3 Galant leaf springs?

[gaPhil]

Did all GA/GB galants come stock with 2 leaf springs in the rear (except wagons)?

Ive noticed mine has 3 and always assumed this was stock, until i got another GA and noticed it had 2.
I guess maybe someone put a 3rd leaf in as it has had a tow bar on it?

My second question is if i remove the 3rd leaf would this lower it at all?

[Torana68]

yep (for Oz assembled GA and GB's at least) and yep, but you probably need the slightly extra stiffness if you have fitted stiffer fronts, dont unballance things or youll end up with an evil handling car (ie front stiffer make the back stiffer by the same amount to maintain the original ballance)

[shuggy]

on the same note here - what would happen if you put wagon springs on a sedan?

[gaPhil]

Well Ive got lowered king springs in the front so i guess thats a no to removing the 3rd leaf?

Bummer....

[davetrees]

[quote]on the same note here - what would happen if you put wagon springs on a sedan?[/quote}

Obviously you get a stiffer rear end ! Running wagon springs in the back is a fairly common rally preparation technique ... although you would also want to fit different dampers to suit the stiffer springs.

Removing a leaf will "lower" the car I guess ... because it it will be sagging ! .... and you will end up with crap springing. Why would you want to ?

[gaPhil]

I'd like it to sit a bit lower obviously but not totally stuff the ride quality.

[toruhiwi]

I had wagon springs (complete with diff housings and brakes) in 2 previous sedans way back....GA and GB, and removed the 2 lower leaves. This still has a fairly high rate as the wagon leaves are somewhat wider than sedan ones.

These were mated with KYB gas monotubes on the GA and Tokico Golds (also gas monotubes) on the GB...... Unfortunately both of these are no longer available.

Roger

[tandanus]

I have a GA with a wagon rear end - its damn stiff. It was paired to cut-down GH springs and thicker swaybar in the front and used for track work of some sort (probably rallying - it had a bull bar). A wagon rear in a sedan will let you use wide rims (eg JA starion) because there will be hardly any suspension travel (good for drifting but not much else). Once youve got the front sorted (King Lows are fine for road work, Lovells for track) Id suggest 1) with Kings you keep the standard leaves, add a half leaf, then get the whole lot reset to desired height, 2) with Lovells you use 3 of the 5 wagon leaves leaves and have them reset to desired height. Shocks to taste
T.

[shuggy]

wow this is getting complex

[gaPhil]

I have a GA with a wagon rear end - its damn stiff. It was paired to cut-down GH springs and thicker swaybar in the front and used for track work of some sort (probably rallying - it had a bull bar). A wagon rear in a sedan will let you use wide rims (eg JA starion) because there will be hardly any suspension travel (good for drifting but not much else). Once youve got the front sorted (King Lows are fine for road work, Lovells for track) Id suggest 1) with Kings you keep the standard leaves, add a half leaf, then get the whole lot reset to desired height, 2) with Lovells you use 3 of the 5 wagon leaves leaves and have them reset to desired height. Shocks to taste
T.

Good info cheers!

[81GL]

Guess It's a bit different being a GD, but yeah, my 4dr only had 2 rears when i got it.
Now running wagon leaves & is one solid ride - will be putting a half spring in when i have the time (TIME - LOL!!!)

If you are wanting it lower then you could also consider the half spring.
Or before i put the wagon leaves in had them re-set, cost around $120.00 i think it was.

Nick.

[karl_2ltgc]

Go to a leaf spring place and tell them what you want.

I have custom wagon springs with a 3/4 main leaf, fronts eyes re rolled to the centre an rear eyes reversed.
Combined with a panhard rod and 2 link it handles pretty nice now, but seriously, if your expecting miracles from just adding or removing a leaf your going to be disappointed as it will have almost zero affect on ride height.

[A112H]

I think thats the best idea Karl. I have the coil overs in the front and they are pretty stiff, my plan is to leave the rear stock, take it into a suspension place and tell them what I want to compliment the front. I figure if a specialist can't work out a balance, who can?

[karl_2ltgc]

Yea its a start, but if you want to really turn corners you need some lateral location of the diff through a panhard rod/watts link an likely a two link to eliminate tramp.

That said alot has to do with how much tyre and how much power your running, big tyre/power will benefit the most from panahrd rod an two link, then you can just set the springs up to the height an stiffness you want.

[81GL]

but if you want to really turn corners you need some lateral location of the diff through a panhard rod/watts link an likely a two link to eliminate tramp

...other wise known as a sigma

& yeah, a specialised place is of course the way to go if you have one locally.

[karl_2ltgc]

Sigma only has a four link with the top links pointing inwards to control lateral movement of the diff....so there is a fair bit of room for improvement on those too!

Remember, a sigma is just the next model galant but uglier and heavier ahahha

[letmefknin]

So wagon leafs in a sedan, yes or no??
If Yes, how difficult is the change over?

[shuggy]

Go to a leaf spring place and tell them what you want.

I have custom wagon springs with a 3/4 main leaf, fronts eyes re rolled to the centre an rear eyes reversed.
Combined with a panhard rod and 2 link it handles pretty nice now, but seriously, if your expecting miracles from just adding or removing a leaf your going to be disappointed as it will have almost zero affect on ride height.

hard maybe?

[letmefknin]

Yeah, I thought it sounded hard. Easier just to get a set made?
I was more curious about bolting a set of standard wagon leafs into the GC.
Am sicking looking at the sky every time the car is under boost

[karl_2ltgc]

Just go to a spring place and tell them what you want.... let them do the rest. That's basically what I did. If you do that then just take the springs to them its all pretty cheap too.... my setup cost maybe 2-3 hundred...and i had to go back once to get some stuff changed...

[toruhiwi]

To use the wagon rear springs with a sedan/hardtop axle housing, it is necessary to enlarge the locating hole in the spring seats on the diff housing. You will find the dowels in the insulators are bigger. The spring leaves are also wider, so using the wagon lower plate is the easiest but this needs modifying in that the lower shock mount needs to be cut off, then rewelded in position for the shock lower eye.
I used to buy a complete wagon axle housing and springs, then you get the bigger brakes and axle shafts also. Also eliminates the need to enlarge the locating holes.

I think I have remembered everything here, but it's been over 20 years since I did one.

Rear shock choices are limited.....I managed to buy a pair of new "deCarbon" brand monotubes on EBay a couple of years ago. (deCarbon were the originators of monotube gas which Bilstein, Koni etc use)
Otherwise, the very ordinary twin tube Monroes are about it unless you modify something else.

I have a spare pair of modified Tokico hydraulics, which are quite firm and work well, but are about 50 mm shorter than standard, so only suit a lowered Galant. I could be persuaded to sell these...............(They were originally from a '99 Challenger)

Roger

[shuggy]

yeah i swapped the entire diff for the last two cars i got.. and gained a diff in the process? ahah