composite springs

[cuda joe]

my new composite springs arrived today time to get out in the garage good weather is coming .anyone make front hangers to fit them any tips on installing thanks

 

[Cuda Hunter]

Please post pictures of your progress. I've considered those but have not tried them yet.

 

[Cuda Hunter]

Go here for some information.

Composite rear leaf springs on an E-Body in Wheels, Tires, Brakes, Suspension & Steering

Composite rear leaf springs on an E-Body in Wheels, Tires, Brakes, Suspension & Steering - Page 1 of 2

forum.e-bodies.org

 

[Mopar Mitch]

my new composite springs arrived today time to get out in the garage good weather is coming .anyone make front hangers to fit them any tips on installing thanks

What brand (company) did you buy? I've been running Flex-A-Form fiberglass mono-leafs since about 1986... 225#/5" uncompressed arched... settles nearly flat.. great for handling.

I would think that the company you bought them from would've supplied the hangers for your car.

 

[cuda joe]

I;ll post pictures
i bought hyperco 175 I have read to use hoses over the u bolts and a longer front hanger any more info would be appeciated , mitch are you using a panhard bar ? should i put rubber between the spring and the mounting plate ? best reguards joe

 

[Mopar Mitch]

No Panhard bar... I wouldn't bother with any rubber install... instead, perhaps a tough piece of Teflon material.

Here's a cpl pics of my brackets.... using Flex-A-Form fiberglass mono-leafs .

 

[cuda joe]

thanks mitch what kind of teflon I have only heard of teflon tape and coatings

 

[Mopar Mitch]

Teflon plastic sheet... ~1/16" thickness... not sure where to buy some... but mine came from Flex-A-Form with the leafs (back in the mid-1980s).

Rubber would probably split upon clamping and movement.

 

[cuda joe]

i found the teflon sheets do i put them on the top and bottom of the pads that are glued on the springs or do i wrap around the spring.. i have read to use hose on the u bolts thanks for you help

 

[Mopar Mitch]

lookin' good! Use them both TOP and BOTTOM. The purpose is to protect them from scratches, etc.

 

[cuda joe]

ok thanks I;m making the hangers i should get them in this weekend will post pics

 

[Brads70]

I don't think you will like the #175 rate, I tried them first, expensive mistake. That's my post Josh posted in reply #3
Also, plan on buying adjustable shocks, I had the Bilstein RCD shocks and they didn't work, these react much quicker then steel springs.

 

[cuda joe]

I appreciate the concern allready have double adjustable shocks should i set compression and rebound stiffer ?. why not the #175

 

[Brads70]

When I installed the #175 I could easily compress the back end by pushing on it. I set the rebound stiffer, nice for traction I found and ride quality.

 

[cuda joe]

my new composite springs had to make new spring hangers made a template cut 1/4 steel.. the tape on tire is the height with the hotchkiss springs were before i did anything bent fuel lines for clearence I tacked welded the 2 halves together and drilled them then clamped them together on the mounting plate then welded after welding mounted them to spring and marked the holes from the back then drilled the mounting plate the 3 holes are for stock distance from mounting plate just 1 inch lower the other 2 are for the composite springs see next post for the rest

 

[cuda joe]

hanger all welded up then installed with the hotchkiss spring in the 1 inch lower hole brought the back end up a inch i did that to see how it worked then i installed the composit springs in the rear lower hole which is 1/2 inch lower and 1 1/2 farther back than stock location the car height was the same 1 inch higher than when i started then i cut teflon strips to go between springs and u bolts where my finger is pointed .. i had to enlarge the hole in the new spring bushings to fit the rear spring shackles can;t wait to take her out thanks all for your good pointers

 

[Cuda Hunter]

Wow! That's some skilled work there! Thanks for sharing.

 

[cuda joe]

thanks cuda hunter I;m trying to improve ride quality i already got it handlng very well.. spring is coming happy motoring to all

 

[cuda joe]

i took the car out yesterday for a long ride very pleased with it handled great with improved and ride quality my set up is 1.03 bars moog offset upper control bushings caster +4 adustable strut rods boxed lower arms a brace for the lower part of the steering box goes where the pitman arm is and bolts to the crossmember no more flex. longer pitman and idler arms solid turn buckle on the tierods and the 175 composite rear leafs ,,happy motoring too all