add a leaf spring

[74 challenger]

Ok guys need some help with adding a leaf spring. Which one would I pull off the old set? 2nd from the bottom? Bought a new set and didnt get the supper stock set So now Im going to add one. Has anyone done this and is it going to be a pain in the butt? Bought the car and the owner had air shocks and I want those off.Thanks for any help.

 

[MOPARMITCH]

On most add a leaf springs, they are used in addition to the existing springs to give you the required lift. Normally they would be used at the bottom of your spring stack. On vehicles with overload leafs, such as trucks and towing packages, they go between the regular leaf and the overload leaf. Generally the stock U bolts are long enough to accommodate the extra leaf. Hope that helps.

 

[Eli'scoupe]

On most add a leaf springs, they are used in addition to the existing springs to give you the required lift. Normally they would be used at the bottom of your spring stack. On vehicles with overload leafs, such as trucks and towing packages, they go between the regular leaf and the overload leaf. Generally the stock U bolts are long enough to accommodate the extra leaf. Hope that helps.

Recently I wanted to get rid of my air shocks. I found some modified leaf springs in Year One's catalog. They are made by Eaton. You can buy them in 1/2" increments from 2" lower to 2" higher. Added neoprene shackle and spring bushings at the same time. I am pleased with the product and the results.

 

[Moparparts]

If you add it to the bottom you should not have to change the clamps but you may have to get a longer center pin. I run gas charged load levelers on most of my cars gives some lift and does not hurt the ride like air shocks no need to change springs usually

 

[Avalanche]

If you add it to the bottom you should not have to change the clamps but you may have to get a longer center pin. I run gas charged load levelers on most of my cars gives some lift and does not hurt the ride like air shocks no need to change springs usually

On average how much lift does the load levelers give you?
Which brand and model number do you use on E-bodies?

Thanks

 

[Chryco Psycho]

I do this all the time , generally I use the old main leaf & just trim off the rolled ends & put it up to the main leaf in the new set , it will raise the rear approx. 1 " , you will need new center bolts , I use a c clamp to hold the pack together & you need to use a clamp on the front end , I typically use a bolt on clamp , this will stiffen the front section of the spring pack aiding traction

 

[gafletch]

Neal, is there a video on this anywhere? Greg

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Sorry Greg
WHile I have done this numerous times I have never done a video of it , I have done it in a bit over 1 hr , simple to do , a spring shop should have a square top U bolt & plate that will clamp over the front section of the spring pack after adding the extra leaf

 

[Moparparts]

Load Levelers

From what i remember it gave me 1 to 2 inches then again it will depend on what brand you use. Last set i put on was over 5 years ago so i don't recall exactly. I still have a new set here in the box they are USA made and are white with black springs. I remember when i purchased them there was not an application in the book for E-Body so i had to match up by mounting what would fit. I may have used others in the past but the latest ones i used are made by Tenneco Automotive. They are Limited edition LE40484 Gas Charger Rear Stabilizing Units. I have been using these types of shocks on my performance cars for well over 10 years and they work great giving enough lift with out a harsh ride like extended air shocks and you can keep your car original with the factory numbered and date coded springs

On average how much lift does the load levelers give you? Which brand and model number do you use on E-bodies? Thanks

 

[74 challenger]

Hey Neil have you ever added 2 leafs or use only one and if its not high enough use the shock extenders?I just dont like the wheels in the wheel wells. How about the center bolt?Local hardware store? Thanks

 

[moparleo]

DO NOT even think about shock extenders to raise the rear. The upper mount was never designed to support weight. Use springs only. If you are not sure of what to do, please find a spring shop to help you. They can explain and show you exactly what is happening. You can only go so far with online advice.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

You can add 2 leafs / side , if you use the shorter leafs you have to be careful to match the lengths up so shorter ones are not above longer ones . Get proper center bolts from a spring store or online , center bolts have a taller head to fit into the locator hole in the spring seats & are threaded all the way up , regular bolts will not work.
I agree that shock extenders are only to make a shock reach when the wrong / short shock is reused , this will nto lift the car & using shocks to lift the rear will damage the crossmember as it is not designed to take the load of the weight of the car

 

[Moparparts]

I agree you can only go so far with online advice how true i see false and incorrect information being printed every day everywhere. I always say experience is the best teacher not what may or should be necessarily all the time. Maybe the optimal way to raise you car according to many is with heavier or raised leaf springs but there are good alternatives if you want to keep your car springs original for #'s and date codes like the one which i mentioned from experience not what i read in a thread or book. BTW i am referring to the newer design gas charged shocks with the springs made right on them not the old JC whitney etc. ones that were installed out over your shock with muffler clamps. I have also parted many E-Bodies through the years that had the famous from back in the day shocks with the heavy springs bolted on them with trailer hitches on them hauling boats and trailers most of their life and never seen any damage to the shock crossmembers. Yes i have seen some cracks in some even with/out load levers from racing or shocks being installed incorrectly. I have ran them on my cars including many e-bodies for over 10 years now and thousands of miles combined mostly on rough country roads. I never had any issues. The upper shock crossmember is designed plenty strong enough after all almost everybody years ago ran high jackers fully inflated for years including my self even with 3 in extensions and never had any upper mount problems of any kind and the newer gas charged load levelers are no where near that firm.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

I am with Leo on this one , espo can make a set of spring with the lift you desire if you are worried about #s springs , I have seen many cars with damaged shock crossmembers , maybe the factory made them thicker gauge with all of the jacked rear endsin that era but I have found nothing to support that either , just the wrong way to lift the rear

 

[Moparparts]

I also agree with Leo not to use shock extensions either as i would not recommend it, all i said was i did and never had a problem. Yes ESPO make very good springs they are a local company to me and i have used a lot of them through the years on customer restorations when they requested new springs. I was not referring to the # of leafs in the set of springs i was referring to the Chrysler numbers and dates stamped on the spring if you wanted to keep your cars original springs not leaf count. ESPO springs do not have these numbers. IMO before i would add leafs i would recommend buying new leaf springs that where made to the height desired if i did not care about originality or if i wanted to keep my originals and wanted some lift i would run as i do the gas charged load levelers rather than adding leafs JMO. It sounds to me like the damaged crossmembers you are referring to have been from later models please specify for us if you would make and model please?

I am with Leo on this one , espo can make a set of spring with the lift you desire if you are worried about #s springs , I have seen many cars with damaged shock crossmembers , maybe the factory made them thicker gauge with all of the jacked rear endsin that era but I have found nothing to support that either , just the wrong way to lift the rear

 

[Chryco Psycho]

More like earlier modles , Late 60s B bodies , Dusters just though maybe as they got closer the 73-74 they might have increased the strength given that most cars were lifted around that time .
I understood about # matching not leaf count !

 

[Moparparts]

crossmember

Oh, OK thanks for letting us know. That is interesting as i have parted probably close to Seventy Five 68-70 mostly performance B-Bodies and at least thirty 67-69 Darts/Barracudas inc.70-74 Dusters/Dart Swinger & Sports E-bodies a heck of a lot more than Thirty E-Bodies and don't remember any of them having damaged shock crossmembers other than what came from collision or rust, only 1 or 2 had cracks from racing or incorrect mechanical procedures. Many of these i parted still had the old shocks with springs out over, air shocks and shock extensions which i still have a few sets of. Many of these had hitches on also

More like earlier modles , Late 60s B bodies , Dusters just though maybe as they got closer the 73-74 they might have increased the strength given that most cars were lifted around that time .
I understood about # matching not leaf count !

 

[Chryco Psycho]

The holes were damaged in my 70 Chall as well as the top of the wheelwells from having something on there to raise the rear for larger tires & it only had 40k original miles on it

 

[Adam]

I agree with Leo and Chryco; This car only had 92k miles and air shocks. The upper shock cross member is too thin to support the weight of the car. Also, you will not be able to easily see the damage as it is on top of the crossmember and under the trunk floor.

 

[ramenth]

It's kind of like buying lift kits for pick ups. The really good kits will come with re-arched leafs. The cheaper kits come with just a few parts which throw off the suspension geometry. Guess which one most guys go after? Guess which one is better?

But, then again, you could take a page out of my old man's book. He got tired of the Mopar leaf sag on his M-body and built a stack of springs for it from a '76 F250 parts truck! No matter how you loaded the trunk that car wasn't gonna drag it's bumper.