I know this has been discussed occasionally before but...

I'm pretty sure that I recently saw an ad (?eBay?) for lowering springs for the 544. VP and CVI Automotive don't have anything listed; Scandix has what looks like 2 options, though both recommended only for 'circular track racing'

My primary motivation (truth be told) is improving the stance of my Duett. I know that replacing the aged rear leafs would probably help but overall, I'd prefer to have the car a little lower to the ground.

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

KaiS
67 Duett

I needed to do the same on my PV. The original springs were sagged from many, many decades of holding the car up, then one of the front springs broke. I replaced both fronts with a pair of new springs from Scandcar (IIRC). And the front end sat way up in the air. Rally car style. Well, probably closer to the correct OEM ride height, but not what I wanted.

I looked around a bit (prior to buying the stock replacements) for something better/progressive/lower, but had no luck at the time. It's just an odd diameter/spring rate, I think.

In my case I let them settle for 3 or 4 months (they barely did), then I took them out and trimmed a coil or so off each one, which got the front end down to my liking.
--
'63 PV544 rat rod, '93 Classic #1141 245 (now w/16V turbo)

Though they're impossible to find on the website, VP *does* carry lowering springs for the PV. They have a LOT of great stuff that's impossible to find on their site, which can't be good for sales. Call them. I bought a set from them and though no one could provide rate info, the ride quality was pretty good and the car did sit lower and the springs were certainly firmer. I am no longer using the front springs (changed the crossmember), so if you're interested in a good deal, let me know and I'll be happy to sell them for a bargain. They were on the car for about 3 months, and fewer than 150 miles. I'd be happy to sell the crossmember, too, and new-in-box kingpins and bushings and a used ipd swaybar...

Or, check out http://www.bluecoilspring.com/ . These guys have a LOT from which to choose, in both progressive and linear. And, oddly, they're the same color blue as the fellow from New York offers on his website but at a lower price. I have a pair of these on the front of my 444 now and I like them plenty.

If you want to lower the rear, you can easily do this without permanent changes to any of the hardware by using 'lowering blocks.' This is the popular way to go about lowering leaf sprung cars. Blocks are easy to make, and cheap to purchase. And it's completely reversible.

If you want to lift the rear but don't want to go looking for replacement leafs, there are 'leaf spring helpers' on the market. I've never used these, so can't comment on how good they are or aren't.

... and if you rebuild or replace the leafs in your Duett, adding a strip of teflon between them prevents creaking.

Best,

Cameron
Rose City

Cameron,

Wow. Thanks so much. Very helpful info. Yes, am definitely interested in your springs. Interested but probably less so in the crossmember. Please let me know how best to contact you 'backchannel'.

My rear is already lowered (the leafs are old!).

Not sure if there would be a noticable difference between progressive and linear. I don't plan to race this sled, just take it to the beach now and then. Safety of course is very important to me. Not too concerned about 'performance handling', just safe handling. Will lower springs throw off the alignment (particularly caster)?

Please advise how best to proceed...

Thanks again.

KaiS
1967 Duett

Volvorelix yahoo fill in the blanks.

Thanks,

Cameron
Rose City

Although it's becoming something of a lost art, you should be able to get your springs rebuilt and re tempered. Reversing the yes possible too. As Cameron says, lowering blocks are easy to use too.