Leaf spring/Shackle issues 72 fury 3 Please help

[wyrmrider]

find some sw leafs getsomelate 70's torsion bars from a sw orcopcar get a cordoba rear sway only after the heavy front torsions wider wheels for radial tires handle like a sportscar

 

[fury fan]

Hard to believe those are seven leaf springs , im not seeing it.

Because he said those are the originals.

 

[Furious Fury]

Yeah, that would make a lot of sense, too bad. I dished out too much money on some Leaf springs without that extended arch. I’m trying to figure out a way to keep the arch with the Leaf strings I have.

Add a extra leaf, or perhaps the addition of air shocks, or shocks with over loader springs.

 

[polara71]

In my opinion adding a leaf will only add rigidity. It will not lift the back end of the car any higher.

 

[MONC440]

In my opinion adding a leaf will only add rigidity. It will not lift the back end of the car any higher.

I agree if you are talking about good springs. If you have saggy springs adding a leaf will help to get it back to proper ride height.

 

[fury fan]

In my estimation, the main leaf is the most important to determine ride height.

Leaf #2 does not reach close enough to the rear shackle eye (which is OK with good springs), so with weak springs the weight of the car simply bows that section of the main leaf upward - we can see that in this picture. That's a tell-tale of weak springs: the rear section should generally be flat or curved upward, but never bowed upward.

So if you're going to add a leaf - get one that will reach closer to the shackle, preferably almost underneath the eye, and make that your #2 leaf.
Add another clamp closer to the shackle, too.

With that said, you'll probably need to buy such leaves by length, either from a supplier or salvage from something with longer springs.
A 1/2-ton truck might be an option, although trucks might have a shorter spring because shorter=stiffer.
Imperial springs might be longer in the rear?

 

[MONC440]

In my estimation, the main leaf is the most important to determine ride height.

Leaf #2 does not reach close enough to the rear shackle eye (which is OK with good springs), so with weak springs the weight of the car simply bows that section of the main leaf upward - we can see that in this picture. That's a tell-tale of weak springs: the rear section should generally be flat or curved upward, but never bowed upward.

So if you're going to add a leaf - get one that will reach closer to the shackle, preferably almost underneath the eye, and make that your #2 leaf.
Add another clamp closer to the shackle, too.

With that said, you'll probably need to buy such leaves by length, either from a supplier or salvage from something with longer springs.

I totally agree. I usually use the main leaf from a downer set and cut off the eye on both ends. That way it is giving you almost an entire second main leaf.

 

[fury fan]

I presume you must cut thru them with an abrasive wheel/grinder disc?

 

[MONC440]

I presume you must cut thru them with an abrasive wheel/grinder disc?

Yes a cut off wheel. Do not use a torch because you will take the temper out of the spring.

 

[fury fan]

Yes, that's what I was thinking also.
It's funny how abrasive wheels can cut things that would kill a metal-cutting blade.

 

[Rustyrodknocker]

I’ve had one hell of a headache attempting to put in extended shackles in my 72 fury 3. Im 18 and getting absolutely humbled by my lack of knowledge. The goal was to give the car a slight rake to fulfill my hot rod desire, however after struggling to get them in, the leaf was totally de-arced and was lower than stock, and completely flattened. Talked to shop teachers and a few people that knew more than me and we decided I needed some upgraded/stiffer leaf springs. I dished out the money, and tossed them in and got almost completely similar results. Is there anything I can do to keep the arch in my springs and keep the slight rake? I’m tired of spending money and time to get the same results.

- attached is a photo of the old springs flattened. Any comments are much appreciated!

View attachment 738552

View attachment 738553

The picture looks like you got a fair amount of lift out of the shackle. Do to the nature of chrysler axles being located closer to the front spring eye than most others means the axle is swinging on a shorter radius. Some basic measurements would determine the ratio. But in basic estimate a +4" over stock shackle would add about 2" IF the axle was in the center of the springs length.. being that a chrysler has the axle at about 1/3 of the axles length from the pivot point at the front of the spring. The total lift is going to be about 1 1/3 inches higher than the existing elevation.