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Ss spring problem

kjalltrac

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Had my 3400lbs ss springs for about 3-4 years.
The car has developed a lean to the right that's getting worse.
I have tried to correct it by putting more tension on the front right torsion bar.
The car leans about 1.6 ", and the scales show almost 220lbs more weight on the right front tire than the left front tire.
I cant see any obvious problems with the suspension, other that the right main leaf is 0.04" thinner than the left spring.
Can someone confirm if the main leafs should be of equal thickness.
 
If I recall all the SS leaf springs I played with had equal thickness leaves. The right side had one extra leaf was all I can remember about them as far as differences between the right and left go.
Sounds like you have yourself some "sacked" springs brother, torsion bars could be in the same boat. But a with over 1 1/2 of sag you may want to look over all the suspension bushings as well as check the frame rails for cancer. Hope it's the cheaper problem....springs aren't too overly expensive compared to frame rail replacement.
 
If I recall all the SS leaf springs I played with had equal thickness leaves. The right side had one extra leaf was all I can remember about them as far as differences between the right and left go.
Sounds like you have yourself some "sacked" springs brother, torsion bars could be in the same boat. But a with over 1 1/2 of sag you may want to look over all the suspension bushings as well as check the frame rails for cancer. Hope it's the cheaper problem....springs aren't too overly expensive compared to frame rail replacement.
Well, the frame is in excellent condition so are the bushings(3-4 years old).
My brother has the 2800lbs ss springs on his valiant, and the are mint, even though the are 15 years old. His main leafs are the same thickness.
Im starting to believe that my right spring where bad right from the factory.
 
I have had the 3400lb ss springs on my car for at least ten years, the hecho in Mexico version that nobody thinks much of. I didn't even know mine leaned, till I tried to prove it didnt. I have five normal leaves on the right,with two half leaves, and six normal leaves on the left. My car is exactly an inch higher on the right. If you are sagging over an inch and a half on the right side, your right spring is garbage, time for a new one.
Maybe there is a quality decrease from the old Mexican springs and the newer ones.
Mine have the chrysler "p" part #. It may be time to check other spring suppliers for a better quality equivalent .
 
mine does the same thing,,,level it out with your torsion bars..
 
Have heard from several folks that the newer SS springs deteriorate quickly. What I've heard is that when Mopar switched from SS springs made in Canada to the Mexican version is when the durability dropped off. Don't know when that occurred. My current set are 3200# from the mid '90's. Don't know how well they'll hold up. But they are not correct for my application, I should have the 3800# set. Will probably get a set made to my specs with US leafs since I can't trust the current Mopar quality.
 
Well, I have a hydraulic press, so I will try re arc the main leaf before I spend my money on a new spring.
 
Sure worth a try. The main leaf and the next two leafs are most important for adding arch/ride height. I expect it may take more than one try to improve the arch to what you would like.
 
I have the 3400 lb SS springs on my 63 that I bought from Mancini about 12 years ago. And they are still holding up great and have not sagged at all. Good luck with your car. Ron
 
Had my 3400lbs ss springs for about 3-4 years.
The car has developed a lean to the right that's getting worse.
I have tried to correct it by putting more tension on the front right torsion bar.
The car leans about 1.6 ", and the scales show almost 220lbs more weight on the right front tire than the left front tire.
I cant see any obvious problems with the suspension,
The lean, is more on the front or rear of the car?
Is the fender height dropping down?
By adjusting the fort on bar, raising the front end to correct the rear end should have made the problem worse at the rear.
 
The lean, is more on the front or rear of the car?
Is the fender height dropping down?
By adjusting the fort on bar, raising the front end to correct the rear end should have made the problem worse at the rear.
The rear passenger side is leaning down.
Will rearc the spring.
 
Had my 3400lbs ss springs for about 3-4 years.
The car has developed a lean to the right that's getting worse.
I have tried to correct it by putting more tension on the front right torsion bar.
The car leans about 1.6 ", and the scales show almost 220lbs more weight on the right front tire than the left front tire.
I cant see any obvious problems with the suspension, other that the right main leaf is 0.04" thinner than the left spring.
Can someone confirm if the main leafs should be of equal thickness.
Maybe you have a cracked leaf? I didn't know this one in the picture was cracked in two, until I removed it from the car.
20200713_201401.jpg
 
This is my bad 3400lbs ss spring.
Does anyone have a spring they can measure for reference?

IMG_20201030_132024.jpg IMG_20201030_132039.jpg IMG_20201030_132039.jpg IMG_20201030_131859.jpg
 
I cant give you a measurement because i am away from my car, but i can tell you that my 3400 ss springs, 456/457 have five leaves plus two half leaves on the passenger side, and six full on the driver side. Made in mexico version, but they have been on the car for fifteen years. And i use the same wedge as
you, but maybe one degree more.
Six full plus two halves should have no problem holding your car up!
Edit: my passenger side is higher than the driver side by about an inch. I didnt know it till i measured, trying to prove that ss springs DON'T make it sit crooked. Oops!
 
Last edited:
Before and after.
60mm more hight.
Was leaning 40mm with almost max preload on front right torsion bar.
Will keep you updated when I've got the spring installed.

IMG_20201103_122822.jpg IMG_20201103_124842.jpg IMG_20201103_102920.jpg
 
That's much better than before, will lower the right torsion bar to level it out. Hopefully the leaf spring will hold its arc a couple of years.

IMG_20201203_113610.jpg
 
Just a thought, For years back in the 70's I did plenty of Mopar Stock and Super Stock race car wheel alignments for drag racing.
I preferred having the Driver with gear in the driver seat.The average weight say,200lbs.
Scaling the weight on the front tires may even things out as you experienced.Right front as seen from the driver seat.
Also we would raise the front on bottle jacks like it was under full throttle running down the tracks.
This helped with camber and toe changes from static to moving under full power.
Not saying this is right or wrong. Everybody does things different. Just the way we liked to set them up.
I don't race anymore.But set my cars up this way when I did.
Again just a thought.Thanks for making my old brain feel young again.
 
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