How can I tell if I've got worn out leaf springs?

[bull]

I would think there must be a standard measurement to ID springs that have sagged too much, or am I being too optimistic? Is there an acceptable range of distance between the plane of the spring eyelets and the axle mounting surface to tell you if they need to be re-arched or replaced? My car seems to sit fine/even from side-to-side and there seems to be plenty of arch in them still. If I were to guess I'd say they are fine, but then I hate to guess. They still need new bushings and ought to be cleaned and prettied up and whatnot...

[Ghoste]

I don't know if there is a standard measurement or not but I was told that if there is an arch or even if they appear to be flat then you are okay.  If ride height or stance is off or they look arch in the wrong direction then you have a problem.

[bobs66440]

I'd say if the car sits good, then they are fine. 

[HPP]

Mopar never specified a rear ride height for its cars in teh FSM, so the only sure way to know is to have them rate checked, but very few places can do that and the original rates did vary some depending on the application.

Also, when installed, most mopar springs will appear to be almost flat. Installed arch of 2 inches is not uncoomon and is consistent with the original design. So long as you don't have wheel hop problems and your satisfied with the way the car sits and rides, you may be good to go.

[bull]

Thanks. Looks like I'll be reusing them with a rebuild kit after a good cleaning and paint job or plating.

[el dub]

You can always go to the back of the car, or the side over the wheels and push down on the body. Or roll over a speed bump at 10 mph and check the bounce. Your kidding, right.

[71charger]

If the leaf springs don't have that bow and are pretty much straight you need new ones

[HPP]

If the leaf springs don't have that bow and are pretty much straight you need new ones

Not necessarily. In their installed position, a mopar spring will almost appear to be flat. Truth is it has a very slight arch, usually 2" or so, which is hard to discern unless you measure it. The mopar FSM do point this out and it is reiterated in the Mopar Chassis manual as well.

The leafs on my E body are zero arch and are perfectly flat when installed and they look like they are reversed at first glance. This is by design as the less arch a spring has, the less geometric change it has in its normal range of trave, the more predicatable it is from a handling standpoint.

[Richard Cranium]

Worn out springs lead to ugly things happening. You'd better replace them just to be sure. 






Don't let this happen to you!