Leaf springs for dart swingers.

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dartfreak75

Restore it, Dont part it!
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I'm wanting to raise the rear of my swinger some when I got it 19 years ago it had a very bad sag to it and i replaced the rear springs with stock replacements and added shackles to bring it up it did help but now that I'm older and wiser I know that shackles are a bad idea and I want to get new springs with factory shackles to bring it up correctly. What are you guys using and please add pics I'd love to see what your swingers look like with whatever spring you used I'm looking at the 21/2 inch lift springs from general spring they have 6 leafs instead of 5 here is a link.
1964-1976 Dodge & Plymouth Leaf Springs | General Spring
And before and after of mine.

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I posted on the other thread but here goes. Original springs with an extra leaf added. It has a firm ride. Almost harsh. I need to replace the springs with a set from ESPO that are 1+ over stock. They will be a nice ride and the height I want.

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That looks really good! How hard and affordable is it to add a leaf is that something I could do to mine to save some money?
 
That looks really good! How hard and affordable is it to add a leaf is that something I could do to mine to save some money?
It's quite a bit of work. You have to remove the springs and take them apart to add the extra leaf.
 
They are already removed from the car I'm changing out the 71/4 rear end.
Clamp the springs fore and aft, cut or unbolt the center bolt, Add an extra leaf and bolt back together with a new center bolt. Sounds easy but remember, the springs on your car are worn out and sagging. Adding an extra leaf may not help much. Your main leaf is shot it looks like to me.
 
Clamp the springs fore and aft, cut or unbolt the center bolt, Add an extra leaf and bolt back together with a new center bolt. Sounds easy but remember, the springs on your car are worn out and sagging. Adding an extra leaf may not help much. Your main leaf is shot it looks like to me.
Yea your probably right I'm better off buying new springs. The springs that are on it dont have alot of miles on them they have been replaced before but i got them from jc whitney I dont think they was much to start with.
 
These are after photos of my Swinger with ESPO HD (6 leaf) springs. They were calculated by ESPO to be 1-1.25" higher than stock. I was very satisfied with transaction. I agree with Mike however, the ride is quite firm.

Good Luck.
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I looked at the link in the original post and have a concern. The ad suggests 2 1/2" lift for and early A all the way to 1976. According to ESPO, an early A spring will lift a newer car an additional 1/2 to 3/4". Those springs may give you more lift than you are bargaining for.
 
These are after photos of my Swinger with ESPO HD (6 leaf) springs. They were calculated by ESPO to be 1-1.25" higher than stock. I was very satisfied with transaction. I agree with Mike however, the ride is quite firm.

Good Luck.View attachment 1715397552View attachment 1715397553
Yea I agree with mike that looks really nice! I think one thing that makes mine look different from the earlier cars is the 75 have the bumper below the taillights and the bumper sets lower to the ground making it appear to be setting lower I the backend. I've noticed alot on 70-73 cars they appear to be alot higher in the back because the bumper is placed higher. Maybe?
 
I looked at the link in the original post and have a concern. The ad suggests 2 1/2" lift for and early A all the way to 1976. According to ESPO, an early A spring will lift a newer car an additional 1/2 to 3/4". Those springs may give you more lift than you are bargaining for.
Yea they 21/2 that's about what I'm looking for I'd be happy with 2 the shackles raised it about 2 if I can get that same look with factory shackles I'd be happy
 
Yea I agree with mike that looks really nice! I think one thing that makes mine look different from the earlier cars is the 75 have the bumper below the taillights and the bumper sets lower to the ground making it appear to be setting lower I the backend. I've noticed alot on 70-73 cars they appear to be alot higher in the back because the bumper is placed higher. Maybe?
That is true. Look at your springs though. Even with the shackles and the helper springs the main leaf is still flat. It is supposed to have some arch. If you add a leaf I am afraid it will be like putting lipstick on a pig. I would just put a new set on. They will outlast the car.
 
Yea I agree with mike that looks really nice! I think one thing that makes mine look different from the earlier cars is the 75 have the bumper below the taillights and the bumper sets lower to the ground making it appear to be setting lower I the backend. I've noticed alot on 70-73 cars they appear to be alot higher in the back because the bumper is placed higher. Maybe?

I had not noticed that before. I knew the 74+ Swingers were different in the back but did not connect that the bumper was lower.
 
That is true. Look at your springs though. Even with the shackles and the helper springs the main leaf is still flat. It is supposed to have some arch. If you add a leaf I am afraid it will be like putting lipstick on a pig. I would just put a new set on. They will outlast the car.
In that photo I posted those springs was brand new then I had just put them on that day the pic was taken and they was flat. Even back then I knew that wasnt good thats why I added the helper springs. I wish I would have known what I knew know and just got the good 6 leaf springs back then.
 
I had not noticed that before. I knew the 74+ Swingers were different in the back but did not connect that the bumper was lower.
Yea the bumper actually sets under the taillights. If you look at the quarter extension the 74-75 taillights are in the same spot as the 73 but the bumper is under it instead "over" the taillights
That's not the best picture of the bumper but the other one I have wont upload for some reason

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Yea the bumper actually sets under the taillights. If you look at the quarter extension the 74-75 taillights are in the same spot as the 73 but the bumper is under it instead "over" the taillights
That's not the best picture of the bumper but the other one I have wont upload for some reason

View attachment 1715397554
Yep!

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Here is a better picture of the rear you can see how much lower the back bumper is compared to Mike's picture

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Nice colour combo on your Dart!

We learn things as we age so don’t beat yourself up over what you did a few years ago.

I bought MP XHD springs from the Chrysler dealer 11 years ago and am still happy with them. You’ve got more options (ESPO) to purchase them from as shipping would have been pricey for me living north of the border. Chrysler picks up the shipping charges on MP parts when ordering from the catelogue. If you do get the MP XHD springs from the dealership, the left and right have different part numbers since the right side one has a higher arch. I wound up installing two left springs.

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Nice colour combo on your Dart!

We learn things as we age so don’t beat yourself up over what you did a few years ago.

I bought MP XHD springs from the Chrysler dealer 11 years ago and am still happy with them. You’ve got more options (ESPO) to purchase them from as shipping would have been pricey for me living north of the border. Chrysler picks up the shipping charges on MP parts when ordering from the catelogue. If you do get the MP XHD springs from the dealership, the left and right have different part numbers since the right side one has a higher arch. I wound up installing two left springs.
Thank you so the 2 left would be the 6 springs?
 
Take a look at these cars from your era especially the red car. Look at the arch of the rear springs. You need that.

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I like to run the MP super stock springs ending with part numbers 002 & 003 on my a-bodies... They will lift the rear up 2 - 3 inched from stock height....

Or you can get a set from Espo Springs n Things and they can make a set that will lift or lower it to whatever spec you want... I've installed a set of those on a 71 Dart for a local member here and they were very good... When we had a problem with the shackles going forward vs rearward when lowering it, their customer support was there answering our questions within 20 - 30 minutes after leaving a message... They have great customer support and make good product...
 
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I lik to run the MP super stock springs ending with part numbers 002 & 003 on my a-bodies... They will lift the rear up 2 - 3 inched from stock height....

Or you can get a set from Espo Springs n Things and they can make a set that will lift or lower it to whatever spec you want... I've installed a set of those on a 71 Dart for a local member here and they were very good... when we had a problem with the shackles going forward vs rearward when lowering it, their customer support was there answering our questions within 20 - 30 minutes after leaving a message... They have great customer support and make good product...
I about freaked when I installed mine and the shackles were going the wrong way. A 4' pry bar did the trick! LOL
 
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