New lowered leaf springs 4 EK wagon

[station.sedan.man]

I know its been covered before kinda, but I'm after a better solution than removing or flipping leaves. Lovells do lowered stiff replacement leaf spring kits for EH's (why the hell not FB EKs?) onwards, as do a few other brands. Being that my springs on my EK wagon are saggy, uneven and f'd, plus I have 2" lowering blocks, it looks a bit crap, esp since I'm rolling on pricey new 16x7 chromes!! Can I mod my rear chassis to fit off the shelf lowered EH leaf springs, whats the difference in size? I have thought of taking my old springs to pedders to get them reset but I've found from past experience the finished ride height is a total gamble, usually not what was asked for, plus I like new bolt on stuff rather than modded old stuff if possible, is there another off the shelf alternative? Cheers!

[EK283]

HI,
Not sure about the difference in EH springs as apposed to EK springs. Most of the time when you drop the springs off to be reset the measurement is taken from the unsprung arch and will differ to the ride height arch when load is on them. Take the vehicle in and the techs will measure and set from the loaded spring height.
Also pedders is not the only suspension place you can go to. Let your fingers do the walking and ring around. I know in sydney there are 3 or 4 places that will make new springs if required.
Flipping springs is not my favourite practice only because the end result is a harsh ride and limits rebound wheel travel, good for racing but in my opinion not for a street car. Flipping spring can also suffer from fatigue and leaf failure is common.
Another trick I do to lower leaf springs is to have the top leaf eyelets reversed so they are 1 inch lower ( new leaf of course ). This will then let you lower the car without removing the spring arch as much and good ride quality can be still be achieved.
Hope this helps

Regards Greg

[retro]

mate i just bought an ek and the guy i bought it off may of been b/sing but he told me that lovells remake and reset the springs, i did not know that and have always practiced the lowering block religion on anything metal that i have owned.

Just call em up, or go to your local parts dealer as they generally know who does wat in the parts game.

If lovells do re make the springs, i apologise to the vender of the bright red ek i just polished and locked in my garage and i would like to let you know that even though its an old grey motor she only takes four litres of oil not eight.

[Trev]

Hi SSman, I'm sure I've got HR springs under my car so I don't know why EH ones would'nt fit? Get the mesurments of both and compare.

Retro, I hope that bright red EK isn't going to be permenatly locked in that garage, how about some pic,s mate ,

Trev .

[katman]

i got the rear springs reset on my EK wagon and they are a treat, just rids great. went to a chap in Maryborough QLD and he replaced the bushes and reset the height and then said that if i wasnt happy with the height to come back and he waould do it. and blow me dead about two months latter i waent back cause they were a bit low and he reset them for again no charge. he is great.
there was none of this guess and see and stuff you if irts wrong.

[retro]

mate there is no room in the garage already, i actually bought it to be the second car for my wedding in march 08. The little lady said that it would be nice to use my exsisting fe ute (RED) for the flower girl and page boy, the current fb (white with red flash) as the main car and the red ek as the bridal party car.

My only question is what the hell do i get to go in as my cars will be pre occupied, and i sold the fj i had hidden in the garage to by the engagement ring, the eh to my neighbour (which i just got the disc brake front end, 192 and celica 5 speed back), Maybe ill have to use dads 48-215 which occupies the other part of the garage.

as for the pics well im trying to learn how, im more of a mechanical/garage man than a computer wizard, but as soon as i can it will be posted.

[mrs ratbox]

i have EH sedan rear springs in my van, we had to move the rear spring hanger back about 2", also the wheel seems to sit a bit further back in the wheel arch but i'm not sure if it is, as it seems the same as the springs that were in it which weren't standard, they were huge it was a bash car. i've flipped leaves tons of times with no problems actually did it to the van today and it rides better than before

[yeprat1]

i just got my springs reset 2 1/4 inches lower by better springs in st marys sydney and i think it cost me about $300 and they are like brand new they supply to all the local suspension places. if they are sagging they do what ever is appropriate to fix them they may have to add a leaf or two, i havent put them in yet so i dont know how it will sit .

[station.sedan.man]

thanks for the input, I think i'll prob do the reset thing, as off the shelf ones will only drop it 2 inches and i'd still need blocks, i have low lovells in the front and hq stubs so it sits nice, the back will have to come down at least 3" to even it all out. will call around some places tomorrow, have got some good leads on reputable places to get them done.