New Rear Leaf Springs in my 1966 Fastback
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 พ.ย. 2024
- Replacing the old, tired, stock rear leaf springs in my 1966 Fastback turned out to be more difficult than I thought it was going to be. The springs I install are designed to offer a 1 inch lowering over the stock springs.
Leaf Spring = 4.5 Leaf, Mid-eye, 1 inch lowering - Scott Drake # C5ZZ-5560-4ME
The car is a 1966 Mustang Fastback with a factory V8 and C4 transmission.
Shot with GoPro Hero 8 with the Media Mod, edited on Davinci Resolve 17.
Credit for the music in the video:
::::::::::::::::::::
Epidemic Sound
Try it today! www.epidemicso...
::::::::::::::::::::
#Mustang
#1966
#Fastback
Great video and you are an exellent teacher, that shows how to do work like this and how to do it. Thank you very much Andy. Best greetings from Norway
Thank you for the support! :)
I commend you for tackling these jobs while laying on your back. I'm too spoiled with my lift. Happy new year Andy!
Happy New Years to you too!
Even the Quick Jack doesn't do enough for me, having a lift would have cut this job down considerably. Next time we'll do it in your shop, I'll bring the drinks!
@@AndyKruseChannel yes sir! Now that's something I can drink to! 🤣🤣🤣
I just did this this weekend on my 68. Like yours the bolts were welded in. My dad used his acetylene torch to cut off the leaf springs. He cut on each side of it, then got out the rubber, then cut the bolt. It was messy and fiery but it worked. I used stocked height springs and went from 4 to 5 leafs with no drop as it's a convertible and I might have to use lowering blocks in the future.
Nice! I'm glad you were able to get those springs off, as you found out they can be a real nightmare. :)
I also installed 1" lowering blocks and narrowed the rear axle housing to fit 245 rear tires.
245 tires would be nice to have.
Andy,
Love the videos. I did the same with my 67 not to long ago and have replaced leafs in 3 classics and had to cut out both sides on all 6 leafs. I had best luck with the 6” Diablo blades. I just went with stock shocks when I replaced mine. I personally think the look is great and like others have said too low you may get some rub and I also think they will settle a little bit and bring it down slightly more over time. Once you drive a couple times I’d recommend snugging up all the nuts again. Looks great though, keep the videos coming!
That's good advice. I may want to also loosen the nuts on the shackles and make sure everything sits correctly. :)
When you post your link in the Vintage Mustang Restomods group I'll share a pic of the stance you're looking for. I had similar springs and a 1/2 lowering block. The stance was great but I went I different route. Too many speedbumps and the car ended up being way to low. I changed the entire set-up, I added a QP 9" Calvert springs, adjustable shocks, and Caltracks.
I was debating about posting on there as I don't feel I'm adding much value to the site with some of my videos. I'm trying to find the balance of sharing my content with enough people so they can easily find it and hope it helps them with their install or at the very least provides some info to the questions they have. I'm also trying to find the balance of posting on other sites but not too much where it seems like it's an attention grab.
However, it would be great to see how your car sits now. Caltracks are on my list, they're just behind a lot of other parts I need first. :)
Good job Andy. Sometimes you have to bring out the big guns and cut those bolts off!
As shown by your open garage door, I don't see any snow. I've had 4-5 inches in my convergence zone.
You must have completed the video the snow. Can't wait to see what you do next. Happy New Year!
Truth be told, those were installed in November, hence the subtle beard on my face for No-Shave-November. It gets really cold here and I wanted to get a few things done before the cold snap. I'm working on two videos right now that have taken almost 2 weeks and I'm still not done, it's just too cold. Thankfully I'll get them done before I run out of preloaded content. :)
I used the exact same 4.5 mid-eye springs ..they are a pretty good balanced spring not too hard or soft. They will settle over the next few weeks also at least another inch..I put a a fair bit of weight in the trunk for a couple weeks...it helps 👍
Good, I'm hoping they settle a little, maybe enough to pull those blocks out. :)
@@AndyKruseChannel do you yave a video with the 1 inch lowering blocks?
@@chevroletbelair1 I do, but it's for the blocks I put on my other '66 Mustang. If you search "How to install rear lowering blocks on a 1966 Mustang", you'll find it. Those are the actual blocks I install on this car, I took them off my other Mustang when I did new Leaf Springs. :)
@@AndyKruseChannel i know how to install Them but wanna see a vid how low this fastback sits Whit those 16" wheels
I went with the 5 leaf versions. Corners flat and like it's on rails.
Yeah, lots of options out there.
You got lucky the last time with the front leaf bolts. Everyone has to pay their dues with the Sawzall. Lol
Haha, yeah I was wondering when my time was up. :)
Wait, what about that sweet lift from last week’s vid? Sorry it didn’t drop to where you wanted it after all that work! Isn’t that just how it goes with these cars? Two steps forward one step back. Thanks for your time and energy on these vids, I love watching them. Just got done replacing head gaskets and prepping my engine for paint. Wish I had the talent to produce vids like you 😊!
Haha, thanks!
The Quick Jack would have been in the way (it was the last time I did Leafs on my other '66), so I opted to skip it this round. Even if I did use the lift, it still wouldn't have put the car high enough in the air to really help. No big deal, I had it easy on my last Mustang, this time around I had to make up for it. :)
Good job Andy. When you buy new shocks, do yourself a favor and get Koni Classics or Bilstein. Don’t cheap out ...ask me how I know. Lol
Yeah, I know that cheap shocks result in cheap performance. But sometimes the budget dictates the build. :)
Nice Car.
Thanks! 😁
I’m at a point where I need new leafs, but I can’t decide mid hole or reverse. I feel like whatever decision I make I’ll wish I’d have gone the other route. Prepping the car for track performance, from your experience is there anything you’d look out for?
Since it looks like you're planning to lower your ride with either the mid-eye or the reverse-eye, I'd do the mid eye and know you can go lower with lowering blocks down the road. Especially since you can buy varying heights of lowering blocks to dial in that perfect height. But with the reverse-eye, that's roughly a 2" drop and it may be more than you're wanting. I've got the mid-eye leafs and a 1/2" block in there and I like the way it sits. A reverse-eye would have been too much for my liking, and I can't easily raise the car without doing new leaf springs. :)
@@AndyKruseChannel you are the man!
Andy, great video and thanks. Just purchased the same leaves that you installed in your car, have you experienced any rubbing problems with your rear tires? Can you share what size tire and wheel you have on the car? They look awesome. Thank youi
Thanks!
Nope, no rubbing problems with these leafs. Wheels are 16x7, 4" B.S. Tires are Falken Azenis 225/50/16.
@@AndyKruseChannel, Thanks for the info
Andy, I think I remember that you had some Track Bars that you took off. Do you still have them? wondering if you might want to sell them?
Wow, that was a while ago, they were on my other white Mustang, the coupe. I looked for them and I couldn't find them, I must have gotten rid of them sometime in the last two years. Sorry brotha! :)
@@AndyKruseChannel NP Andy. Have a good weekend.
Just finished that job on my 65 FB. I went with the same 4.5 mid eye and got a little drop. I like it but wish is was slightly lower. Contemplating lowering the front first with the Shelby drop to see how that looks then coming back to the rear. Have you adjusted the front on this car yet?
Yup, it was the last few videos before this one. Shelby drop and front lowering springs. :)
Did changing out the air shocks and going back to a standard type shock make a difference or did you end up going with lowering blocks?
I did end up going with lowering blocks, but that's ok because I did not know the extent to which those air shocks were affecting the ride height. I currently have 1/2" blocks in there as the 1 inch blocks were too low. :)
What size wheels? I just ordered these. I have the sag leafs right now. I have 17-inch wheels, and I can't load anything in rear without it rubbing, lol
Wheels are 16x7, 4 inch backspacing (part number VN2156765). Tires are Falken Azenis RT615K+, 225/50/16. With the setup I have, I too can get some rubbing in the rear on certain bumps. But I also have lowered the car and this is the trade off I'm left with. Have you tried rolling the fender lips and see if that does the trick?
@AndyKruseChannel I have 17x7 legendary style wheels. I have rolled the fenders, and no luck. I purchased an upgraded 1-inch swaybar for front to hopefully help with body roll and less rub. I am hoping rear I'd just old saggy springs
@@juanorejel5578 That front sway bar isn't going to do much for the tires rubbing in the rear, but it's still a good upgrade. You're likely correct, just need to replace the old springs with a new set. :)
How do those springs 4.5 leaf springs ride? Debating on those or trying to find some 4 leaf mid eyes.
I had 5 Leaf springs on my last car and they were almost too stiff. I'd say these 4.5s are a smidge softer, but definitely stiffer than a stock Leaf setup. However, my comparison is based off 50 year old stock Leafs compared to brand new Leafs, so I'm not sure how accurate my comparison is. :)
Springs will settle after a while. Now that it’s 5 months later how does it sit?
The front is good, but I'm debating about removing the 1 inch blocks in the rear. Maybe swap them out for a 1/2" block? Not sure yet. But the car is getting dialed in! :)
Definitely would like to know if the springs settle, I've heard its not a good idea to use "lowering blocks" also how did your front tires work out? Any rubbing issues with the 16s and tire size?
I'll try and do an update video down the road to see how much the front and rear settle. Agreed, not using lowering blocks would be preferred as they introduce a larger moment in the mounting geometry, but sometimes the budget dictates the parts. If the Leafs settle enough I may be able to remove them as the car would sit where I want it at that point. I have some ideas of different suspension, but that's a ways down the road, I think this is a decent compromise until then.
@@AndyKruseChannel for sure! I have 1" blocks on my fastback with worn out stock leafs and the stance is perfect, I've been trying to find new leafs that will give me the stance and performance I desire. Thank you for your videos, I've been updating my ride and been doing alot of the same updating you have and your vids have helped alot!
@@nathannelson7020 Haha, no problem! :)
My guess is your worn out springs and 1" blocks put you just under "2 inches of lowering" when compared to brand new specs back in the 60's. If you were to install some reverse-eye springs that provide 2" of lowering, it may be too much and then you're stuck. The advantage of the mid-eye gives you and install 1" lowering, but you can go lower with blocks if you want.
I prefer s slightly stiffer ride so when I take it through the windy roads I don't bottom out as easily and I get more of a "sport" feel. The 4.5 Leafs springs are definitely stiffer than the stock 4 Leafs, but not as harsh as the 5 (like my last car). I'd say they're more towards the 5 Leafs on stiffness, but a decent compromise for what I am looking for.
I say all this in terms of budget. If I had more funds, I'd move to a coilover setup and explore a few additional suspension mods. But, like most of us, the dollar controls my build and I'm not willing to wait a year to save up for rear suspension while the rest of the car sits idle the whole time. :)
@@AndyKruseChannel budget definitely dictates the build in my house hold as well! Thanks again for all the support and info. I'll be installing the CJ PONY parts power discs brakes conversion on front and rear soon maybe ill make a video 🙂
Love your videos Andy. I bet the car dropped quite a bit after you drove it for a while...Care to comment? BTW, what size are those rear tires?
Thanks!
Yes, the car has settled a little bit since installing the rear leafs and front springs. I think if I could do it again, I would not cut as much of the coil springs as they're almost too low right now (not, but close). And I would have just gone with a 1/2" lowering block in the rear instead of the 1 inch block. I have since put the 1/2" blocks in place, but I would have liked to save a few bucks.
Rear tires are the same as the front, Falken Azenis 225/50/16.
@@AndyKruseChannel I went with double adjustable coil-overs up front to dial-in my perfect ride height. I went with this upgrade when I replaced the tired old stock coils I had cut too much off of, and upgraded the frontend with the CPP tubular upper and lower mini subframe kit. This winter I'm installing new rear leaf springs and I already know I'll order the wrong ones for the height I want. Like you, I'm wanting to eliminate the air shocks and 1" lowering blocks I have now. I like the Global West rear springs with aluminum bushings for better handling, (so they claim). Thanks for your response.
@@jamesyoung6498 The nice part about the Mid-Eye leafs (1 inch drop) is you can always go lower, but you're stuck if you go with the Reverse-Eye leafs (2 inch lower). Just a heads up on the aluminum bushings, while they'll reduce some of the slop we get in our suspension, you'll definitely feel more of the vibration and harmonics (NVH) when driving. If this was a track only car, then you'd be fine, but it may begin to bother you on street driving. This gets compounded if your roads are as crappy as mine. 😄
@@AndyKruseChannel Well I live in Kentucky and some of the roads around here are pretty harsh. Thanks for your feedback!!
Where did you order the U bolts? Part number by chance?
I had them custom made at a local shop here in town, no part number. :(
Did you put any anti-seize on the new front bolts?
I have been told not to on the new bolts. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but since this is now a fair-weather only car, it might not be a big deal anymore.
Nothing is an easy job on these cars! There is always some complication or stuck bolt.
I can't recall the last time I struggled so much for a single bolt. Ugh, what a work out that was. Oh well, it's done, now off to other frustrating parts. :)
Rubber en vet is geen goede combinatie maar ik ben wel benieuwd of het lukt
I agree that certain materials don't work well with others, but I have not had an issue with rubber and grease. Maybe I need more time to see if it won't work. :)
Ben een groot fan van je video's en van de fastback
@@franswijnands4022 Thank you! Happy New Year!