Leaf spring help

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mopower440

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My '72 dart swinger has the original leaf springs on the back and the are really sagging! The leafs look straight..no curve to them anymore. I see where you can get them stock, or plus 1 or more, well them problem is i dont know if i should order stock height or the added height because mine are so bad that im not sure what stock height would even be...! I would like a VERY slight rake, just slight, NOT 70's Jacked up in the rear, but just slight. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated!
 
mopower440 said:
My '72 dart swinger has the original leaf springs on the back and the are really sagging! The leafs look straight..no curve to them anymore. I see where you can get them stock, or plus 1 or more, well them problem is i dont know if i should order stock height or the added height because mine are so bad that im not sure what stock height would even be...! I would like a VERY slight rake, just slight, NOT 70's Jacked up in the rear, but just slight. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated!
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Then there's the problem if WHICH stock you're talking about. There' stock slant 6 stock V8 and then comes the XHD which is what came on the 340 cars. I would look at a stock 340 car and see. For "MY" taste, even the stock 340 height in the rear is too low.
 
mopower440 said:
Not TOO worried about the ride if its a little harsh but the height..How high are they?
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Very. Post a question in the suspension section asking for pictures of all different types of leaf springs. Stock, XHD, SS, all of um. Then you can see for yourself instead of guessing. No one else can make the decision for you. I'll try to get a pic or three of Vixen on flat pavement when we go to town later today. She has the XHD +2 springs. She sits good, I think and rides nice.
 
Im not at the car right now so cant look, but what size eyelet would this 1972 dart have? (They are originals ) Seeing options for 1/2 or 5/8..
 

mopower440 said:
Thanks! Looking at general spring and they list several of the 5/8 spring options for darts and only 1 option for the 1/2 and of course they are out of stock for the 1/2..
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Don't be a dork. Get the 5/8.
 
mopower440 said:
Will they work? What do you do, just use the bigger bolts or?
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Well yeah. You can actually be a REAL dork and BUY new front hangers and waste money, OR you can be smart and drill the holes in the front hangers to 5/8. That's what I did. Cain't be spendin no unnecessary money. LOL
 
Ah
RustyRatRod said:
Well yeah. You can actually be a REAL dork and BUY new front hangers and waste money, OR you can be smart and drill the holes in the front hangers to 5/8. That's what I did. Cain't be spendin no unnecessary money. LOL
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oh ok, i thought you were stuck with how it comes stock..So just drill them out and use the 5/8..easy enough! Thanks for this info man!
 
mopower440 said:
Ah

oh ok, i thought you were stuck with how it comes stock..So just drill them out and use the 5/8..easy enough! Thanks for this info man!
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Yeah. It's super easy. Just remove the front hangers and drill the holes to 5/8 and use 5/8 bolts. Or buy new front hangers. I prefer to save money. lol
 
I emailed General spring kc and asked about the 5 and 6 leaf they affer for the dart. Told them i beleieve i would want it to sit 1" over stock and they replied this:
The 5 leaf has a 7.75 inch arch and the 6 leaf has a 5.625 inch arch, so they should both sit about the same height once installed.
so not really a direct answer, still not sure
 
mopower440 said:
I emailed General spring kc and asked about the 5 and 6 leaf they affer for the dart. Told them i beleieve i would want it to sit 1" over stock and they replied this:
The 5 leaf has a 7.75 inch arch and the 6 leaf has a 5.625 inch arch, so they should both sit about the same height once installed.
so not really a direct answer, still not sure
Click to expand...
Did you start the thread like I suggested?
 
If you don’t mind spending the extra, a solution is to buy front hangers with adjustment holes, Mancini do a 2hole version which is stock and minus 1” and Uncle Brian’s Speed Shop does a 3 hole version which offers just shy of minus 2” lowering in total. I bought ESPO plus 1” springs for my Barracucuda and it sat way too high, but I just dropped them a hole on the hangers and it’s sits just where I wanted it, the bonus being as the springs flatten or if I want a taller tyre I can put them back in the stock hole.
 
I think the spring with the higher arch would stand up better. But then, who knows? If you can wait I'll get you some pictures of Vixen so you'll at least have one comparison. I'll post this in the meantime. It's not really too good as she's not on pavement. We didn't take her to town today. These rear springs are the XHD +2. Those are 245 60 14s in the rear.

IMG_20251118_153937112.jpg
 
well RRR, i aint gettin no love on the picture post so still dont know what to do here..I really want to get them ordered.Like i said, it sags so bad now that i dont know what height 'stock' is.. So stock height may be enough, or it may need a plus height..
 
mopower440 said:
well RRR, i aint gettin no love on the picture post so still dont know what to do here..I really want to get them ordered.Like i said, it sags so bad now that i dont know what height 'stock' is.. So stock height may be enough, or it may need a plus height..
Click to expand...
Maybe you can post a picture of what you have. That might help, too.
 
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