Leaf spring help

[SuperB70]

I just installed a set mopar XHD leaf springs on my 70 super bee. I bought new hangers and rear shackles I have a problem with the shackles, the springs seem twisted at the rear and the shackles are are not hanging stright.(see pics)
Do the XHD springs need the offset hangers?? what can i do to fix this ?

Thanks

[72Challenger]

DO NOT drive the car like this. Something is definitely tweeked. The XHD springs themselves should not require offset shackles, that would only be the case if you were using the offset hangers in front, and had moved the spring mounts on the rear end housing. Besides, your springs are twisted in the wrong direction for the offset shackes, they would be deformed in the direction of the center of the car, not to the outside. It sounds to me like the springs are twisted in the axle mounts. Did you tighten the U-bolts to the housing before you mounted the springs to the hangers and shackles? You should have left them loose. Also, how does the spring look in the hanger? If it's twisted toward the center, then the springs are definitely twisted at the axle. If they are twisted to the outside, same as the rear, then the mounting plates on your axle are too far apart for your spring mounting location. I'm guessing when you took the old ones off they didn't look like this?

Anyway, try loosening the U-bolts a bit and see if everything straightens out.

[SuperB70]

Loosened the u bolts and it didn’t do anything. I took every thing off and put the rear end up on stands and then put the springs back on by themselves. The shackles straightened out but the axle pads don’t line up with the studs on the springs anymore. Would changing to the XHD springs mean my axle pads have to be moved??? Anyone else have this problem when changing to XHD springs

[LA360Dart]

Hi SuperB70;

Is the distance from spring pad to leaf is ~ 3/4" from mating each side. Your car may have offset shackles. One other thing on A body springs are not parallel they are at a small angle narrow at front and wider at rear. Did you check new rear shackles against old ones try to see if someone put offset shackles on front and/or rear. The inboard of one of each pair is at a fairly steep angle. Try swapping one side to the other, only if the installation instructions mention nothing about which side is left or right. The XHD should have a left and a right spring. The tube through the rear frame is narrower than spring. This could be making problem worse. A last thought my .002/.003 springs look like that where the leafs come together. Took photos of my springs but starting to get dark and flash not strong enough. Will post tomorrow for you...

Denny
Hope this help

[SuperB70]

OK I been working on it all night, I took everything apart and started putting it back together. I left everything super loose. I got the springs up and the axle pads on the studs, with everything on and loose the shackles hung straight and where looking good, BUT... the axle pads where not sitting flush on the springs the inside of the pad was about 1/4 inch off the spring and when I started to tighten the U-blots down the shackles started to twist and every thing returned to the way it was like in the pics from my first post.

The front hangers and rear shackles are new. They are stock 68-70 b body pieces (no offset)

Could my axle pads be on the axle wrong? Are there any measurements to where they should be?

Thanks

[72Challenger]

Measure your axle pad center-to-center distance, it should be 44 inches exactly.

[DAHEMIKOTA]

Looks like someone stuck an axle from a 1971-1974 B-body in there. 72Challenger is correct at 44" pad center to center. The 71-74 measurement is 47.30" . Dan

[SuperB70]

You guys are awesome, I measured it and its 47+ inches from center of pad to center of pad.....

[SuperB70]

anyone have a '70 8 3/4 axle housing for sale? lol

[72Challenger]

Glad we could help you track down the problem. Sorry, I don't have a lead on a new rear for you however.

[72Challenger]

Here's another possibility. You can cut off the old spring perches and weld new ones on in the right place. Your axle would still be wider than stock, but depending on how your tires fit in the wheelwells now, that may be okay. It is possible the prior owner of the car compensated for the wrong rear by changing the backspacing of the rims. Of course, moving the springs in by 1 1/2 inch per side will give you more room for wider rims too, so you may want to add those to your shopping list!

See, in this hobby the opportunities to spend never end...

[SSHAKERR]

I am missing something? How is it that everything was OK before you changed the springs, and now the rear is suddenly 3-1/2 inches too wide?

[SuperB70]

I never noitced it on the old shackles, the old rubber bushings and the old springs where shot. Maybe all the new stuff; springs, hangers, shackles and urathine bushings made my problem apperent. I dont know... its always something when I work on this car LOL .. the previous owner(s) really did some hack jobs that I am just starting to find

[72Challenger]

Sadly, on cars that old things like that happen a lot. It may not be just the previous owner either, it could have been done a lot earlier than that. When I was in college and '50s and '60s Mopars were a dime a dozen, I confess I was guilty of hacking things together just to keep an old heap running. Hey, didn't have much money, and had to get to class!

[DAHEMIKOTA]

I have an axle, backing plate to backing plate with a 3.23 Shur- Grip with 44" pad to pad center. If you change the housing you have to change the axle shafts also. The 1962-1970 housing is 55" wide and the 1971-1974 is 57.8" wide.I will sell the entire thing for $450+ shipping. I am located in central Tennessee. If you are interested, send me a PM. Dan