leaf and that will lower my car a bit?, will that remove stability or something? also, extra leafs are located on top or is the lowest leaf? |
|
| Author: | ValiantBoyWonder [ Tue Dec 27, 2005 10:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
if you want to lower the back get some lowering blocks. http://store.summitracing.com/default.a ... search.asp |
|
| Author: | emsvitil [ Tue Dec 27, 2005 11:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
The extra leaf will be shorter and at the bottom. Leaf spring packs are like an upside down pyramid, with each added leaf getting shorter than the previous (2 leafs may be same length) An overload leaf would be the shortest, plus overload leafs are usually thicker. |
|
| Author: | dakight [ Wed Dec 28, 2005 3:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Lowering blocks would be better. If you take a leaf out you make the spring softer as well as lower and with reduced suspension travel you don't want it softer or you'll be hitting bottom on every bump. There are disadvantages to blocks, but if you only go 1 inch it should work fine. |
|
| Author: | Matt Cramer [ Wed Dec 28, 2005 3:47 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
I'm pretty sure it's also possible to lower an A-body a little by flipping the spring hanger at the front of the leaf upside-down. |
|
| Author: | slantvaliant [ Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:21 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
One can also make the rear "adjustable" with a two-position hanger: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mopar-NE ... dZViewItem |
|
| Author: | Avenger2040 [ Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Ok, then the leaf closer to asphalt is the extra leaf (also is thick) and if I remove it, technically nothing wrong will happen right? only my car will lower a bit (meaby the inch I want). |
|
| Author: | Matt Cramer [ Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Your spring rate will also decrease. Handling and load carrying will be a bit different. The car will sag more when you load it, and probably have a little more understeer at the limit. |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC-08:00 |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited https://www.phpbb.com/ |
|