Joel Greer

Hello guys! New guy with newbie question lol. I have a 74 charger and I'm wanting to upgrade the rear springs with the ones from hotchkis. It says the 71-72 will work. Can anyone confirm that? Thanks!

Archer

Joel -

Ah, no or maybe. Chrysler in their infinite wisdom actually used two different leaf spring lengths in the 74 B-bodies.
The difference is only 1/2" on the front half, but get the wrong ones and the hole that centers the perch will be 1/2" off, shifting the wheel forward or back.
Only way to tell is by measuring the front half of the spring. Measuring can become a problem, since after 40+ years, the eyelets at the front end may have elongated, making accurate measurements impossible.

Sorry, but went through that last year.

Haven't worked with Hotchkis, but the guys at Firmfeel do a great spring and will customize it to any ride height you want. But yeah, you're going to have to tell them the front half measurement.

Archer

Joel Greer

Thanks for the reply! Yeah it has super stock springs from the previous owner and the axle sits too far back. I might just go with firm feel.

Iowan

You would think if you purchased the spring and front hangers at the same time it would come out correct.

Archer

Joel -

Unfortunately, they are going to ask you the same question. IIRC, the options are 22.5" or 23" for the front half.
If they don't mention it, make sure to bring it up.
If your wheels are too far back, then the short front MIGHT solve the problem.
Just can't tell from here and using SS springs compound the problem, as would any after market parts.
The previous owner might have gotten the 23" front halves, and the car originally came with 22.5"s.

Archer

Iowan

Archer,
Is the deference in the body or the front hangers?

Iowan

If the 74 Charger is constructed like every other mopar I've worked on the shorter springs would be the best bet, a simple 1/2" spacer would solve the problem but if the springs were plus 1/2" that would be a pain in the ***.

Archer

I -

I believe it;'s the hangers, but it caused the perch locator pin to be off. So yes, the hangers could be removed and replaced or the perch centering hole can be re-drilled. We opted for the latter. If the incorrect ones are used, then the wheel/tire will not be centered in the wheel well (forward or back). Not a big deal with stock sized tires, but go bigger and it get's pretty obvious.

The problem is, whether it was the factory they came from or just a random batch thing, there was no way of telling until you measured them.

Archer

Joel Greer

Thanks guys for the help! Turns out the front section on the ss springs are 20". And it has some homemade long front hangers so looks like this will be a 50/50 shot lol.

Archer

Joel -

That's one of the problems with using SS springs on a "street" car.

Talk to the guys at Firmfeel. They have most of the replacement parts.
It's a father and son operation and you want to talk to the father, he's been in the game a while.

Other option would be using the current hangers having the current springs re-arced.

Archer

Iowan

Joel,
w
how long is the front spring hanger on your car, 2" or 4" ?
The reason I ask is if you replacing SS springs they should be 4" long and will need to be replaced or drilled for the stock springs length. That's why I was saying to replace springs and front hangers at the same time if there are two lengths of springs from the factory this way you would eliminate problems with mismatched parts.

Joel Greer

I didn't measure them. I will when I get home but they are definitely longer than 2".