Re-arcing mopar SS leaf springs?

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Hipo65

Yeah I'm "That Guy"
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has anyone ever done this at all? Iv'e got a set of used mopar SS springs off a good friends dart they were sagging a little bit. His car gained about an inch to inch & a half after the new SS springs were installed. Thought about re-arcing them & installing them on my dart as a little cheaper way of adding SS springs on my ol dart. Thought's?
 
The only way you can truly re-arch a spring is if you have access to a spring shop that has a furnace. Many shops will simply use a big press to re-bend the spring but the re-bend won't last long under car because the springs were not heated (in a furnace) to the correct temperature for re-arching. So if you can find a shop with a furnace and they can do it for a reasonable price then the answer is yes!!
Once springs are re-arched in a furnace they should last as long as the original springs.

Treblig
 
The MOPAR chassis manual states (Larry Shepherd) that cars came with "no" arch under load from the factory.
This was to improve handling in street application.
Yes SS spring may be different. Is the person drag racing?

I have also been SURE that I read somewhere that only T/As and AARs came with camber in the springs. But did not know where I read that.
I stumbled on it recently while cleaning out.
It is in a "Service Builtin".
I believe this was for the exhaust to clear.
I can document both of these now.

I say this to help.
I bought a new pair of MP springs for a Challenger (not SS) because I thought the springs were sagging.
There was no difference.
Still Flat. Wasted money.
I have added springs to my car to make the rear stiffer due to it being an M body rear under an A body and the tires hit on bumps.
I did not raise much if at all.
And Larry Shepherd also states that when the rear of a car is made stiffer it tends to increase oversteer.
Be aware.
 
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you can rearch a spring with sledge hammer and a anvil. without heating them. by pounding them, you make metal bend. best way, is to lay spring between two anvils and hammer it. takes awhile to do this, but it will not reset back to original shape. we've done this before, old black smiths use to bend metal this way,
 
you can rearch a spring with sledge hammer and a anvil. without heating them. by pounding them, you make metal bend. best way, is to lay spring between two anvils and hammer it. takes awhile to do this, but it will not reset back to original shape. we've done this before, old black smiths use to bend metal this way,

Yup, but it lasts nowhere near as long as springs arched with heat.
 
I de-arched some new SS springs, because they raised the back of my car up too high. I took them to a spring shop. Either they did a crappy job, or it was a really bad idea, because the car got really squirelly after that at the track.
 
The place we have here In Lincoln nebraska used to be in-line suspension. Inland truck parts bought them out. But they still do all the speciality suspension work around here. Im not sure how they do there re arching on leaves. Id guess with a press because in the past I don't remember them looking like they were ever heated up at all. When they were on my friends car they were not flat but had just a bit of curve to them. His new same part number SS springs have an arch to them for sure installed.
 
I have a set of SS springs that I de arched at home about 15 years ago that are still on my 66 Valiant. The ride height has not changed since they where redone. I made a support between 2 trees and bent the springs opposite of there arch with a hydraulic pump jack. There is a 1:1 ratio of arch to ride height, so measure the arch before attempting and keep measuring as you progress. I remember actually bending the springs past being straight before I got where I wanted them to be set, they will spring back after jack is released.

This can be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS make certain of the
setup and go VERY SLOWLY!
 
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I have also been SURE that I read somewhere that only T/As and AARs came with camber in the springs. But did not know where I read that.
...

What is meant by camber in the springs?

...
And Larry Shepherd also states that when the rear of a car is made stiffer it tends to increase oversteer.
Be aware.

You say this like it's a bad thing! :D

you can rearch a spring with sledge hammer and a anvil. without heating them. by pounding them, you make metal bend. best way, is to lay spring between two anvils and hammer it. takes awhile to do this, but it will not reset back to original shape. we've done this before, old black smiths use to bend metal this way,

Not doubting you or contradicting you...but you're technically still heating the metal with this process...not as evenly as a real heat treat process (and probably not as long lasting as RustyRatRod pointed out but it's sure worth a try before ordering new springs.
 
has anyone ever done this at all? Iv'e got a set of used mopar SS springs off a good friends dart they were sagging a little bit. His car gained about an inch to inch & a half after the new SS springs were installed. Thought about re-arcing them & installing them on my dart as a little cheaper way of adding SS springs on my ol dart. Thought's?

why do ya want SS springs? racing or just the height. if its just the ride height then order a set of espo +2" springs and be done.. if racing then they seem to be done so buy new ones.

i have a friend that races regularly and he has the change out the ss springs about every 5 years. says you see the difference in the 60' times..

i can't believe some of the half assed ways you guys are arching and de-arching springs.. they arent' really expensive so why not just buy new ones..
 
I've seen old leaf springs break in half. For all the trouble and risk screwing with old crap, get new springs. Espo sold me a great pair for a reasonable price, with the amount of arc in the spring requested. Used with a pinion snubber, my street B body does 1.76 60 foots. Low 12 second car. Consider your use too. Do you drag race alot? Are you ok with the car sitting crooked due to the passenger side spring?
 
I've seen old leaf springs break in half. For all the trouble and risk screwing with old crap, get new springs. Espo sold me a great pair for a reasonable price, with the amount of arc in the spring requested. Used with a pinion snubber, my street B body does 1.76 60 foots. Low 12 second car. Consider your use too. Do you drag race alot? Are you ok with the car sitting crooked due to the passenger side spring?

exactly.. not worth doing it half assed with the availability of the parts these days..

here is a pair of springs i pulled off a car this summer..




IMG_3509.JPG


IMG_3510.JPG


IMG_3511.JPG
 
What is meant by camber in the springs?



You say this like it's a bad thing! :D



Not doubting you or contradicting you...but you're technically still heating the metal with this process...not as evenly as a real heat treat process (and probably not as long lasting as RustyRatRod pointed out but it's sure worth a try before ordering new springs.


I am glad I found this because I get the feeling people would not believe me otherwise.
Dodge TSB No. D70-25-2
".....The rear spring camber has been increased to provide ground clearance for the special side outlet exhaust and G-60-15 rear tires".
So based on these things, unless someone has additional information, we can assume only those cars had camber in the springs under normal conditions.
All others would have "little or no camber". What ever that is.:rolleyes:

Larry Shepherd points out that under steer is desirable in a street car.
Front anti sway bars help to do this.
My take is that over steer would be bad in a street car as well.:steering:
In subjects like this I believe it is best to reference the unimpeachable experts.
Everyone has.....oh well.
 
Well then! The car is a street toy & track car 50/50.currently has added leaves to the o.e. stack & pinion sunbber about 1/2 -3/4 inch from the floor. I run 26x8.5 15 ET drag slicks on it & 4:10 gears converter with slicks flashes 4400. Wasn't looking to be slaughtered here eather. No im not looking "for the higher ride" of them. Im looking for traction & I know the po-boy leaves I have in there now sorta work I know there not ideal eather. Was just curious if anyone's done this or similar before being's they were free. Seems the conscious is its not worth the time or money. Ill pitch em & go new.

20170728_162446.jpg
 
if I do mine over, I'd try the SS springs untouched, and try flipping the front spring hangers over to lower it back down.
 
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