69GT
Well-Known Member
I am in the process of installing an offset spring kit on my 70 340 Dart but I'm pretty sure my leaf springs are not the originals. I am having problems mounting the offset shackles and front mounts to the springs. The rear shackles that were on the springs are real thick and have large bushings that are harder than rubber and have a metal sleeve through them. The bushings for the offset shackles are smaller in diameter and are rubber with no metal sleeve. I can't use the bushings that were on the shackles that were on the springs as the fixed bolt on the offset hanger isn't long enough to go all the way through them to attach the nut. On the other hand, I can't use the rubber bushings that came with the offset shackles as they are too small in diameter and will actually slide all of the way in the hole on the end of the springs. So as far as the rear shackles are concerned I am still trying to figure out what to do. As far as the front hangers go, there is a problem there as well. The heads on the bushings (again, harder than standard rubber bushings) at the front of the spring are so large in diameter that I can't fit the end of the spring into the offset front spring hanger properly to slide the bolt in. It looks like I will have to cut off some of the head off the bushing to get it to slide in far enough to mount. The driver side spring has 6 full leafs.The passenger side has 6 full leafs plus 2 small partial leafs on the bottom that are squared off on both ends. I'm pretty sure they are not stock because as I mentioned, the holes on the ends that the bushings and bolts go through are larger in diameter than the stock A-body bushings that came with the offset kit. My questions are, has anyone else encountered a problem like this, do you think my springs may be SS springs or some other aftermarket type spring and is there a way to identify if they are SS springs as I don't see any numbers on them?
