Rear Suspension Options

[Conrad]

Has anyone replaced the rear leaf springs on their Clipper?  Would helper springs be a viable option?  What are the pro's and con's of air bags vs. leafs?  Will new springs stop the sway or is that another area of suspension?  How about shocks?  What has been successful?

[junebob]

Conrad-Helper or overload springs can be beneficual.But in my opinion they are never as good as new or re-arced and tensioned stock springs. Air bags are vastly better than helper or overload springs unless you are carrying a heavy overload all the time.Air bags give you temporary,[or permenent] extra load carrying capacity as needed. Bags also give you ride controlling assistance under different loads simply by varying the air pressure.[Be sure and follow pressure limitations].I installed spring assisted shocks front and rear on our coach years ago.The increased stability was amazing and is to this day.Best of Clippering Bob Chaney #2626

[egibbons]

Bob, what spring assisted shocks did you use?

[tomfridley]

regarding suspension update-
i have added front and rear sway bars with polyurethane bushings along with gas-filled shocks.
this is in addition to the existing rear air bags on my 1977 clipper.
the sway bars came from ADCO company available through any parts house.
the gas-filled shocks are available from chrysler in their valueline catalog.
these upgrades diminish much of the sway problem.
feel free to e-mail me at tomfridley@aol.com
hope that helps,
tom fridley
acoc# 3016

[amclipper]

Tom,
do you have shock part number?

Conrad,
I removed ours rear springs and had truck shop add leaf to make stiffer.
ed

[tomfridley]

hello Ed, the chrysler value-line shocks i have installed on my 1977 clipper are the gas-filled type.
the part numbers are G0060043 for the front, and G0060039 for the rear.
the installation of the front shocks require the removal of a small amount of metal from the lower control arm hole where the shock absorber passes through on installation.
this most easily done with a die-grinder, but could be done with a round file.
this small modification is necessary due to the larger diameter of a heavy-duty shock.
no modification necessary on the rear shocks.
sincerely, tom fridley
#3016

[Conrad]

I just had a leaf added along with a 1" spacer block to my rear springs.  New gas shocks too.  So far so good.  I want to replace the front shocks and am looking for information on front swaybars.  Anyone?   help...