Source for leaf springs?

[chargermick]

I've been saving money for new leaf springs for months, Y.O. catalog has  them for 350.00. (Modified with a 1" rise) Finally got the money scraped together, tried ordering them today. "Sorry but we had a rate increase on Jan. 1, now they're $514.00 plus shipping and handling." Add taxes in there and I'm close to $600.00. Sometimes I really hate Y.O. Is there another source for rear springs? I'm even thinking about have my originals re-arched. Is there a way to find out who supplies Y.O. with springs?

[Troy]

I saw that torsion bar prices went through the roof as well - not just at Year One either. I'm not sure why. Check out Mancini Racing before they catch up.

Troy

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

There are a few better company's

ESPO Springs & Things is where I got mine.    Looks like their website is down right now  www.espo.com
ESPO Springs 'n Things
75 Pine Tree Rd
Danville, PA 17821
United States
570-672-9413  800-903-9019
fax: 570-672-0368
www.espo.com


Then theres Eaton Springs.......a bit more expensive but high quality stuff...

http://www.eatonsprings.com/

I think the increase is the cost of steel has risen.....

[chargerboy69]

PM Sent. I have a source that you can buy them from. . .

[mopar_madman]

just suspension, PST, mopar performance( summit jegs anyone that sells MP brand even your local dealership),eibach all sell aftermarket springs depending on what you need.

[471_Magnum]

Steel prices have gone through the roof.

ESPO has the best price. Just got a pair of XHD-type springs for $95 each. Tack on another 50-60 for shipping.

As I stated in my other post, craftmanship on the ESPO springs isn't as good as the originals. I suspect ESPO may use recycled leafs, which would explain their lower pricing.

That's not to say they are bad springs.

[Charger Aficionado]

I bought my HEMI-style leaf springs from the local ol' Dodge dealership!  Were there from the warehouse in 2 days! 

I think I paid $230, and was impressed that they had 7 leafs on the passenger side, and 6 on driver side.

[Chatt69chgr]

I just looked up the price of the Mopar Performance rear leaf springs on mopartsracing and they were $105 each.  They were listed as part numbers 4452982 and 4452983.  Are these the XHD spring part numbers that you got from your Chrysler dealership?  Mopartsracing says these are the correct springs for 2nd gen B-bodys with 440/6pk or 426 engines and have the correct bias.  Do others have experience with these springs?  What about the quality?  Looks like one benefit from buying them from the dealer would be that you wouldn't have to pay shipping---just local tax.  I am asking because I need new rear leaf springs.

I looked at the Eaton website and they listed the Charger rear leaf springs at $429.  That's a huge difference.  Are they that much better?  Could the price difference between the two be that maybe the MP springs are made in Mexico and the Eaton springs are made in USA?  I don't know this for a fact but am guessing that might be the case.

Seems like Mopar parts both used and new are getting scarcer and rapidly increasing in price.  Junkyards all around Chattanooga are crushing everything as fast as they can.  Heard today that one yard had some 3rd gen Chargers.  Some guy from Michigan bought all of them.  Hasn't picked them up yet.  Also heard last week that Ted Stephens was up around Knoxville buying anything he could find.  Getting hard for mere mortals to keep up with all of this.  I think that withing 5 years there won't be any old Mopar stuff left in junkyards---there isn't much there now.   

[Charger Aficionado]

The last Five years EVERYTHING classic has been depleted out of the junkyards in Ca.  Some private ones still have some good stuff, but not muich.

Those are the correct part numbers.  I purchased the bushings for the rear at Napa for around $12.
They looked VERY HEAVY DUTY.  I do believe I would re-coat them since I've seen a pair loose the finish after a year or two on a friend's car. 

[Shakey]

Chris is correct with regards to the rising costs of steel.  I'm surprised we haven't seen the increases much sooner as the costs of raw steel have been on the rise since mid-2004.

Anyways, I used Eaton Detroit Springs in my car.

No road test as of yet.   

[Chatt69chgr]

Thanks for the reply on the leaf spring part numbers.  I probably need to bite the bullet and order the MP rear leaf springs before they go up any more.  Also, thanks for the tip on the rear bushings.

[Ghoste]

I bought a set from Eaton around the end of '05 and so far, I can't make a single complaint about them.  Luckily, I got them before the price increase.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

  Luckily, I got them before the price increase.

I did the same with my exhaust from Accurate LTD

[bill440rt]

Hey chargermick & Chatt69chgr,
Not trying to steer you guys in any way, but I have the springs out of my Project '69 on eBay right now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=009&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=190075170486&rd=1&rd=1

I'll ship UPS ground, whatever it costs me it costs you. You might be able to save a few bucks if you're interested in them. If you check some of my other posts you'll see other pictures of the car they came off of. Car had no sag. They are the 5-leaf big-block springs.

[Mike DC]

 
At one point in the last few years, people were complaining about the MP leaf springs sagging pretty quickly.  I don't know what ever became of that issue or whether it's still going on.  The springs in question were commonly stamped "made in Mexico."

With all the issues surrounding these things, I'd rather just get springs from a dedicated spring place (Eaton/Detriot, etc).  I think I'd rather take my chances with an all-brand spource of good springs than a Mopar-friendly source of potentially bad ones.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP's name is no longer very highly respected anymore. 
If they won't even tighten the head bolts on a $14,000 crate Hemi then all bets are off.

 

[bill440rt]

I've had a set of the offset MP ones on my '68 for at least 5 years now. No signs of sagging whatsoever. I'm pretty sure they said Made in Mexico when I got them, if my memory serves me correctly. I bought a set of the MP ones for my '69, the say Made in Mexico also. I spoke with Jim from Jack's Auto Parts where I got them, he's heard of the rumors but never had a set returned to him for this problem. He's had them in his cars as well with no problems.

[Mike DC]

 
Well, that's a few votes of confidence for the MP springs.


Anybody else with feedback on this issue?

 

[70 Charger RT]

I just bought MP springs for my 69 last week.  They only came with front bushings.  Yes, made in Mexico.  Instead of buying rear bushings only, I would buy the rear shackle kit which comes with the rear bushings.  I couldn't get my old shackles out of my old springs.  I bought new U bolts and rear shackles for a local spring shop.  Your city should have one if you're in a larger centre.  It's a lot cheaper to go to a local spring shop that MP springs IMO.  In your earlier post you said you wanted a 2" raise.  I would just take your old springs to a local spring shop to have them re-arced to include the 2" lift.  A few years back I used my local spring shop to re-arc my 70 springs and they did a great job.  And that only cost $200 CAD.

[Steve P.]

I ordered my SS springs from Summit a few months ago. They gave me the best price and only added $7.00 to the shipping for the pair. They have been in the car for a month or more with no change to the ride hight so far.   

It's been a while since I heard anything about sag with MP springs..

[Dodge Don]

I bought my springs from the local Dodge dealership. No complaints.

There are alot of "urban legends" out there. Most are pure you know what. I don't think there is anything inferior about MP springs. They can be made in Lower East Slowlbonia for all I care. "Made in USA" is not a statement of quality....it is a marketing slogan.

[Lifsgrt]

For comparison, I've attached these pics of the 440/hemi replacement springs I got last year for my 69 R/T SE from Espo.  They are significantly different, the ones I ordered are 2" underarched and were about $100 each.  No complaints, although they did settle after installation, no sagging.  Hope it helps.