I am bolting my rear end in and clearly something isn't right. This is a 12 bolt w/multi-leaf perches going against 5-leaf springs. It's my understanding that I am supposed to use spring pads on both sides of the spring as shown in the picture below. This creates a gap between the perch and shock anchor plate. Should I simply get rid of one of the pads? If so, which one? Thanks...

http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/leafspringPads.jpg

Both

Are you saying to get rid of both pads?

Are you saying to get rid of both pads?

I'm not sure what the issue is. You don't want the anchor plate solidly against the spring perch because you then don't know how much clamping force is on the spring and how much is simply going into the spring perch. If you can get the nuts fully on the U bolts and torqued properly with both pads in place, I think I'd call it good.

You dont wanna loose the pads.. I could only imagine the noise that you would hear while driving the car.. The pads keep it from just having metal to metal contact to help preventing squeaking....I would say that if your ubolts are tight you should be good to go! Was your car setup for a mono leaf???

You dont wanna loose the pads.. I could only imagine the noise that you would hear while driving the car.. The pads keep it from just having metal to metal contact to help preventing squeaking....I would say that if your ubolts are tight you should be good to go! Was your car setup for a mono leaf???

The setup before (done by the guy before me) was mono leaf perches with multi-leaf springs (4) and one bottom pad (see pic). All jacked if you ask me but that's another story for another day. As I am looking at the photo I took before taking things apart there appears to be the same gap between the shock anchor plate and the perch (see pic). Of course that's solely due to the fact that mono perches were used with multi-leaf springs.

Having said all that is having a gap acceptable? Can someone take a peak at their setup and see if there is a gap? I am going to try to find more photos on the site and see what other setups look like.

http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/leafspringPadsBefore.jpg

I'm not sure what the issue is. You don't want the anchor plate solidly against the spring perch because you then don't know how much clamping force is on the spring and how much is simply going into the spring perch. If you can get the nuts fully on the U bolts and torqued properly with both pads in place, I think I'd call it good.

Mike,
I think you may be correct and I may be good to go. After looking at the before photos, I had a gap as well... (see my other post above) Thanks.

I don't use any pads at all. Go look at about any leaf spring pickup truck - they don't need no stinking pads!! I wouldn't hesitate to lose one or both.

Mine looks exactly like yours with both pads in place. I think your pics show a normal set up. I would leave both pads in place.

Good discussion here:

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=125618&highlight=pads

Good discussion here:

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=125618&highlight=pads

Thanks everyone, especially for the link as it does have a ton good info. I think for now I am going to go with both pads and see how things are. When I get my future motor built I am thinking I will need to loose one pad as there could be rear end shifting issues due to high horsepower.

Matt, I have a ZZ502 fuel injected in mine and have no problems running both pads. Good Luck.

Matt, I have a ZZ502 fuel injected in mine and have no problems running both pads. Good Luck.

Sounds good! No extra mods is always good in my book. Thanks again.