After visiting Alan Gingles' site for the n-th time (the buildup page is
inspiring to me) I noted he used Dodge Caravan rear springs, and somewhere he
mentions needing some sort of traction bars to keep them from twisting under
acceleration. If these are springs from a FWD minivan, can it be they are not
designed to take the twisting action of the axle? Well, now that I think about
it, when braking there certainly is twisting action, but in the opposite
direction. But the original AD springs do not have to take twisting from
acceleration or deceleration, because of the enclosed driveshaft acting as a
big control arm/ traction bar. Where was I going? I just wanted to know other
people's experience with replacing the rear springs (a low-buck replacement,
not the 500+ dls kits) and what springs have been used.
Also, I am curious if anyone has seen or tried installing a coil spring /
triangulated control bar rear axle (from a "70s or '80s mid-size GM car) on an
AD truck. I have an article (probably 20+ yrs old) by Pat Ganahl on installing
a Chevelle axle (with all its original rubber bushings, control arms and coil
springs) in a '40 Ferd truck, and it appeared fairly straightforward.
Best wishes
Carlos Madero
'53 5-window
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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