have any of you guys ever ?

-
famous bob

famous bob

mopar misfit
Joined
Aug 14, 2011
Messages
20,640
Reaction score
9,688
Location
okla
has any one ever trimmed a leaf spring for a little extra tire clearance ? I think it probably can be done if a guy will keep it from getting hot. maybe a cut off wheel w/ a little water running over it ? only need a 1/4 inch in the sidewall area . opinions ??
 
Might seriously weaken the spring. I would find a spring shop and ask them if it can be done.
 
I saw it done many times back in the 70's before someone figured out tubbing ..mostly on drag cars....I can remember seeing as much as a 1/2" removed.
 
Never saw one or heard of leaf springs bending or breaking because of it.

I did however, bend the front of both leaves right by the spring eye when I performed a 5500 sidestep....in reverse. I immediatly bought a reverse lock out....right after I repaired the springs
 
Last edited:
Wheel spacers if you have room to the outside. Spring offset or relocation if you don't. The 1/2" offset will get you all the space you can use with the stock tubs, so the 3" relocation is kinda pointless without a mini-tub. But both require moving the perches. Or buy tires that actually fit. You wouldn't catch me cutting springs to add tire clearance. No, the spring probably won't fail, but who knows what you'll get for spring rate and performance when you're done. I've seen leaf springs fail (they crack) but those have all been on commercial trucks.
 
72bluNblu said:
Wheel spacers if you have room to the outside. Spring offset or relocation if you don't. The 1/2" offset will get you all the space you can use with the stock tubs, so the 3" relocation is kinda pointless without a mini-tub. But both require moving the perches. Or buy tires that actually fit. You wouldn't catch me cutting springs to add tire clearance. No, the spring probably won't fail, but who knows what you'll get for spring rate and performance when you're done. I've seen leaf springs fail (they crack) but those have all been on commercial trucks.
Click to expand...
this^
 
I wouldn't shave the springs. If you need just a little more room, use the offset shackle/hanger kit and get an additional .8"
 
There is no way I would attempt to trim springs when it is so easy to install wheel spacers, or just a little more difficult to install 3/4" offset kit.
 
Please keep in mind...I am NOT advocating it or ever even considered the modification on any of my Mopars........just answering the OP question. YES, I have seen it done, but never seen any ill effects (on drag cars) from a small bit of grinding for tire clearance.

too many years ago....but I think it was on a big name racer, just cannot remember who. If I was in the pits at a drag race I was always peeking under the big boys race cars.
 
Double up the main leaf, gouge out what you need, chamfer and polish. Yeah it will ride like a truck. but it will spin the streetskins forever.
Ok so not the best idea, but I agree with Blu, and others.
Spacers are cheap.
But I tell you one thing, If you've got just a cigarette-paper clearance there, it's probably a few papers short when the tire goes flat.....So measure with cereal-box paper;that should be plenty, so long as the short springs don't shift.
I broke both front springs on a gravel truck once. Here's a tip; if you find yourself semi-reclined,staring at sky, and still climbing,you probably forgot to open the tailgate, and when you finally realize this, clutching it is gonna normalize things rather violently.
Here's another tip; If you put your ditchdigger 18 year old cityboy into a gravel truck, just because he says yes when you ask him if he knows how to drive a stick, you might wanna rethink that.lol
 
AJ/FormS said:
Double up the main leaf, gouge out what you need, chamfer and polish. Yeah it will ride like a truck. but it will spin the streetskins forever.
Ok so not the best idea, but I agree with Blu, and others.
Spacers are cheap.
But I tell you one thing, If you've got just a cigarette-paper clearance there, it's probably a few papers short when the tire goes flat.....So measure with cereal-box paper;that should be plenty, so long as the short springs don't shift.
I broke both front springs on a gravel truck once. Here's a tip; if you find yourself semi-reclined,staring at sky, and still climbing,you probably forgot to open the tailgate, and when you finally realize this, clutching it is gonna normalize things rather violently.
Here's another tip; If you put your ditchdigger 18 year old cityboy into a gravel truck, just because he says yes when you ask him if he knows how to drive a stick, you might wanna rethink that.lol
Click to expand...


a lot of funny stuff posted here. already have full 3/4" offset hangars, already have 1/2" spacers installed w/ the 295 65 15 draq radials. I bought a complete caltrac system off a guy (don`t remember who) on this site a few yrs back. doesn`t matter now. the (caltrac ?) springs were 2 piece- 2'' springs. tire clearance was perfect,one side set too low so I ordered a new rear half from John at caltrac for that side, we'll u guessed it , it`s 2 1/2", which makes it 1/4" wider on each side. cutting my "just adequate" tire clearance. I have seen quite a few cars over the yrs. w/ springs cut or ground for tire clearance, mostly back in the old days. I know it will be ok if not much is taken out. I was just wondering about options for cutting a 1/4" out w/o getting the spring hot. did it yesterday, 1/4" about 3" long on the tire side. kept it cool w/ water while doing it . will mount it today. it`s still a lot stronger than the 2" spring it`s replacing. not worried about it in the slightest.--it doesn`t affect the front half because the rear half doesn`t go that far forward. have another rear half on the way.-- sorry for the long explanation.--
 
famous bob said:
a lot of funny stuff posted here. already have full 3/4" offset hangars, already have 1/2" spacers installed w/ the 295 65 15 draq radials. I bought a complete caltrac system off a guy (don`t remember who) on this site a few yrs back. doesn`t matter now. the (caltrac ?) springs were 2 piece- 2'' springs. tire clearance was perfect,one side set too low so I ordered a new rear half from John at caltrac for that side, we'll u guessed it , it`s 2 1/2", which makes it 1/4" wider on each side. cutting my "just adequate" tire clearance. I have seen quite a few cars over the yrs. w/ springs cut or ground for tire clearance, mostly back in the old days. I know it will be ok if not much is taken out. I was just wondering about options for cutting a 1/4" out w/o getting the spring hot. did it yesterday, 1/4" about 3" long on the tire side. kept it cool w/ water while doing it . will mount it today. it`s still a lot stronger than the 2" spring it`s replacing. not worried about it in the slightest.--it doesn`t affect the front half because the rear half doesn`t go that far forward. have another rear half on the way.-- sorry for the long explanation.--
Click to expand...
wonder how much, if at all, that affects the spring rate of the spring?
 
HemiDenny said:
Never saw one or heard of leaf springs bending or breaking because of it.

I did however, bend the front of both leaves right by the spring eye when I performed a 5500 sidestep....in reverse. I immediatly bought a reverse lock out....right after I repaired the springs
Click to expand...


Seen a guy do this at Woodburn with a green barracuda way back in 1984 I think. Was trying to do a dry hop. Put that thing on the mat, slid his foot off the clutch and that thing moved back so fast it would make your head spin.

In fact, he had a mechanical tach mounted to the dash and it busted that thing loose and broke the windshield.

That was wild.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top