Half a main leaf ????

[6pktgo]

I may have started a thread in the wrong colomn, so that`s why i started one here. Anybody think this 1/2 a main leaf is odd? Never seen that before? And only 3 1/2 to boot! :eusa_eh:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970...2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&forcev4exp=true

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Can't say that I have seen that. Strange

 

[roadrunnerman]

I have something similar to that. Pulled them from a 70 coronet r/t. Thought it was broke but could not find any evidence that proved otherwise.

 

[6pktgo]

Correct me if i`m wrong here but if your main leaf is broke ,won`t the car collapse???? I was always under the impression that the main was solid, from front to back & has eyelets on either end for the bushings, so in this case, we`re dealing with a 1/2 spring toward the front, with an eyelet & bushing & then 1/2 spring toward the back, with an eyelet & a bushing. I always thought the 1/2`s were on the bottom for extra support, Like these pictured. I guess you learn something new every day!!

 

[99ss]

Thats the way they are... has to do with the progression rate of the spring would be my guess...

 

[RustyRatRod]

It's called a split leaf spring. For obvious reasons. The reason for it is to allow different rate for the front and rear segments. I'm not 100% sure Mopar ever used that system from the factory. I think it was added.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

It's called a split leaf spring. For obvious reasons. The reason for it is to allow different rate for the front and rear segments. I'm not 100% sure Mopar ever used that system from the factory. I think it was added.

The factory did use 2 extra half leaves on the right side. But they were on the bottom of the stack. They figured out early on that without them, your hemi road runner would change lanes abruptly when romping on it teeheehee.

 

[99ss]

^^ LOL.. that threw me off when I was measuring my ride height. Couldnt figure out why one side was sitting higher in the back.

 

[6pktgo]

Even with the extra spring, the ride height should be very close to the same on both sides. A friend of mine owns Durham Spring & re-arched mine, starting with the main & went 1/2 inch better then factory ,to allow for settling. Then re-arched the others, one at a time in order, to match the mains & when he was done , i reassembled them ,then he did a load test to make sure they were very close ,with the drivers side being just a hair harder to allow for a driver to be sitting in the car and have it dead level from the back. I know it sounds a little too "into it" but i can`t stand it, when a car that sits a 1/2 inch or more "cockeyed" from behind, because of weak springs. And don`t get me started on shackle extentions!!! A buddy back in high school, (1977) had a 69 Coronet with punched springs so he installed a pair of 6 inch shackles, to pick up the back end. Well now when you cornered ,it felt like the corner lasted for 2 blocks!!!