rear suspension problem???

[strokerdart67]

Well here I go,I bought a 68 dart a while ago and it had a spring relocation set up on it,the question I have is the shocks he put a set of gas shocks on the back with by the looks a set of overload springs wrapped around the shocks with clamps at each end of the shocks to stuffin them,when I took the shocks of it dropped around 2 or 3 inchs,anyone have any ideas on something a little more modern and may look better than something you would see on the back of a truck like it looks now.....

[abodyjoe]

maybe a new set of leaf springs?  it still has leafs on it right?  you just took off the helper springs around the shocks right?

[PureGTS]

Yeah, it sounds like it is time for new springs. SS springs will be a problem installing in the OEM locations as they tend to be more arched than normal. Not to mention the additional 2" above normal ride height. One problem can be defeated by using B body SS springs thus allowing teh OEM mounting point to be used. However teh ride height problem is still there. It sounds like 2" isn't alot; until you see it. I recommend the XHD's as a good comprimise; useful and easily installable.
  Also bare in mind the upper shock mount is NOT intended as a "load" carrying point. Using it as such will damage the support and the sheet metal above it too. Lose the coil over shocks; your ride quality will improve a bunch too.

[Blue]

Never had a problem bolting a super stock spring straight into an A body. There is no such thing as a B body super stock spring, they all have the same A body front segment length, regardless of the weight rating. They bolt straight into other body styles by using the correct longer front hangers. I agree though, the car will sit about 2" higher than stock.

[PureGTS]

  I have a pair of the 003,002 springs that defy logic. There is so much arch that they can't be installed, but they measure out, center bolt to eye, both ends, exactly the same as the OEM springs that are on the car already with the exception that measured "eye to eye" the SS spring is shorter that the OEM. This to me means teh SS spring is arched too much.
  Also, my understanding was the new SS springs for the B's were of the 22" front segment, not the old standard 20" front segemnt, variety making the install possible without the fight the A's are known for. The last car we did had this same issue (73 Duster) and had the rear shackles tilted forwards and a butt raised "Sarsky and Hutch Torino" kind of rake to it. This equated to a two inch lift and road like a buck board. Horrible traction issues as well as the suspension wasn't working at all due to that heavy arching of the springs. Fortunately the owner moved the springs into the frame rails and this was all corrected then.

[coors00]

Never had a problem bolting a super stock spring straight into an A body. There is no such thing as a B body super stock spring, they all have the same A body front segment length, regardless of the weight rating. They bolt straight into other body styles by using the correct longer front hangers. I agree though, the car will sit about 2" higher than stock.

Front longer hangers worked on mine.

[Winter]

     I put the 3300# E-body SS's in the 68 A-body, the front is the smaller bushing and the rear is 1". The A-body uses a 7/8" rear, so I bushed the lower shackle bolt with copper tubing, it is close to perfect, but I would like a 1" poly bushing with the smaller hole for this. Does anyone know of a part # that will do this corectly.