My car has a mono leaf set up. What are the advantages or disadvantages to switching to a multi leaf spring set up?

A multi-leaf spring is stronger, due to its design. If a mono-leaf goes out, your car hits the concrete. Some people upgrade a mono-leaf car to multi-leafs (4,5,6 leafs). Cars that came with multi-leafs also had different axle perches, pads, bolts, and shock mount plates. If you convert to multi leafs, I think you have to replace shock mount plates, replace or modify other things, and sometimes remove some leafs from the multis for height. (see Dave Pozzi's site) I have purchased 3 leaf mono replacement springs to replace my original 1968 mono springs, I am keeping original perches and mono shock plates. I got the 3 leafs from St Louis Spring, but you can get them from JC Whitney. They are listed for Novas, but fit on 1st generation Camaros, according to many posts here.

I have the JCW three-leaf mono replacements on my mono-leaf car and they fit fine! I figure good value for the buck, imho...

I ordered poly that fit them too. Just buy mono-poly bushings and pads is all.

I have, however added the second and third leaves from my worn out '68, 'Bird multi's just to stiffen it up so they better match my about 525 pound aftermarket front coils for my BB now.

pdq67

Thanks guys I am trying to decide to change to multi leaf or stay with the mono leaf.

if your replacing them go with multi, they're safer if something happens and less likely to have wheel hop

have you ever actually seen a mono spring break?

thanks

Nope.

But I have had multi-leafs break. Not disasterous, but does make the vehicle doggy-track. Both were F-bodies... one was my '70 Camaro, the other my '75 Trans-Am (years ago).

Yes, I hung my drivers side homemade slapper-bar on a RR rail b/c of a pothole at the crossing and snapped my mono-leaf right where the Cal-trac's slap/lock!!

That's why I am not a fan of them as well as now tell guys to make sure their slappers hit right in the middle of the bottom of the front spring eye!! Even if they have to weld a piece of extra tubing on them to make them long enough...

That way, their slapping won't warp the main leaf's!!!

pdq67

I went with the JCW 3 leaf replacement springs on my old 68 as well. Good value for the money and put the rear back up where it used to be. The mono's sagged pretty bad over time. I was happy with the JCW springs and NAPA shocks.

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/jeffhansbury@comcast.net/68LT1/68LT1-21.jpg

Yes, I hung my drivers side homemade slapper-bar on a RR rail b/c of a pothole at the crossing and snapped my mono-leaf right where the Cal-trac's slap/lock!!

That's why I am not a fan of them as well ...
pdq67

Perhaps you should not be a fan of homemade slapper-bar's instead...

Jeff great looking car, what kind of wheels are those? I still have not decided which way is best to go. I do want to use some drop springs either way in the rear. I used drop springs in the front.

That car is now in England, I sold it last year. That picture shows the ride height with the JCW 3 leaf replacement springs so if you want it to sit lower you don't want these springs. The wheels are Vintage Wheelworks V45 16x8 front and rear with 245/50/16 up front and 255/50/16 in the rear. The car handled great, had a 4 wheel disc brake conversion which worked awesome and had a 94 LT1/4L60E in it. I missed that car this summer.

David,

I made them so they were free except for the cost of a few nuts, bolts and washers, one piece of long steel and welding AND once I got them tuned worked great imho!!

In the past, I always looked to see if the guy that was running slappers had them set so they slapped the spring eye bottoms b/c if they do, I figure he was ready for action AND I'd better look out for a fast car!!

pdq67