I have a 72 Nova and it has single leaf springs and I am wanting to upgrade to multi-leaf springs but I do not know if I need springs with shims or wihout. I would appreciate any assistance that anyone can offer concering this change of springs.
Thanks in advance for your assistance,
Rick

You need to have new perches welded to your rear end axle tubes to hold the thicker springs. You are going from one (mono) leaf thick to a four or five leaf thicker spring (depending upon spring rate) so the spring will no longer fit in the old socket. The shims you are reading about are to go the other way and bolt a mono-leaf spring to a multileaf perch you would shim it up in thickness with the spacer.


Big Dave

Thanks for the info Big Dave! I will have the perches added so that I can make the springs fit.

You can also make a spacer, so it can take up the extra space between the old mono perches and the base plate. All after market perches have no side on them at all, the u-bolt just go thru and pulls tight. The stock big perches were to keep the base plate from bending up and to keep all in line. the mono side will do the same with a spacer if you want to do it this way.. It may save you some time and money and will not affect anything. Just make the spacers a bit smaller than the thickness needed so it will tighten up. And make sure the rear is sitting on the pin when you put it all back together.

Good luck..