Rear leaf springs

[71charger]

So its finally time for me to get to my rear leaf springs.... they are as flat as they can get both mounts are bent and I'm back to work so what I'm asking is where is a good place to get a new set of leafs? or if its cheaper to have them re bent? the leafs are still good but the mounts need to be replaced.

[Fred]

I wouldn't have them re bent, I'd replace them. Get good heavy duty springs.   

[HPP]

They are supposed to look flat when installed. In stock form, they only have 1.5-2" of arch to them when installed and loaded. Now if brackets or leafs are bent, then yes, you want to get new ones.
Sources - Mancini, Summit, Jegs, Springs and Things, Firm Feel, Hotchkis, XV, PST.

[ODZKing]

I would find a good spring shop.  I had mine re-arched and 2 leafs added.  Picked up the rear by about 6 inches.
Have then straighten those mounts while you're in there.  My 

[71charger]

thank you all for the comments. I plan to replace everything and start new. If I do it by myself how much would it cost in parts?

[71charger]

Are they supposed to look real flat? I always thought that they should have so arch to them

[Fred]

They're very arched when you buy them new.  .

[HPP]

Uninstalled,  most automtoive leafs will have 5-6 up to 7 inches of free arch. However, once installed, that arch can radically change depending on the load rate, check rate, bias rate, and leaf count. Beleive it or not, leaf springs  are a bit more complex an animal than simply a slab of steel slats banded together, and all those factors can influence how the springs looks and performs when installed.

In my experiance, the factory style XHD leafs that came on 440 and Hemi cars tend to only have 1.5 to 2 inches of arch when installed. While this may appear to be nearly flat, there is some minor arch to them. There are some very defined reasosn for reduced arch on a street car which are designed to improve the stability, feel, and handling for a passenger vehicle, like most cars. Super stock springs, on the other hand, tend to have a large amount of arch in their installed position as a function of their design and their intended application.

[SUPERSTAR14]

thank you all for the comments. I plan to replace everything and start new. If I do it by myself how much would it cost in parts?

I'm not sure about your '71 but I recently bought NEW springs right from my local Dodge dealer for my '69. They are offered through their Mopar Performance line. I bought wholesale for $107.00 each but I think they retail for about $130.00 each. That was far less money than having a local spring shop make a new set for me.
Good luck

[Mopar Nut]

I like the ESPO's HD 6-leaf springs from Springs-n-things

Company's site:  http://www.springsnthings.com/

[Brass]

I like the ESPO's HD 6-leaf springs from Springs-n-things

Company's site:  http://www.springsnthings.com/

X2

[8WHEELER]

I know the Mexican Mopar spring get a bad rap, but I got a hell of a deal on the two sets I bought. The one set
has been on a 68 Charger for 12 years with no sag. I have had great luck with re-arking some originals as
well, there are lots of options that's for sure.

Dan