Leaf spring Problem on 64 Please help
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,421
Likes: 4
Leaf spring Problem on 64 Please help
When I had my 64 on the lift, I noticed the back leaf springs were touching the rear wheel. The car rides real low, scrapes over rail road tracks. The real wheels could not turn because they were pined to the leaf springs. Are the springs worn out, or do I need new shock or is something else? The shocks appear to be ok.
Thanks,
Geroge
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Thanks,
Geroge
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,660
Likes: 7
From: DFW
Camber adjustment will affect the clearance there. So would non-stock wheels with too much back spacing. Should not happen in any case, with stock wheels, even with a worn out spring. If the interference is with the tire, it may be too wide.
Tell us some more about your set up??
Tell us some more about your set up??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,048
Likes: 5
From: "cutesy" TN
Got a tape measure?
Measure the distance from the center out on each side. Post what you come up with and I will measure mine if no one else has that handy.
I will be under mine tomorrow anyway as the weather broke today (got up to 54). Not warm enough to do a lot but I will do what I can (or want to do).
Measure the distance from the center out on each side. Post what you come up with and I will measure mine if no one else has that handy.
I will be under mine tomorrow anyway as the weather broke today (got up to 54). Not warm enough to do a lot but I will do what I can (or want to do).
Cartoon Character
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 0
From: Can't be more than 114... Arizona
Once again, this is right where I was last Friday. I looked on a lift and my tires were being pushed by the spring. You need to look at the springs when the car is on the ground. My tires touch the spring on a lift because in fact this is quite normal due to weird rear suspension geometry. I was also told that if you get air under the rear tires over a bump, this will freeze the wheels as well to some amusement of the passersby. Try puting a couple of trans jacks or blocks under the tires and have another look. I have a 64 as well by the way so I can attest to this being the case. They do not touch on the ground. 
If they touch on the ground then your spring has become de-cambered methinks and you will need a new one...
If they touch on the ground then your spring has become de-cambered methinks and you will need a new one...
Last edited by Tintin; Feb 6, 2007 at 11:58 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
Camber adjustment will affect the clearance there. So would non-stock wheels with too much back spacing. Should not happen in any case, with stock wheels, even with a worn out spring. If the interference is with the tire, it may be too wide.
Tell us some more about your set up??
Tell us some more about your set up??
Especially the spring part.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,421
Likes: 4
Ok here goes my tires are Firestone Champions 195/75/15'sThe measurement from the inside of the wheels is 47 1/2"
Here are a few pic's
http://i10.tinypic.com/29pu2ky.jpg
IMG]http://i13.tinypic.com/2luxdv7.jpg[/IMG]
Thanks George
Here are a few pic's
http://i10.tinypic.com/29pu2ky.jpg
IMG]http://i13.tinypic.com/2luxdv7.jpg[/IMG]
Thanks George
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,660
Likes: 7
From: DFW
Edit: lots of threads on back spacing, check the archives. Stock wheels will have a back spacing around 3.5", depending on the wheel.
Last edited by 66since71; Feb 8, 2007 at 11:17 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,421
Likes: 4
George, If that measurement (47 1/2") is on the ground, from rim to rim (before jacking up the car - to get an accurate static camber), it suggests a back spacing on the wheels of about 5", which would certainly result in what we see in the pictures. Also, the tires look as though they are mounted on wheels much wider than stock. On a drum brake car, the 15x7 passenger car wheel with 4.3" back spacing might do that. Can you take off a wheel and measure it?
Edit: lots of threads on back spacing, check the archives. Stock wheels will have a back spacing around 3.5", depending on the wheel.
Edit: lots of threads on back spacing, check the archives. Stock wheels will have a back spacing around 3.5", depending on the wheel.
Hi .
I gave you sosme bum info. I measured the distance between the wheels while the car was uup on the lift. It is 49 1/2 "
What is back spacing and how do I determine if the wheels are to big?
Thanks George.
We are going to a Baton Rouge Corvette meeting this evening so I might not be able to get back with you until later tonight or tomorrow
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,660
Likes: 7
From: DFW
Hi .
I gave you sosme bum info. I measured the distance between the wheels while the car was uup on the lift. It is 49 1/2 "
What is back spacing and how do I determine if the wheels are to big?
Thanks George.
We are going to a Baton Rouge Corvette meeting this evening so I might not be able to get back with you until later tonight or tomorrow
I gave you sosme bum info. I measured the distance between the wheels while the car was uup on the lift. It is 49 1/2 "
What is back spacing and how do I determine if the wheels are to big?
Thanks George.
We are going to a Baton Rouge Corvette meeting this evening so I might not be able to get back with you until later tonight or tomorrow
http://www.minilitewheels.com/measuring.htm
We'll look for your note tomorrow..
Edit: take a look at this thread too. Sounds like others have had exactly your problem.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1607214
Harry
Last edited by 66since71; Feb 8, 2007 at 03:05 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,660
Likes: 7
From: DFW
When you measure, there is an extra 1" of width to accomodate rolling the beads on the wheel. So a 5.5" wheel will measure (between outer rim edges) 6.5". If it is not close to these dimensions, it is one of the hundreds of different wheels made that would bolt up to you car.
Let us know how it comes out!
Harry
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,421
Likes: 4
leaf spring problem
Hello Harry,
Thanks for staying with me. Here are some picc's I took today. Is this helpful? I am not sure what I am looking for, but I think it's the measuremet on the rim I took. It show almost 5 inches.
Geroge
Thanks for staying with me. Here are some picc's I took today. Is this helpful? I am not sure what I am looking for, but I think it's the measuremet on the rim I took. It show almost 5 inches.
Geroge
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,660
Likes: 7
From: DFW
Looks like section width of the tire is around 7.75" and that the wheel offset (not backspace) is around 3/4". If it is a 7" rim (I think it is based on the pictures), then the backspacing of the rim (not the rim-tire assembly) is about 4.75". Definitely a problem.
We could nail this down a little better if you could confirm the measurement from the rim edge to the mounting surface.
In any case, I think at least part of the problem is that you have the wrong wheels on the car.
PM me if you want to take this off line. HOWEVER... there is no problem doing it here, especially since we could get some help from some of the other guys (JohnZ?) who are up on this stuff.
Harry
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,246
Likes: 21
From: Going too fast over the hill. Iowa
The 195x75r15 tires are correct replacements for 7.75x15 originals - no problem there. Your wheels appear to be originals. Stand one up with a piece of wood across the back of the wheel - not touching the tire. If the wood is on the flat edge of the rim that retains the tire sidewall (not the turned out steel rim edge) the distance to the mounting surface on the back of the rim face (the surface that contacts the brake drum) should be less than 3.5 inches.
When your car is in the air with the wheels hanging, do the yokes pop out of the diff farther than 1/8 inch??
Are your strut rod bushings intact? The pics appear to show pieces of rubber hanging out of the strut rod bushings. If the bushings are shot, you will have the problem that you see on the lift, and a car than steers itself from the rear when the road is irregular.
When your car is in the air with the wheels hanging, do the yokes pop out of the diff farther than 1/8 inch??
Are your strut rod bushings intact? The pics appear to show pieces of rubber hanging out of the strut rod bushings. If the bushings are shot, you will have the problem that you see on the lift, and a car than steers itself from the rear when the road is irregular.
Last edited by magicv8; Feb 10, 2007 at 11:58 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,421
Likes: 4
When I had my 64 on the lift, I noticed the back leaf springs were touching the rear wheel. The car rides real low, scrapes over rail road tracks. The real wheels could not turn because they were pined to the leaf springs. Are the springs worn out, or do I need new shock or is something else? The shocks appear to be ok.
Thanks,
Geroge
Thanks,
Geroge
Crazy idea. I have 6 1/2 " long bolts on the end of each leaf spring, I'll shorten them the 5" and see what happends
If this doesn't work. I'll start changing wheels.
Thanks all you guys for you help. I have not fix the problem YET but I learned a lot.
George form La. that's louisiana