raising the rear

[notenuffcash]

Has anyone put the rear end under the leaf springs (move the perches)? Right now my dart has the rear on top of the leafs. I want to raise the rear some. By doing this, the rear would be raised by 4". Right now the wheel well is even with the top of the wheel (rim). It looks like a lowrider right now. Not a look I like for a dart. I know I can buy new leafs, but I am wondering about the above modification. Will it pose any problems, and what might they be?

[moparteacher]

It will raise the car way too much. It'll look like a 4x4. The sloping angle of the car will also cause severe oversteer and will deminish the steering wheel return do to the change towards negative caster in the front suspension.

Put some air shocks on it if you can't afford springs. Just don't take it up too far; it'll look stupid. Been there, done that in the teenage years.

[mischiefdart]

That sounds real scary to me. I would rather have shackles and they're not worth a crap either. Buy some air shocks and be happy.

[larry408]

Would bolt on helper springs work to raise the rear end of the car?

[Capt Jack]

yes and probably work better than changing the entire rear geometry

[b569rr]

XHD A body rear leafs are only $175 at Mancini and will give you the rake you want. Probably give you a couple inches in height over stock. I think the axle under the springs might even be a little too much rake for Joe Dirt. 

Tom

[abqdart]

 ........no way man, that stuff will buff out.

[farmington]

Check at a spring shop.  They might be able to rearch your springs.  Won't cost anything to ask.

don

[thebankerstoy]

Maybe these two pictures of my son's 72 Dart Swinger will show you what a new set of leaf springs and good shocks can do for your Dart's ride height.

Picture #1 is of the car in 2002 right after we bought it and it still had the original 30 year old stock leaf springs and well used shocks on it.

Picture #2 shows the car in 2006 after  a complete restoration, which included new Mopar Performance Super Stock leaf springs and  quality KYB gas filled shocks and a sway bar on the rear suspension.

I hope this helps you out, as raising the rear axle will do nothing but cause you problems with your suspension, braking, steering and tire wear.

Richard

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[DartKnight]

4" is way too much. My springs are pretty much done, also; I just picked up some helper coil springs (the ones that go between the axle tube and frame rail)at the parts store and threw those in for the time being. They work fairly well and the rear was raised probably a good 1"1/2 or so...

[oldkimmer]

Get some used leafs from another donor car, cut the mounting ends off the main leaf and slide it under your main leaf, making sure it is a little shorter than your main+ a little longer than your old #2 leaf. This should bring it up to stock ride height. If not use 1 of the other leafs from the donors. U will need a longer center bolt + longer u bolts.

[notenuffcash]

Thanks for all the info, everyon. Yea, I wondered if it would be too much. Nice dart,   Bankerstoy!

[thebankerstoy]

Thank yoy notenuffcash,

I really think that if you invest in a quality set of leaf springs and shocks, it will put your Dart at the proper ride height and make a world of difference in ride quality, and looks.  We have rebuilt both the front and rear suspemsions on my sons Dart, which included big block torsion bars, poly bushings front and rear, and front and rear sway bars, so if you look at the "before" and "after" pictures above, you can see how much of a difference there is between the old worn out leaf springs and the new Super Stock springs. This car is a VERY fun car to cruise in and drive around town in, as with the heavy duty suspension, it handles, steers and corners very well.  Good luck on your car and please post some pictures and let us know how your doing ok?

Richard

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[installp]

Bought the JC Whitney heavy duty leaf springs.  Everything being said in this forum about them is true.   Great springs and the ride is good.  I have a 72 scamp and it sits a bit too high  I was hoping that it would settle after a few days, but not so.   Everyone says it sits too high, but it's about where bankerstoy sits.   Very pleased, but want about 1 inch lower.   I am ordering another set of the 4 leaf springs and looking to sell the 5 leaf heavy duty ones on the car now.  A whooping 4 days on the car....brand new.   Let me know if anyone is interested. javascript:void(0);
thank you

[b569rr]

Bought the JC Whitney heavy duty leaf springs.  Everything being said in this forum about them is true.   Great springs and the ride is good.  I have a 72 scamp and it sits a bit too high  I was hoping that it would settle after a few days, but not so.   Everyone says it sits too high, but it's about where bankerstoy sits.   Very pleased, but want about 1 inch lower.   I am ordering another set of the 4 leaf springs and looking to sell the 5 leaf heavy duty ones on the car now.  A whooping 4 days on the car....brand new.   Let me know if anyone is interested. javascript:void(0);
thank you

Give it a few hundred miles; they should drop a little.

Tom

[installp]

Thanks....I hope they do settle some, really like the ride and handling.

[MVRCorp]

Old school.............screw it.................air shocks!

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[notenuffcash]

 I am having trouble finding the heavy duty leafs on jc whitney. Installp, what was the part # for the heavy duty leafs? Are you going to keep yours?   I have a 72 dart, on the jcwhitney website they dont show a heavy duty for mine.

[installp]

Try this link.....not sure what I am doing with mine.  I will give them a few months to settle and drop a little....really like the stiff ride.


http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductBrowse/showCustom-0/makeName-Dodge/makeId-23/modelName-Dart/modelId-413/year-/refId-20004606/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2005965/c-10114/p-2005965/N-111+600011307+200730850/tf-Browse/s-10101

[400dartguy]

Easy and cheap fix- jack up car by the body until you have the car quite a bit higher than you want it to sit.  Then install a couple spring clamps on the front of the leaves- stiffer front section helps launch and raises rear end- worked on mine!!