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Getting around to replacing rear suspension on my 75. I just removed my rear leaf springs and it seems they are not original and I've no idea what I'm looking at.
There are 10 steel leafs, all of them are curved - none are straight. I was only going to replace the liners, but not I'm not sure what I have or what I need (liner wise).
I don't want to go composite and I've read too many posts about new leaf springs raising the ride height, so I'm sort of stuck in this WTF mode on what to do.
Any ideas what this 10 leaf configuration is and how I can get a liner set for it?
I also have a 75. They came with either 7 leaf or 9 leaf for the upgraded suspension. Many of the ride hight issues come from installation problems. I purchased a new 7 leaf steel spring. Make sure you remove the shipping bands, and don’t torque the bolts until after you lower the rear end back down on the wheels.
I also have a 75. They came with either 7 leaf or 9 leaf for the upgraded suspension. Many of the ride hight issues come from installation problems. I purchased a new 7 leaf steel spring. Make sure you remove the shipping bands, and don’t torque the bolts until after you lower the rear end back down on the wheels.
Thanks for that, but I'm really looking for what it is that I have. 10 steel leafs all curved. Is there any aftermarket configurations like that???
I had a 10 leaf on my 72....I was told it was a replacement part from GM. I lucked out and found a roll of liner material on eBay. I know some of the vendor's offer liner kits but I don't think any off a 10 leaf kit. Mine turned out pretty good.....Is this the same you have....?
I had a 10 leaf on my 72....I was told it was a replacement part from GM. I lucked out and found a roll of liner material on eBay. I know some of the vendor's offer liner kits but I don't think any off a 10 leaf kit. Mine turned out pretty good.....Is this the same you have....?
Brian
Yup, that is exactly what mine looks like - of course it;s not in as good of shape. So, does that mean that some PO had some reason to change the rear spring? Hmm, I wonder why that was....
That is a factory spring. I had one on my 75. I've heard that they used them as a service replacement but I've also heard that they came installed from the assembly line. I replaced the 10 leaf with a 9 leaf that I bought used and restored it.
That is a factory spring. I had one on my 75. I've heard that they used them as a service replacement but I've also heard that they came installed from the assembly line. I replaced the 10 leaf with a 9 leaf that I bought used and restored it.
Do you recall what effect changing it out had on your ride height?
The height doesn't seem to have changed much since I installed the 9 leaf but I haven't yet had it on the road. From what I understand as the car is on the wheels and rolling it will flatten out a little.
Well regardless of what it was born with, fact is I have 10 leafs. The leafs themselves are 2 1/4" and it seems that the liners are lipped (H-shaped) and are more like 2 1/2" wide.
SOOOO question is, where can I find liners for these springs.WEE - where did you find the liners and how wide were they - were the H-shaped or just have lips on one side.
I've no issue buying a new 9-leaf spring, but I have concerns about ride height - should I put new springs on.
I found the roll on eBay....They are lipped on both sides like an "H", most liner material only has the lip on one side. Someone out there has to be making it because the vendor's sale kits for 7 and 9 leaf springs. Wilcox may be your best bet if they make their own kits.
The ride height is 100% dependent on how long the bolt-connection is on the ends of your spring. If your spring is very stiff and ride height is to high, you need a bit longer bolt, or adjust the connection, and vis versa.
The ride height is 100% dependent on how long the bolt-connection is on the ends of your spring. If your spring is very stiff and ride height is to high, you need a bit longer bolt, or adjust the connection, and vis versa.
That's actually a way too simplistic statement. The ride height is mostly dependent on the rear spring. His car likely rode at the 'correct' height at one time with the original 6 1/2" spring bolts. It seems like it's an incorrect aftermarket spring is causing an undesirable ride height condition. Installing longer spring bolts is treating the symptom not the problem. Installing longer bolts will compensate and lower the ride height but could cause the spring ends to be dangerously close to the tire sidewall. Some will install longer 8" (or so) bolts to lower ride height below stock but any bolts longer than that will require close scrutiny of the spring-to-tire proximity.
That's actually a way too simplistic statement. The ride height is mostly dependent on the rear spring. His car likely rode at the 'correct' height at one time with the original 6 1/2" spring bolts. It seems like it's an incorrect aftermarket spring is causing an undesirable ride height condition. Installing longer spring bolts is treating the symptom not the problem. Installing longer bolts will compensate and lower the ride height but could cause the spring ends to be dangerously close to the tire sidewall. Some will install longer 8" (or so) bolts to lower ride height below stock but any bolts longer than that will require close scrutiny of the spring-to-tire proximity.
For any given spring,,,,, ride height is still dependent on the length of the end bolt connection, period. Of course you need to check all of the fitment. But don't think when you replace the rear spring that you don't have to take into consideration the bolt connection. If the spring weakens then you need to adjust the bolt or get a new spring. I have seen people try to shim where the spring connects to the differencial,,,, that is crazy!
Rear Springs
