So your leaf springs are starting to sag...

Moderator · February 10, 2008, 04:05:07 PM

You worked hard to get your car nice and level, and then after just five or ten thousand miles it's already settled an inch in the rear. Leaf springs stink, and the currently-available ones are of questionable quality. If you're on a tight budget, or just hate throwing good money after bad (especially if you're saving your pennies for coil-overs...) what are the options for regaining a little rear ride height?

I thought I'd post a couple pics here of my home-made extended spring shackles, and see if anyone has an alternative design or suggestion.

MGBV8 · February 10, 2008, 04:59:09 PM

Interesting, Curtis.

Funny, though, I made mine 3/4" shorter.

74ls1tr6 · February 13, 2008, 02:10:47 AM

Curtis,

I see you're making good use of your newly aquired mig welder....Nice looking parts to do the job at hand (adapting when needed is always a good thing). I call it Mig-n-grinding. :-)

Calvin

jblanchard@hcpg.net · February 13, 2008, 12:36:15 PM

Curtis,

Have you experience with AIRoverLeaf? I'm having problems maintaining rear height, also. Will this solution help with wheel hop or will traction bars be needed also?

www.ridetech.com/catalog/AIRoverLeaf-28-1.html

kstevusa · January 17, 2009, 03:06:16 PM

Curtis, the rear of my car is 1"- 1 1/2" too high for my tastes. Rather than use lowering blocks, you seem to indicate i can lengthen the rear spring hanger. Would this in effect, lengthen the spring arc and lower the rear? How much would you suggest to drop the R/E about 1"? I suppose the center support is just for rigidity since the hangers are longer . Any measurements or suggestions you could share would help.

Moderator · January 17, 2009, 03:25:50 PM

Sorry Kelly, but you're thinking backwards. Longer shackles would RAISE your rear even further. I only installed longer shackles because MY springs had flattened-out over the years. In theory, you could try shortening your shackles, but I don't think there's much to be gained there.

kstevusa · January 18, 2009, 04:42:33 PM

Thanks Curtis, I may just try Carl's procedure. 3/4" may be enough. I guess I can always reverse the main leaf and drop it a little.
SAFETY FASTER!

BlownMGB-V8 · January 19, 2009, 10:39:33 AM

Kelly, 3/4" at the shackle will get you something less than 3/8" at the axle. (the spring is longer to the rear than to the front of the axle) Some have found positioning the front spring eye higher is a good option and the original holes can be used for a traction device.

Jim

kstevusa · January 19, 2009, 11:00:01 AM

Thanks Jim. every little bit helps. Guess there is "More than 1 way to skin a Cat"
Maybe not PC, but W G A S !

MGBV8 · January 20, 2009, 05:28:20 PM

I did the lowering blocks first, then shortened the shackles 3/4" (can't do much more than that) for a smidge more (got right at 3/8").