rear leaf spring bolt question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 163
Likes: 2
rear leaf spring bolt question
im going to replace the rear leaf spring in my 77. I bought a 9 leaf stock spring as mine is really flat. I see that there are different length bolts. I ordered the stock length for mine. whats the purpose of longer bolts? wouldn't that raise the rear of the car? im trying to figure this out. thanks for any info
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,270
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi sk,
First off, the rear spring should be ALMOST flat when it's in the normal loaded condition.
The longer bolts require the spring to 'straighten' less in order for the bolt to make the connection between the trailing arm and the end of the spring.
The longer bolts are required to lower a car when a replacement spring with different than original load characteristics is used and keeps the car raised up in the rear, (because it retains more of it's arch), compared to the normal ride height dimension for the car.
Regards,
Alan
First off, the rear spring should be ALMOST flat when it's in the normal loaded condition.
The longer bolts require the spring to 'straighten' less in order for the bolt to make the connection between the trailing arm and the end of the spring.
The longer bolts are required to lower a car when a replacement spring with different than original load characteristics is used and keeps the car raised up in the rear, (because it retains more of it's arch), compared to the normal ride height dimension for the car.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Aug 1, 2014 at 09:00 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 93
From: Bellmore NY
The longer bolts will lower the ride height of the car. My guesstimation is that the long bolt allows the spring to remain almost at full arc. Shorter bolts force the spring upward, raising the height of the car.
