Re: [Chrysler300] 300K Leaf Springs - What Would You Do?

["Rick Ehrmann" <tc440@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks, Mark and Mike for your responses. I'm still deciding.....

Rick

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mark Lindahl 
  To: Mwl1967 
  Cc: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 7:46 AM
  Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] 300K Leaf Springs - What Would You Do?


    
  Hi Rick,
   
  I had a sagging '63 300 Sport and I brought it to a local shop that replaces springs on large dump trucks, on busses, and other heavy vehicles.  I kept the same springs, but they just added the 7th leaf and they also replaced all the pads and hardware.  The 300 sits up slightly, maybe 1 inch, but rides very well.  Even with a load in the trunk, there is no sagging and no scraping when I back out of a tilted driveway.  You would be surprised in the added height you get just when you replace all the 6 pads.  The original springs made some noise due to the pads being worn out.  I assume the smaller tortion bars are on the front end.  The leafs may not be as bad as you think.  You may want to bring it to a shop for their opinion.  I think I only paid less than $200 about 10 years ago and it still sits up just fine.  I also bought a front stabilizer bar for the front and all is good on cornering.
   
  Mark Lindahl
  '63 300 Conv.

  --- On Thu, 1/10/13, Mwl1967 mwl1967@xxxxxxx> wrote:

  From: Mwl1967 mwl1967@xxxxxxx>
  Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] 300K Leaf Springs - What Would You Do?
  To: tc440@xxxxxxxxxxx, Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Date: Thursday, January 10, 2013, 10:29 PM

    

  Hi Rick,

  I've done all kinds of different things with both my K's over the years and my gut tells me that if you simply like to cruise around in the car and don't tend to beat on them then just go with the stock spring rate. The stock Ram K leaf springs ride is a little harsher than the regular springs. If this would be a discomfort is a matter of individual taste. If however you plan on taking over the road trips with passengers and a trunk full of luggage then opt for the heavier springs. 

  The harshest springs I obtained were thru the club. George ordered them for me and they were his "John Hertog specials". As you recall John had a 300L he used as a tow vehicle and he wanted the be able to tow a trailer and not sink the back end of the car. So.. they were spec'd out at a stock height but much heavier lbs rating to carry the tounge weight of the trailer. Simply put, they are uncomfortable. This is compounded by the fact that I also had custom front torsion bars made which almost doubled the spring rate. So, the car is extremely stiff but it needs to be that way. It handles great but takes a lot of abuse. The 500ci Ram Engine and the 5 speed make an ungodly amount of torque and the oe spec'd springs wouldnt be up to the task.

  For every-day local cruising stay stock, you wont be disappointed.

  Mike Laiserin

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Rick Ehrmann tc440@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  To: Chrysler300 Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  Sent: Thu, Jan 10, 2013 8:32 pm
  Subject: [Chrysler300] 300K Leaf Springs - What Would You Do?

  It's time to replace the leaf springs on my standard, non-ram K. The non-ram K came from the factory with the same suspension as the non-letter 300. It had 6-leaf springs. The spring rate was 95 lbs/in and the spring rate at the wheel was 120 lbs/in. K's with the optional Special 300K Package, the ram K's, came with the FirePower 390 Handling Package, which was the same as the J suspension. They included larger diameter torsion bars, a sway bar, and heavier duty 7-leaf springs with a rate of 125 lbs/in and 150 at the wheel.

  Eaton Detroit Spring carries both leaf springs, Chrysler part # 2448301 for the 6-leaf and 2495020 for the 7-leaf. In their catalog they only list the 7-leaf spring for the 300K, whether standard or ram. 

  I counted the leaves on my original leaf springs - 6. I'm tempted to replace them with the 7-leaf springs. Will this mess up the car's ride and balance because the rear end will be stiffer than the standard front suspension? Or should I replace with the 6-leaf to keep the car with its original suspension setup and relatively soft ride (compared with a ram car). What would you do or if you have a K, what did you do?

  Rick Ehrmann

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