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Hotchkis v Calvert leaf springs

70chall440

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I am researching leaf springs for my 71 Charger. This car will be low and level, large brakes, 4 or 5 speed trans and a 5.7. I want the car to handle and will be using adjustable shocks in addition to some upgraded front suspension components to include some large T bars. Additionally the car will have SFC and front end bracing.

I've looked at the Hotchkis stuff and while I like much of it, seems a bit expensive for what you are getting (they just went up ~$200). Also, Hotchkis lists 2 part numbers (24366 and 24368) with the 24366 being for 68-70 B body and 24368 being for 71-72 B bodies (I thought the springs were the same for 68-72).

I have looked at all the springs I can find, the Mopar stuff seems more drag race orientated but then I found the Calvert springs which seem much like the Hotchkis springs (their mono split springs).

Looking for any experience or advice on springs for handling. Thanks in advance.
 
I bought the CalTrac setup for my 65 after talking to them about handling. I was told a Mustang race team was using them for some type of road course racing. I did add a panhard bar for stability and a antisway bar too.
Mike
 
I bought a set of hotchkiss geometry correcting leaf springs. They were pricey, even when i bought them, a few years ago. At the time, they were more than Mopar super stock springs. They lower the stance 1" from original height. When they arrived and i opened the box, i was disappointed to find a cheap *** paint job, complete with runs, as well as bare spots, where areas had rubbed against the box during shipping & handling. I called them to complain, and learned a little more. According to the man i spoke with, hotchkiss don't even make their overpriced gems. They SUB IT OUT, to a shop down the street ! They also didn't have the brand on them as pictured, which i presumed was painted on. It's actually white vinyl stickers, which were missing.
 
I bought a set of hotchkiss geometry correcting leaf springs. They were pricey, even when i bought them, a few years ago. At the time, they were more than Mopar super stock springs. They lower the stance 1" from original height. When they arrived and i opened the box, i was disappointed to find a cheap *** paint job, complete with runs, as well as bare spots, where areas had rubbed against the box during shipping & handling. I called them to complain, and learned a little more. According to the man i spoke with, hotchkiss don't even make their overpriced gems. They SUB IT OUT, to a shop down the street ! They also didn't have the brand on them as pictured, which i presumed was painted on. It's actually white vinyl stickers, which were missing.

I am just having a hard time believing that the Hotchkis springs are that much better than their competitors. I will say that they have done a better job at marketing their products to the handling crowd. Several of the other guys say "better handling" or "better performance" but do not really elaborate what this means whereas Hotchkis go to great lengths to pimp their "system".

To this end I "think" that the deal here is their entire TVS system. If you replace your stock stuff with this then I imagine it will handle significantly better, however I do not know (or believe) that their springs in of themselves are the holy grail. What I am thinking is to use some performance springs, good shocks and a big sway bar and achieve the same thing, the problem is which springs?
 
I have looked at them as well.

You mentioned you looked at them. Are you considering them? Or have you heard anything bad about them? I remember seeing them mentioned in a couple threads before but, I could not find a lot feedback on them. Their prices are significantly less than the Hotchkis from what I remember even prior to the $200 increase you noted above.
 
Take your original springs to a spring shop and have them add a neat full length spring between the main spring and the other leafs to increase the spring rate and stiffen the front part of the spring. Then add a rear sway bar.
 
Word is Hotchkis will settle over time lower than the advertised height
 
You mentioned you looked at them. Are you considering them? Or have you heard anything bad about them? I remember seeing them mentioned in a couple threads before but, I could not find a lot feedback on them. Their prices are significantly less than the Hotchkis from what I remember even prior to the $200 increase you noted above.
The company was easy to work with, and Lauren kept me updated on the back order issues. She helped me with what I would and wouldn’t need. Got them, and they look fantastic! The paint is powder coated and perfect! Those ones in the back are my old ones.

5B59A8B1-9D47-4DF0-9561-5E52D08D94F8.jpeg
 
My Duster run the Calvert Springs without the bars
and it works great. Runs mid lls @ 4000 ft and drives
great on the street!
 
My Duster run the Calvert Springs without the bars
and it works great. Runs mid lls @ 4000 ft and drives
great on the street!

Dont want to highjack the thread for sure.... but is there a concensus that for drag racing, the Calvert setup, bars and spring is the hot set-up, or no??? Seems many now consider the superstock springs and pinion snubber old school tech?
 
Thanks all.

Drag set ups are fairly well known to include being documented in various publications like the Direct Connection racing manual. What seems to be a bit more hard to come by is information on suspension for handling. I suppose I could look hard at the TA/AAR effort and try and replicate some of that.

As to "springsnthings" they are in the running as their prices are good. I guess what I am trying to figure out is what "magic" is Hotchkis applying in their springs? I am probably way over thinking this and I could probably use my stock springs or just get something from one of the companies we are talking about here. I guess my point is this, if the Hotchkis springs are truly better then I'd like to know that before making a decision.
 
This thread could be interesting :popcorn2: :popcorn2::steering::thumbsup:
My Charger handles really well over a variety of driving conditions and still has the same old springs on her. I have adjusted the torsion bars and have been a long time fan of KYB gas shocks on the front and 13 year old air shocks on the back.

I have been thinking about upgrading some suspension once I finish the current efi tank and other things that are on order now. :luvplace:
 
The stock springs are not bad but those KYBs leave ALOT to be desired. I had them in my 70 Challenger RT and they rode horribly, switched to Bilsteins and MAN what a difference.
 
Greg Luneauk at Tri City Perf. in
Vista California has custom built
springs to my specs. the are call
"Super Launchers" and they work
well without the noise of traction bars.
They are on quite a few of our cars.
 
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