EATON Detroit Spring

The leading manufacturer of leaf and coil springs for the street rod and restoration automotive industries

We Help Maintain American Icons by Manufacturing Leaf and Coil Springs Right Here in America

Phone: 1 (313) 963-3839
Fax: 1 (313) 963-7047

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      We have been manufacturing springs for American vehicles for over 80 years. Our process and expertise has been continuously refined and improved over the century and our Spring Tech section reflects some of that specialty knowledge.

      Browse our many articles, watch videos produced in partnership with AutoRestoMod, and learn all about your spring suspension here.

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  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Products
    • Suspension Parts
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Shocks
      • Attaching Parts And Hardware
      • Installation Kits
      • Leaf Spring Shackle Replacement Kits & Parts
    • Street Rod Suspension Parts
      • Mustang II Front End Springs
      • 48 Inch Truck Springs
    • Allstate - Chrysler
      • Allstate
      • American Motors
      • Bricklin
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chevrolet Truck
      • Chrysler
    • Daimler - Ford
      • Daimler
      • DeSoto
      • Dodge
      • Dodge Truck
      • Edsel
      • Ford
      • Ford Truck
    • GMC - Jeep
      • GMC
      • Honda
      • Hudson
      • Hudson Truck
      • Hummer
      • International
      • Jeep
    • Kaiser Darrin - Nissan
      • Kaiser Darrin
      • Kaiser-Frazer
      • LaSalle
      • Lincoln
      • MAHINDRA
      • Mercury
      • MG
      • Nash
      • Nissan
    • Oldsmobile - Rambler
      • Oldsmobile
      • Plymouth
      • Plymouth Truck
      • Pontiac
      • Rambler
    • Sterling - Willys
      • Sterling
      • Studebaker
      • Studebaker Truck
      • Toyota
      • Willys
    • Request A Custom Quote
    • Search For Parts Here
  • Spring Tech
    • Learn About Leaf & Coil Springs
      • Spring Tech Articles
      • Tech Questions
      • Spring Tech Videos
      • Featured Elsewhere
      • EATON Detroit Spring Podcast
      • Buy Ford Manuals
    • Spring Tech 101

      We have been manufacturing springs for American vehicles for over 80 years. Our process and expertise has been continuously refined and improved over the century and our Spring Tech section reflects some of that specialty knowledge.

      Browse our many articles, watch videos produced in partnership with AutoRestoMod, and learn all about your spring suspension here.

    • Browse By Topic
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Attaching Parts
      • Ride Height & Stance
      • Ride Quality
      • Manufacturing Springs
      • Replacing Springs
      • Modifying Springs
      • Ordering Springs
  • About Us
    • About EATON Detroit Spring
    • Customer Showcase
    • Send Us Photos Of Your Ride!
    • Free Stuff For Car Shows!
    • Facebook
    • YouTube Channel
      • Spring Tech Videos
  • Order Here
    • Lookup & Purchase Your Vehicle's Parts
    • Request A Quote
    • Email Our Sales Team
    • Dealer Information
  • Find Parts That Fit Your Vehicle
  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839

Is There A Trade Off Between Comfort and Handling? (Also, Diagnosing a Leaning Bonneville)

Q – I’m interested in new springs for my 64 Bonneville. I bought new springs from XYZ Company 2 years ago and I’m not happy with the results.

When I was having them installed the mechanic said one of the rear springs was bad so I got a replacement. I wanted a pair, but they only would send one.

My problem is the car sags on the driver’s side 2″-3″ and has this cock eyed raked look if I don’t use these auto part store spring compressors and extenders on the rear springs.

My second problem is the car rides real rough and takes bumps real hard.

My car has 225/70-14 Firestone 500 tires that are 7″ wide and aggressive.

I also have an Addco front sway bar, it’s a little bigger than the original.

I’m having a New AGR 13-16:1 variable ratio steering box installed tomorrow along with an alignment.

I have a constant ratio box on there now and don’t really care for it.

I want my car to handle well. I drive spirited.

Do I have to give up comfort to get good handling?

I would like it to sit close to the factory height which was on the low side. I like low it seems to handle better. – Karen and Jeff, Pittsburgh, PA

A – Karen, seeing your name is listed 1st, is this your car? If so leave Jeff out and I bet it will ride better.

OK, let’s solve the problem. Did the car lean before putting on the new springs? If so there may be a frame issue.

What you may want to try before getting all 4 new springs is to swap them side to side and see what happens to the lean.

As for the rough ride, consider the sway bar as the cause. Being a larger bar size than stock will increase the handling firmness and if urethane bushings were installed with the larger bar, that will greatly increase stiffness.

You may want to go back to rubber sway bar bushings. Comfort means cushiness, smoothness, floating, looking and feeling graceful. While handling means quick response in acceleration and braking, staying level through curves, feeling the road through the seat. So yes, there is a trade off.

If the side to side swap does not solve the problem, then new springs may be the answer. Both coil and leaf springs should be replaced in pairs to be sure the springs are from the same batch. Never replace just one spring.

-Mike

Filed Under: Tech Question Tagged With: Coil Springs, Leaf Springs, Ride Height & Stance

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OEM Replacement & Custom Springs

  • Classic Cars Springs, Hot Rods, & More
  • Over 24,000 OEM Spring Blueprints
  • 166,000+ Stock Spring Applications
  • Design Staff Available For Custom Applications
  • Spring Experts Since 1937
  • Made in Detroit, Michigan
  • Made in the U.S.A.

How To Order Springs For Your Vehicle

To find the correct springs for your vehicle, you need to provide as much information about your car as possible. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all spring.

We try to make this easy by providing many ways to order your springs and send in as much information as possible:

  1. Call Us at 1 (313) 963-3839
    For Quickest Order Completion
  2. Fill Out Our Quote Request Form
    To Spell Out Details
  3. Browse For Parts Online
    To Browse By Make, Model, Body Style, & Engine Size

Quick Spring Tech Videos

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WARNING:

This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

  • About EATON Detroit Spring, Inc.
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Locate & Connect To EATON Detroit Spring

EATON Detroit Spring, Inc.
1555 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48216
Phone: 1 (313) 963-3839
Fax: 1 (313) 963-7047
Email: inquiries@eatonsprings.com

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