Slant Six Forum :: Rear Springs & Ride Hight Q's

All things to think about.

Presently I'm thinking stock springs at this point, but haven't yet call ESPO.

As for using my trophy wife for ballast, ain't gonnah happen. A few weeks ago we went out to eat using the Dart. As my luck goes the Dart decided to pop the shift linkage rod out of the shift lever on the transmission, a first time event. This fun took place on a hill, parallel parked, down town, in front of the eatery. At the same time I discovered the parking brake had stopped working.

Long story short, she stepped on the foot brake while I reached under to connect the rod back up, resulting in a few burns on my wrist, and nice black hands. Mrs. A proclaimed that she will never ride in "that thing again"...

This was her second ride, counting the first ride, she has logged a total of three miles.

Author:	wjajr [ Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Rear Springs & Ride Hight Q's
It is time to set the sagging old Dart right. She is in need of springs & bushings to correct a case of crappy handling. The car feels like it is two different vehicles hinged in the middle. The front end is like new as of June. I have found that there are three different rear springs on the market. OEM replacement ~$200 each, Performance comp spring for 2800# car, and 3200# car for $120 each. The comp. springs are not for street use. I have several questions: What is the weight of a /6 1967 Dart GT Convertible? What is the factory ride hight for the Dart? Why can't the comp springs be used on the street? Has anybody used springs from "Traction" a company tied to NAPA that supplies my local spring shop? Lastly, would the bolt on frame connector Summit sells help the handling of the old Dart?

Author:	Dart270 [ Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:19 pm ]
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I have heard good things about Espo.com. I bought JCWhitney HD 5 leaf springs for both my Darts about 15 yrs ago, and they have worked very well. Subframe connectors will likely help, esp with a vert. You might want to buy the bolt-in ones and then bolt and weld them in for best effect. Your car should weigh about 3300 lbs. The comp springs may be different L and R, which can give goofy handling on the street. If you talk with someone with some knowledge and ability to act on it, I would suggest 130 - 150lb/in springs. Lou

Author:	wjajr [ Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:01 pm ]
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JC Whitney had only four leaf units, and ESPO dose not have leaf springs for "A" bodies.

Author:	Joshie225 [ Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:13 pm ]
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Did you call Espo? Others here have bought A-body springs from them.

Author:	AnotherSix [ Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:00 pm ]
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I got the HD 5 leafs from JC whitney about a year and a half ago. Everything is fine so far and they were cheap. Like less than $150.00 delivered. For what I want out of the car, the rate is just about right. The only change needed was to drill the front hangers and switch to a 1/2" bolt for the front eye, which is not a bad improvement to have to make. The change in the front bushing size might make it appear springs for older cars are not available by the listings. I don't know when the A bodies changed but I suspect it was 73.

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Author:	vynn3 [ Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:32 am ]
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Quote: and ESPO dose not have leaf springs for "A" bodies. Yes they do, just not listed on the website. Like Joshie said, give 'em a call.

Author:	Pat Dawson [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:13 am ]
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I bought 5 leaf springs from ESPO "springsnthings" for my 63 and they fit perfectly. My old springs were 4 leaf but ESPO does not make 4 leaf springs for "A" bodies. Very happy with them. Don't forget new shackles, u-bolts, and hardware. All delivered for under $150.

Author:	steponmebbbboom [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:37 pm ]
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Quote: The comp springs may be different L and R, which can give goofy handling on the street. Lou or, if youve got a beer gut big enough to set your dinner plate on, they might actually improve things. if your wife's the one with the boiler, just swap L for R~

Author:	andyf [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:50 pm ]
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I started to make front hangers so guys could run the Mopar Performance oval track spring on an A body. The guys at Firm Feel are selling that setup to a lot of folks now. Mopar Performance has had the oval track springs in the catalog for a long time but they never bothered to design a front spring hanger for it so nobody used the springs. The oval track spring is an oddball size so it requires a special front hanger. The one I designed has a second eye bolt hole so you can adjust the ride height.

Author:	Joshie225 [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:22 pm ]
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Andy, The info I found on the oval track spring was that the front segment was 1/2" longer than a standard A-body spring. I bolted a set into my '72 Dart with no problems, but haven't fitted a driveshaft yet. Should I post pictures?

Author:	Sam Powell [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:11 pm ]
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I would think that 1/2" longer on the front section of the leaf would be a good thing. I put HD springs of my own making in my Dart. It rode too high, so I lowered it with AnyF's front bracket. This has worked out pretty well, as now the wheel center and the front bolt center are at about the same height, which is supposed to be a good thing. I would go with Pat's recommendation. He has a vert, and has had good luck. When you get it aligned, have them do a four wheel alignment. You can get rear alignment shims from one of the company's that makes the full front race supsensions for Mopars. I don't remember which one it is, but it seems to me it was in a recent post on this forum basically complaining about the high price of it all. I will look and see if I can track it down. If the rear is not aligned correctly, it will handle funny. One thing you cannot easily correct without carefull selection of wheles, and the use of spacers on the rear wheels, is the fact that the rear track is narrower than the front, especially if you put late model A body disk brakes on it. This can lead to oversteer under hard cornering. Sam

Author:	andyf [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:34 pm ]
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Here is a picture of the oval track hanger, part number AR118. These fit A body cars only. They are 1/2 inch shorter than stock so the rear axle will stay in the stock location.

Author:	wjajr [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:09 am ]
Post subject:
All things to think about. Presently I'm thinking stock springs at this point, but haven't yet call ESPO. As for using my trophy wife for ballast, ain't gonnah happen. A few weeks ago we went out to eat using the Dart. As my luck goes the Dart decided to pop the shift linkage rod out of the shift lever on the transmission, a first time event. This fun took place on a hill, parallel parked, down town, in front of the eatery. At the same time I discovered the parking brake had stopped working. Long story short, she stepped on the foot brake while I reached under to connect the rod back up, resulting in a few burns on my wrist, and nice black hands. Mrs. A proclaimed that she will never ride in "that thing again"... This was her second ride, counting the first ride, she has logged a total of three miles.

Author:	steponmebbbboom [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 4:29 pm ]
Post subject:
Quote: All things to think about. Presently I'm thinking stock springs at this point, but haven't yet call ESPO. As for using my trophy wife for ballast, ain't gonnah happen. A few weeks ago we went out to eat using the Dart. As my luck goes the Dart decided to pop the shift linkage rod out of the shift lever on the transmission, a first time event. This fun took place on a hill, parallel parked, down town, in front of the eatery. At the same time I discovered the parking brake had stopped working. Long story short, she stepped on the foot brake while I reached under to connect the rod back up, resulting in a few burns on my wrist, and nice black hands. Mrs. A proclaimed that she will never ride in "that thing again"... This was her second ride, counting the first ride, she has logged a total of three miles. you should point out to your wife how much more embarrassing that would have been if youd had to pick up a cellphone and call a towtruck. she should be proud of you. you showed anyone who cared to look that not only do you have excellent taste in cars, you also know how to take care of them. now roll up your sleeves and fix that handbrake!

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Author:	wjajr [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:44 am ]
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The brake was fixed two days later. Had to over-night in a few proper bits from NAPA that I should have acquired the first time around. Now the rig'en is all new back there, and working well. As for the linkage rod, I don't know how to secure it other than just popping it back into the old socket, and gentily shoving her into park. Are there new bushings available for this connection point? The present one dose not have what I would call a positive snap into position feel to it when reinserting the rod.