Ride height
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 35
Likes: 2
From: Chesterland Ohio
Ride height
Hi, everyone. New to the Forum and this is my first post.
Just completing a frame off on a '67 couple and used NOS HD springs front and rear. The rear leaf is a 7 leaf whereas the original had 9 leaves. I no longer have the original springs so can't go back in time.
It seems it is riding much higher than I recall although it has been quite a few years since it's been driven. This is most noticable when the car is viewed from the rear--spare tire carrier and rear valance removed--as you can see the 1/2 shafts quite readily. Very distinct angle at the U-joints.
I set the camber to zero degrees prior to installing the rear spring with the 1/2 shafts parallel to the ground. Now it sits much higher and the rear wheels have a distinct positive camber. I know I can change camber but including as much info as I can.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for them.
Just completing a frame off on a '67 couple and used NOS HD springs front and rear. The rear leaf is a 7 leaf whereas the original had 9 leaves. I no longer have the original springs so can't go back in time.
It seems it is riding much higher than I recall although it has been quite a few years since it's been driven. This is most noticable when the car is viewed from the rear--spare tire carrier and rear valance removed--as you can see the 1/2 shafts quite readily. Very distinct angle at the U-joints.
I set the camber to zero degrees prior to installing the rear spring with the 1/2 shafts parallel to the ground. Now it sits much higher and the rear wheels have a distinct positive camber. I know I can change camber but including as much info as I can.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for them.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
Likes: 118
From: Conroe Texas
Welcome!
Have you compared measurements of your car's ride height, to the specifications called out in the Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM)?
For my 65, the AIM lists specific ranges of acceptable ride heights as measured from the bottom of the rocker panels just rearward of the front tires, and forward of the rear tires.
Jeff
Have you compared measurements of your car's ride height, to the specifications called out in the Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM)?
For my 65, the AIM lists specific ranges of acceptable ride heights as measured from the bottom of the rocker panels just rearward of the front tires, and forward of the rear tires.
Jeff
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
The best way to determine where your rear ride height is relative to design is to check the "D" height, measured as shown in the Assembly Manual, UPC 4, sheet B5 - takes about two minutes, and the measurement is independent of tire size. It measures actual suspension height (spring deflection) vs. design. 
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 35
Likes: 2
From: Chesterland Ohio
Thanks, guys. I have the AIM but never thought to look there. Was going by what I thought I remembered...but memories do fade. But the angle of the shafts just didn't look like what I remember. Seems the differential yokes and spindles were pretty much the same height from the ground and the 1/2 shafts were pretty much parallel to the ground.
I'll take a look at the manual...written number much more accurate than memory!
Thanks again.
I'll take a look at the manual...written number much more accurate than memory!
Thanks again.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
Likes: 118
From: Conroe Texas
Sounds like that was when the car had worn out springs. If the half-shafts are perfectly level and the yokes/spindles at the same height as each other, you won't have any angle in the U-joint and thus the needle bearings in the U-joint will not spin - or so I've been told.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Sounds like that was when the car had worn out springs. If the half-shafts are perfectly level and the yokes/spindles at the same height as each other, you won't have any angle in the U-joint and thus the needle bearings in the U-joint will not spin - or so I've been told.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
Likes: 118
From: Conroe Texas
That issue is handled in the design - in the top (plan) view, the differential is mounted such that the centerline of the U-joints on the output yokes is slightly rearward of the centerline of the U-joints on the rear spindles, so the needles in the U-joint trunnions are always moving, regardless of the angle of the half-shafts in the rear view.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,974
Likes: 2
From: Crownsville Md.
Hi, everyone. New to the Forum and this is my first post.
Just completing a frame off on a '67 couple and used NOS HD springs front and rear. The rear leaf is a 7 leaf whereas the original had 9 leaves. I no longer have the original springs so can't go back in time.
It seems it is riding much higher than I recall although it has been quite a few years since it's been driven. This is most noticable when the car is viewed from the rear--spare tire carrier and rear valance removed--as you can see the 1/2 shafts quite readily. Very distinct angle at the U-joints.
I set the camber to zero degrees prior to installing the rear spring with the 1/2 shafts parallel to the ground. Now it sits much higher and the rear wheels have a distinct positive camber. I know I can change camber but including as much info as I can.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for them.
Just completing a frame off on a '67 couple and used NOS HD springs front and rear. The rear leaf is a 7 leaf whereas the original had 9 leaves. I no longer have the original springs so can't go back in time.
It seems it is riding much higher than I recall although it has been quite a few years since it's been driven. This is most noticable when the car is viewed from the rear--spare tire carrier and rear valance removed--as you can see the 1/2 shafts quite readily. Very distinct angle at the U-joints.
I set the camber to zero degrees prior to installing the rear spring with the 1/2 shafts parallel to the ground. Now it sits much higher and the rear wheels have a distinct positive camber. I know I can change camber but including as much info as I can.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for them.
We need before and afters don't keep us wondering. Shemp 
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 35
Likes: 2
From: Chesterland Ohio
Understand the fore/aft position of diff to spindles. Also, normal spring compression over irregularities should change the relative position of the shaft/yoke/diff as well and cause nearing rotation.
Pictures? Gotta figure out how to upload and I'll do it. Nice looking coupe, Shemp!
Thanks again for the responses.
Pictures? Gotta figure out how to upload and I'll do it. Nice looking coupe, Shemp!
Thanks again for the responses.
