Are new leaf springs available for 73-4's?

[drobertson]

For those who may concern, the 1973 and 1974 Dodge and Plymouth B bodies had slightly revised suspension systems to accomodate rubber bushings to make the ride smoother and quiet.

I see all the time leaf springs for sale (new) for 66-72 b bodys. However, 73 and up used a different sized bolt (i believe) to hold the leafs together.

71-2 Leaf springs will not fit a 73-4 Axle housing, and 73-4 Leafs will not fit a 71-2 Axle assemble. However, a 71-2 leaf and axle assembly can be swapped into a 73-4, and vice versa.

Why I'm asking,... not only do I have my own 73 Charger, but my Grandpa has a 73 se. He asked me if I replace the leafs in his Charger ( they sag really bad ) and I told him I could. His rear axle assembly is just fine, and I don't see a need to replace it to accomodate new 66-72 springs.

So do I need to have the original leafs re-arched, or does anybody make new ones, that will fit the 73 and up axles.

Thanks, - David.

 

[Bb70charger500]

I'm petty sure there the same it's just a different bush . In the leafs. Nacho probably knows when he sees he will let you know for sure

 

[polywideblock]

why not drop a line to pst in their section below http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/forums/performance-suspension-technology.40/

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Springs itself are the same ( except those with elongated front eye spring ), the only difference is the center guide stud, being thicker ( 5/16 against 3/8 ) and with the added bushing to accomodate the isolator pad.

My 74 Front eye bushing got a thicker bushing too on same outer diameter and smaller diameter crossbolt too the hanger ( once again, those that didn't get the elongated ones ). I think thats a difference between 71/73 and 74, not really 71/72 vs 73/74, based on what I have experienced locally. But that's a diff between bushing, bolt and hanger, not really spring, being that as I stated, the bushing outer diameter is the same.

I never was able to get a 73/74 springs to my 74 so had to buy a 71/72 and enlarge the hole for my guide stud assembly.

 

[drobertson]

why not drop a line to pst in their section below http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/forums/performance-suspension-technology.40/

I might do that. Thanks.

 

[Bruzilla]

Not all 73 cars got the isolated springs. They were a mid-year item. Also, a lot of isolated setups have been replaced with non-isolated over the years, so you have to visually verify what you have.

Springs are easy to differentiate. The isolated ones have an oval-shaped eyelet at the front end. Non-isolated ones are round. The oval on the isolated springs makes for a -.75" difference in front-section length for the isolated springs, and they require hangers that are .75" longer than the early 73 and older ones. So if you replace isolated springs with non-isolated, you need to find some new hangers as well.

Lastly, the isolated mounts have a large hole, about 1.5", to accommodate a rubber isolator and the center bolt for the springs. If you remove the isolators, the springs will be able to slide around in that hole. YY1 suggested to me a while back that I could weld a washer into the hole with a center big enough to fit the spring bolt into, but I just opted to keep the rubber on mine.

 

[drobertson]

Not all 73 cars got the isolated springs. They were a mid-year item. Also, a lot of isolated setups have been replaced with non-isolated over the years, so you have to visually verify what you have.

Springs are easy to differentiate. The isolated ones have an oval-shaped eyelet at the front end. Non-isolated ones are round. The oval on the isolated springs makes for a -.75" difference in front-section length for the isolated springs, and they require hangers that are .75" longer than the early 73 and older ones. So if you replace isolated springs with non-isolated, you need to find some new hangers as well.

Lastly, the isolated mounts have a large hole, about 1.5", to accommodate a rubber isolator and the center bolt for the springs. If you remove the isolators, the springs will be able to slide around in that hole. YY1 suggested to me a while back that I could weld a washer into the hole with a center big enough to fit the spring bolt into, but I just opted to keep the rubber on mine.

Both cars have the original rubber isolation setup. Ok, so if I get new springs, I just need to get the correct front hanger bracket. Right? Thanks. Now, are the center bolts holding the leafs together the same size? I do plan on keeping the rubber isolated setup on my grandpa's car. (The SE.) Thanks.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Ok... let'ts talk about what isolation are we talking about.

isolation pad and axle clamp assembly... all B bodies since 73 got it

what could be different? the front spring eye, being round or elongated. Thats were several cars got one and several other got the other one. the elongated ones are of course extra isolated assembly

My 74 and several I have seen on the web ( so we can't say is just a Venezuelan Asemblied Mopars ) got round front spring eye, same as the 71/72s, AND the isolation assembly, BUT the only difference I found on MY car and even diff with a 73 a friend of mine had is JUST the front bushing thickness, but the difference is on the bolt hole thickness, not on the bushing outer diameter, meaning with this my 74, my buddy former 73 and the 71/72 springs set I got new got the SAME size front eye diameter.

of course this makes also a different front hanger JUST because the hole for the spring bolt, and of course the front spring bolt itself

Now, I could use perfectly a 71/73 front hanger, using the matching bushing and bolt. BUT since I was able to find a new correct bushing set to match the existant front hanger and bolt on my 74, didn't have to worry about

Now, those with elongated front eye assembly... well I guess the hanger also changes, but I can't tell whats the bolt diameter ( so then the inner bushing diameter ) or hanger hole for it.

if your car got ROUND ( not oval/elongated ) front eye spring, you won't have to worry about anything using the 71/72 but just clamp togeteher the leafs, enlarge the hole to accept the 3/8" stud, remove the stud assembly from the old ones ( or use new studs ), and install also the bushing used on the old guide studs. They are somekind of hat shaped bushing, just like the oil pump driveshaft bushing on block. Those bushing fit into the isolation pads. The pads have the recesed shape for them.

Now, THATS WHAT I HAD TO DO!!. I can't tell if you'll have to enlarge the leafs holes from 5/16" to 3/8" because the springs I got were MADE IN VENEZUELA, although usually the parts made locally are made under same stock specs. Is a fact you will need to reinstall the bushings from the old to the new replacement springs setup. If the new setup got already 3/8" guides studs and hole, you are done on that but still will need to get longer studs to be able to install the bushings. Anything you'll find, will be easy to make at home.

of course also need to be sure the front eye springs get the correct bushing for the bolt/hanger setup on your assembly.

That is, once again, if your springs setup got round eye front ends

 

[Nacho-RT74]

here you can see what I'm talking about. The busing installed on guide stud what will need to be removed from your existant old springs setup and be installed on the 71/72 springs.

Now MY EXPERIENCE was the 71/72 springs I found got 5/16" studs and my 74 got 3/8", so simply clamped the leafs and drilled the new diameter and installed new guides and the old bushings

 

[Nacho-RT74]

this is my front spring hanger setup... INITIALLY I installed the large diamter inner bushing because I didn't know this difference, BUT after install them NOTICED lot of play between bolt and bushing. Then I got new bushing ( the one on the left ) to replace the ones I replaced wrong on my car. Need to note that the pic is not really helpfull ( old Nokia 6275 cellphone ) but is a fact the one installed on spring is larger inner diameter and the one on the left is smalles inner diameter but BOTH are same outer diameter ( I ended instaling the one on the left

couple of years later working on my buddy's former 73 we found HIS 73 got the LARGE inner diameter... so MAYBE the 74s got smaller diameter inner hole to accomodate a thicker isolation into a STILL same round front eye spring and 71/73s got the bigger inner diameter? dunno, but it seems to be probably true. The truth is anyway, both isolations systems on his 73 and my 74 still got round front eye spring system.

 

[Bruzilla]

Both cars have the original rubber isolation setup. Ok, so if I get new springs, I just need to get the correct front hanger bracket. Right? Thanks. Now, are the center bolts holding the leafs together the same size? I do plan on keeping the rubber isolated setup on my grandpa's car. (The SE.) Thanks.

The problem is the spring pads and other mounts on non-isolated systems use about a 1/2" hole, which is the size of the pin on spring sets. The isolated mounts use a hole that's about 2", which accommodates the isolator and the pin in the center. If you do away with the isolator, you're gonna need to fill in those holes so they have a 1/2" or so opening. As I mentioned, YY1's suggestion was to find a washer that will fill in the hole and has a center hole that will fit the spring pin.

As for the hangers, you can find an original set, or you can buy a set of Mopar Performance hangers and drill new holes where you need them, which is what I did. By the time I found a set of original 73 and older hangers and paid what they cost, it was cheaper and faster to get the MP ones and drill new holes.

 

[Bruzilla]

The pics you posted are of an early-73 and back, non-isolated, bushing. Here's what the bushings for the isolated set ups look like.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Bruzilla my friend I'm telling you my car got the full isolation assembly but still round front bushing, not the oval. The pics I posted are of MY 74. And the 73 a friend of mine had, it was also round bushing. we have discussed this in the past here... can't recall who asked about the same and talked about the same. It seems SOME got the oval, and some other not. Is not a local deal but also in USA

 

[Nacho-RT74]

if he wants to keep the isolation, and the front spring eye on their springs is round, is just about change the guide stud bushings from the old to the new 71/72 replacements. Thats all.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

LOL, made a search and you have posted on everyone and we have talked about the same everytime LOL, but here is an example about a 74 owner with round front bushing, not oval.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/rear-leaf-springs.117557/#post-910509261

check powemyster testimony on 11th post, that you quoted later. He posted pics of his springs assembly with leaf added and the studs got the bushings for the isolation pads

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Note:

I'm not saying is a fact ALL ( or no one ) 74s got one or the other bushing, just posting that by what I have experienced IT SEEMS 73 and 74 could get also round, and not just oval, so would need to be checked

 

[Bruzilla]

Once again guys... our cars are pushing on 50 years old. Most of them are not driving around on their original springs... or much of anything else. Owners have been grabbing parts from Lord knows what to keep these cars running over the decades, which is why you can never assume your car has a specific type of equipment based on the year. You have to get under it and look.

The late 73-74 isolated spring suspension had oval eyes on the front of the springs. That's not to say that 20 years ago, someone didn't replace the original springs with a set of early 73+ springs and adapted the isolators to them. I have a 74 Roadrunner with Super Stock springs and both the hangers and the isolators had to be modified. Hopefully, if the car is still on the road 50 years from now, someone won't be saying "Wow, Plymouth did this 100 years ago?"

 

[mopar73dge]

I got mine from Springs and Things, exact spring from original blue prints, matching sets I am very pleased wit the product. Ploy isolation clamps are available in make sure you get the type that a have ripples on the side to fit exactly like the factory rubber did. I chose to keep my factory rubber clamps, they were like new! and that rubber is a high durometer it was well engineered, I also wanted order with rubber bushings in the front spring too. Hanger bolts are available and front brackets as you know. Great prices quality parts warranted, all good, The exact fit, same arch or 1inch higher if needed, I put the coli over shocks in the rear like the 72 ralley had from the factory instead of asking for a 1inch raised spring pack set

 

[Nacho-RT74]

my car still had the factory springs ;)

 

[polywideblock]

still wondering what this has to do with "WHERE CAN I GET SPRINGS FOR MY CAR "