Wheel Well height with new springs? 72 Satellite

72Satellitescoop · May 22, 2017

My first post in the forum and I want to thank all the members for the wealth of info. It's so nice to have the internet for these questions to be answered by experienced mopar nuts.
My 72 satellite sags a little in the back and it may be the stock springs that are present. I replaced the old leaking air shocks with KYB's and got about an inch lift and some bounce removed. I am looking at springs from General Spring that are listed as 2.5 extra inches of lift. https://www.generalspringkc.com/Leaf_Springs_Dodge_Mopar_s/1927.htm
I have no idea what the stock height would be at the wheel well lip so I have no idea what to expect from the 2.5 inches of additional lift. Looking for a nice stance and room for a bigger tire. Currently have 255 P70 15 wheels/tires. Would like a taller and wider tire eventually after the springs. Everybody has air shocks I know and can't answer this. I do not want to go the air shock route. Any idea what height I could be at with 2.5 extra lift. Any pics of this would be appreciated for reference. Thanks in advance.

PurpleBeeper · May 22, 2017

That is a difficult question to answer exactly, but I will give it a "ballpark guess"
1. Stock height springs probably cover 2" of the tire in back (ballpark)
2. Air shocks are bad for handling & stress your shock plates & shock cross-member + do weird things to your alignment.
3. "Word on the street" is that the max tire size you can run in back, on un-modified cars, is about a 275/60R15, so you can't go much bigger than you already have.

Martin460 · May 22, 2017

My rear suspension is all stock. Here you will see 26-12,5-15 MT Sportsman pro tires. That is maximum size for my 72 RR.

72Satellitescoop · Jun 7, 2017

Thank you for all your replies. I guess a true answer would have to take into account the wheel size/tire and the actual raised level of the car after the new spring install. Just got my springs this week from General Spring. +2.5 inch. Looking to install shortly. Still wondering what the height will be from the ground to the wheel well after the new springs. Here is a few pics of where it sits right now. 25.75 from ground to wheel well. With tired springs. Sits a little too low for me. That is with a 225/70 R 15 tire. 27.36 tire diameter. 9.00 width.
Will be looking for a way bigger wheel/tire after the lift. My guess is with this current wheel /tire, that height after spring install will be 29.00. Any other educated guess's out there?

AMX364 · Jun 7, 2017

You can narrow the rear end, install mini-tubs, relocate the springs inward and correct the rear frame rails. That will enable some very wide rims and tires. 50 dollar question is 15 inch rims or a much different taller style rim. Are you going to install a maximum size rear discs? That will also decide what size rims are needed.

YY1 · Jun 8, 2017

Tubbing should not be necessary on these cars with very generous wheel wells.

I had 265 50 15 on my 73, with very similar wells and openings- the look was perfect to me.

Could have gone both taller and wider.

72Satellitescoop · Jun 8, 2017

No tubs for me on this project. Stock leaf spring mounting and I'm going to try and get the tallest and widest tire I can. Prefer to stay with a 15' wheel- width to be determined.
Once the new +2.5 leafs are on, I'll post some pics. Here's where she stands today.

philcollins · Jun 9, 2017

15 x 8 with P27560R15, Mopar 426/440 remplacement leaf springs. About an inch higher at the rear

mikebee · Jun 9, 2017

P 295 50 15 on the rear of my 71 with no modifications...stock springs and regular old gas shocks.
15 x 10 welds with 5.5 rear spacing.

Nice car btw.

philcollins · Jun 9, 2017

Chech height on mine. 26" in front, 28" rear.

installed Mopar leaf springs 4452983 and 4452982. Btw, original 1972 shock still on.

Espo spring also have good product.

YY1 · Jun 10, 2017

See what I mean?

You can get a LOT of tire in those generous wells.

72Satellitescoop · Jul 24, 2017

Finally got the new springs installed and oh boy is it jacked up. Passenger side wheel well height went from 24.75 to 30.90 inches. ( Driver side sits about .75 lower- about 30 inches). Way higher than I thought it would end up. No I need to find a new wheel and tire to fill this big opening. Don't even want to drive it with these skimpy 225/70/15's. Replaced the springs , shackles and all bushings. painted them up black before install and they look good. Also have new KYB shocks. From the center of the rear drums to the lip, I've got close to 17 inches, with the above tire size. Lots of room to go. Will be starting ANOTHER wheel/tire thread shortly. Thanks for all the past replies.

moparmarks · Jul 25, 2017

Room for some 35" mudders.
Looks like air shocks with 150lbs of air.

72Satellitescoop · Jul 25, 2017

It's definitely up there but the small wheels really make it look even crazier. And the angle on that rear end pic is from the from the ground looking up, so it's kind of exaggerated. If I had a bigger tire in there right now-maybe a 30' diameter, it wouldn't look so bad. My original post was asking people on the forum for a measurement of their cars ground to wheel well height but only 1 reply actually gave me a measurement. And I'm about 3' inches higher than what was given -28'. No Air shocks. All spring. And they may settle up to 1 inch when all is said and done.

Tori · Aug 8, 2017

This is a great thread. Helped me choose tires for mine, and now i'm going to measure my junk and see where mine is at. Mine is really quite the abomination. Shackles, overload springs, and traction bars. LOL

I'll post a pic and measurements in a bit....

Dibbons · Aug 8, 2017

Just for reference these are my findings on a '72 Satellite Sebring Plus 318 automatic (I'm in the same boat, using air shocks for now, but some day would like to change out the leaf springs):

This is with a 215/70-14 tire @ 25.9" diameter. The air shocks provided a two inch lift.

driver side no air: 24.75"
driver side 85#: 26.75"
passenger side no air: 25.00"
passenger side 90# air: 27.00"

front measurements
driver side: 26.00"
passenger side: 26.75"

Tori · Aug 9, 2017

Here's mine. Sitting on 14's (245-60-14) Rear is at 26" to the bottom of that rusty fender lip.
Pretty sure it's going to have to go up in the rear to clear the 295-50-15's i have for it.

Wheel Well height with new springs? 72 Satellite

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