'80 vs. Pre '80 leaf spring length
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Riverside CA
'80 vs. Pre '80 leaf spring length
Does anyone know the difference, assuming length, between an '80 spring and an earlier spring. Some of the current posts got me thinking about what actually is wrong with my '80.
The good members of this forum helped me determine that I have an earlier rear end then what came in an '80...(no bat-wings/etc). When I got the car it sat high in the rear, and road/rides like a buck-board. The first thing I tried was to change the spring, and of corse, I asked for an '80 replacement. Nothing changed...ride height still was wrong and I still had to add spacers to stock ralley wheels to keep the spring from rubbing the tires...And yes, I have gone the longer bolt route. This still didn't make sense as everything is stock, plus ride quality still sucks.
Any chance that the spring, being an '80 could be the bain of my existance
The good members of this forum helped me determine that I have an earlier rear end then what came in an '80...(no bat-wings/etc). When I got the car it sat high in the rear, and road/rides like a buck-board. The first thing I tried was to change the spring, and of corse, I asked for an '80 replacement. Nothing changed...ride height still was wrong and I still had to add spacers to stock ralley wheels to keep the spring from rubbing the tires...And yes, I have gone the longer bolt route. This still didn't make sense as everything is stock, plus ride quality still sucks.
Any chance that the spring, being an '80 could be the bain of my existance
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,046
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Is the frame original to the car?
The standard rear leaf spring for 1980 had nine leaves, and the width of the leaves was 2.5 inches.
edit:
1963-1976 Rear Spring was 2.25 inch wide.
1977-1982 Rear Spring was 2.5 inch wide.
Last edited by mapman; Aug 3, 2007 at 07:49 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
i currently have the spring off of a '79 on my '80.
did the swap myself, so i feel safe in saying that they are the same width - width being defined as end to end. no change in ride height even though the '79 spring was taller (more leaves). i assumed it might be a gunkamaya ( or whatever
) suspension. longer bolts on the carrier and i was off and running.
the only other difference i noticed was that the carrier on the '80 used three bolts and a triangle keeper as opposed to the 4 bolt, square keeper of the '79 (and steel/cast vs. alum). no effect on the spring. no change in ride height.
did the swap myself, so i feel safe in saying that they are the same width - width being defined as end to end. no change in ride height even though the '79 spring was taller (more leaves). i assumed it might be a gunkamaya ( or whatever
) suspension. longer bolts on the carrier and i was off and running.the only other difference i noticed was that the carrier on the '80 used three bolts and a triangle keeper as opposed to the 4 bolt, square keeper of the '79 (and steel/cast vs. alum). no effect on the spring. no change in ride height.
Last edited by Avette4me; Aug 2, 2007 at 10:00 PM.
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
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From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
BTW there's a good 79 spring for sale in the For Sale Section.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Riverside CA
Thanks for the responses. I guess I'm going to have to get over my fear of camaras and posting pictures. It is my assumption that the frame got replaced somewhere along the way as there are no signs of bubba's and the rear end-in general, looks like...well...only the General (motors) has been there previously. Hopefully one day I'll figure it out. Got a feeling by the time I do I'll be able to hang a shingle as a full-blown proctologist. (SP)
