Leaf spring info needed

[Lowhound]

Im in the process of restoring a 70 Superbee.My question prob refers to all 68-70 B bodies.I want to add better handling,but I dont know a whole lot about leaf springs.Any ideas or past experiances will be appreciated.I just want to make a choice Im happy with. Iv added bigger tosion bars,front & rear sway bars,lower control arm stiffining plates, better shocks,& poly bushings throughout.

 

[kllrbee]

I just got the XHD MP springs. Havent installed yet, so dont know how i like them. Reviews are mixed. From what Ive seen, the E body guys hate em cuz they dont give much rake, but the B body guys are fine with them. I like the stock stance.
Most guys will advise against the SS springs for street. Too rough and car will sit lopsided.
Alot of guys recommend Espo and Eaton, but I swear I read somewhere they are just the same as the MP's. They are all stamped with a big ole "Made in Mexico" which kinda sux.
Thats about all I know about them. Sorry cant help more. Someone else should chime in who has actually used them. Good luck.

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

On the leafs, it depends on what you're after. I have also heard that most recommend against the SS springs for street use.

I've heard good things about the XHD springs as mentioned from several people on here.

I have a '68 satellite that originally had a 318 and the original leafs were tired and sagging, so I swapped them out for a set from Hotchkis. The website says it lowers the car approx. 1-inch in the rear. Since my original leafs were already sagging, my car sat about the same height in the back after I installed the Hotchkis leafs instead of another 1-inch lower. I've put about 500 miles on the car since then and I have no complaints. Go to their website and check out the leaf design and spring rate, I think you'll like it. The leafs are evenly stacked height left and right and come with nice front hangers. I haven't tried racing with them yet or driving the car hard, but I think they'll hold up fine.

 

[Cranky]

I'm not a member of the corner burners club but have done some autocross and found that you can use springs that are not so stiff but use larger sway bars to make it handle pretty dang good and yet ride half way decent just going down the street. Riding down the road in a car that rides like a 1 ton truck can get tiresome over a long distance on a choppy road. Decent springs, big sway bars, wide wheels and shorter sidewall tires (but not rubber bands! ), and good shocks can make a real good combo that won't shake your teeth out or rattle the car to pieces.

 

[shag766]

well bud; we can tell you whatever you want to hear, but, ride and handeling is personal choice.

 

[pgkeating]

Not to hijack.....

But I just got done putting $2K worth of suspension into my '68 Super Bee. New steering box, pitman, inner/outer tie rods, ball joints, upper A frames & poly bushings throughout.

My rears are a little saggy, so I replaced the existing air shocks with new ones. (since I was in so deep....it was a hasty decision) I'm kinda wishing I changed out the springs (for new) instead. There's also new bushings, new U bolts installed and Hotchkis sway bar in the rear.

What I'm wondering is (for weight transfer purposes), if you were to go with SS springs, could the Cal Tracs (just bars, not mono leaf) help with the stance and weight transfer during launch? Replace the air shocks with KYB gas etc.

Article in MM mag:

http://moparmuscle.automotive.com/1...-pack-caltracs-monoleaf-suspension/index.html

They seemed to help with the "lurch" at launch, as well as stance.

I also have a '68 GTS with SS and KYBs and like that feel/ride.

All opinions welcome.....

Pete

 

[67 B-body]

But I just got done putting $2K worth of suspension into my '68 Super Bee. New steering box, pitman, inner/outer tie rods, ball joints, upper A frames & poly bushings throughout.

My rears are a little saggy, so I replaced the existing air shocks with new ones. (since I was in so deep....it was a hasty decision) I'm kinda wishing I changed out the springs (for new) instead. There's also new bushings, new U bolts installed and Hotchkis sway bar in the rear.

What I'm wondering is (for weight transfer purposes), if you were to go with SS springs, could the Cal Tracs (just bars, not mono leaf) help with the stance and weight transfer during launch? Replace the air shocks with KYB gas etc.

Article in MM mag:

http://moparmuscle.automotive.com/1...-pack-caltracs-monoleaf-suspension/index.html

They seemed to help with the "lurch" at launch, as well as stance.

I also have a '68 GTS with SS and KYBs and like that feel/ride.

All opinions welcome.....

Pete

Im doing this very thing... I have SS springs, will be installing my own CaTrac design soon, so I'll post more on how well that works.
BTW: I don't think the car rides like a truck with SS springs, however it does give the slightly higher on one side look from the rear. I dont mind about the look though!