Hi,
I have had my 57´ Bel Air for about a month now, I´m quite happy with it but there´s always things to improve, aren´t there...
One thing that annoys me is a quite stiff rear end suspension.
I have had suggestions to ditch the air shocks, new shocks are ordered but not in place yet and another thing I just found is that my spring leaf package is consisting 8 leaves and I´ve read the discussion about 4 or 5 leaf springs...
Have a look at this:
![Image]()
Seems to me that the only leaves I can remove are the two lower ones, the third and up is held in place by rivets.
Will the removing of the two lower leaves make my rear end softer?
Will the riding height be different if these are removed?
I´ve also considered putting some penetrating lubricant in between the spring leaves in order to take away any friction between the leaves that are left in place.
Any thoughts about this?
Where do these 8 leaf springs come from?
Are they too hard for my every day cruiser?
Will my suggestions soften the rear end up or will it even be too soft?
If I remove tho two lower leaves, can I compensate the height loss of them on top of the highest leaf or should it be done in the lowest point?
I mean that the U-bolts may not have threads enough to take the loss of two leaves.
By the way, it seems that the rear drum is finned, is that a stock drum or does it come from another car?
I have had my 57´ Bel Air for about a month now, I´m quite happy with it but there´s always things to improve, aren´t there...
One thing that annoys me is a quite stiff rear end suspension.
I have had suggestions to ditch the air shocks, new shocks are ordered but not in place yet and another thing I just found is that my spring leaf package is consisting 8 leaves and I´ve read the discussion about 4 or 5 leaf springs...
Have a look at this:
Seems to me that the only leaves I can remove are the two lower ones, the third and up is held in place by rivets.
Will the removing of the two lower leaves make my rear end softer?
Will the riding height be different if these are removed?
I´ve also considered putting some penetrating lubricant in between the spring leaves in order to take away any friction between the leaves that are left in place.
Any thoughts about this?
Where do these 8 leaf springs come from?
Are they too hard for my every day cruiser?
Will my suggestions soften the rear end up or will it even be too soft?
If I remove tho two lower leaves, can I compensate the height loss of them on top of the highest leaf or should it be done in the lowest point?
I mean that the U-bolts may not have threads enough to take the loss of two leaves.
By the way, it seems that the rear drum is finned, is that a stock drum or does it come from another car?
