What could be causing Lean to one side.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 142
Likes: 1
From: Fort White Florida
What could be causing Lean to one side.
I have a problem with my '79 leaning to the left side. Is there any kind of adjustment or could it be a weak or defective shock absorber? I have attached a picture from the rear. I can stick my fist between the tire and fender on the passengers side front and rear. On the drivers side my flat hand will just barely fit. I have only had the car a few weeks and still finding things that I never noticed.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 142
Likes: 1
From: Fort White Florida
Racer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Cherry Hill N.J.
Your Driver's side body mounts could be bad......
shocks on driver's side might be weak.........
front left spring could be bad.......
rear spring might be shot......
any of these items could cause your problem...
years of driving with no passenger and weight on driver's side
might also contribute to the lean......
By the way, the lean is not uncommon, usually to the left.
Hope this helps
shocks on driver's side might be weak.........
front left spring could be bad.......
rear spring might be shot......
any of these items could cause your problem...
years of driving with no passenger and weight on driver's side
might also contribute to the lean......
By the way, the lean is not uncommon, usually to the left.
Hope this helps
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 142
Likes: 1
From: Fort White Florida
I think I will start with the easiest thing first, replace the shocks. Are these good?
KYB KG5501 and KYB KG4550 Gas-a-Just Monotube Shocks.
Last edited by Rick_V; Jul 25, 2011 at 09:54 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,504
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 2
From: Castle Hills Texas
When I replaced my leaf spring mounts, my car straightened up a ton. It is fairly easy to do it. You can also adjust the height to some degree with how far you tighten or loosen the nut on the bolt of this assembly, which is in your first picture. This may or may not be your issue but thought it worth a mention.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 850
Likes: 12
From: Shakopee MN
I have the same thing with my '71 and it has brand new shocks and new monoleaf rear spring. The only thing left that could cause this is bad front coil springs right? I think the springs are original to the car as are the body mounts.
Last edited by StingrayLust; Jul 25, 2011 at 10:36 AM. Reason: additional info
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
1. Bent frame
2. Misadjusted rear spring
3. Worn/defective rear spring
4. Worn front coil spring on same side as lean.
5. Higher spring rate on opposite front spring.
6. Misaligned/shimmed body mounts.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 183
Likes: 1
From: Litchfield CT
roger that
Roger that. shocks don't hold the car UP. Springs hold the car UP. Spring sag is the likely cause, mostly due to one big guy riding in the car by himself most of the time.
Re-check air pressure in all 4 tires.
Measure ground clearance to the center of the wheel lip on all four corners. This will tell you the extent of the leaning. Should be about 27-28".
You can lift the rear of the car by crankling UP on the spring mount bolt. You can't raise the front, however.
Mine leans left also, beause I am, well, not as skinny as I once was. I'm replacing springs this winter.
Body mount failure is unlikely. Easy to check by looking.
Re-check air pressure in all 4 tires.
Measure ground clearance to the center of the wheel lip on all four corners. This will tell you the extent of the leaning. Should be about 27-28".
You can lift the rear of the car by crankling UP on the spring mount bolt. You can't raise the front, however.
Mine leans left also, beause I am, well, not as skinny as I once was. I'm replacing springs this winter.
Body mount failure is unlikely. Easy to check by looking.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
See post #13.
This is a very common issue with C3s.
I'd guess the front & rear springs are worn.
You can adjust some or maybe all of your rear sag out by tightening the rear drivers side spring bolt a few turns. Not the best way to fix your issue, but the cheapest/easiest.
Best solution-have the frame checked by a qualified auto body shop.
If the frame is straight, you can then check the body to frame alignment by setting the frame level to the floor and measuring the body wheel well openings to the floor to check for consistancy. Then you're down to replacing all three springs.
My guess...unless the car has been wrecked, worn springs.
This is a very common issue with C3s.
I'd guess the front & rear springs are worn.
You can adjust some or maybe all of your rear sag out by tightening the rear drivers side spring bolt a few turns. Not the best way to fix your issue, but the cheapest/easiest.
Best solution-have the frame checked by a qualified auto body shop.
If the frame is straight, you can then check the body to frame alignment by setting the frame level to the floor and measuring the body wheel well openings to the floor to check for consistancy. Then you're down to replacing all three springs.
My guess...unless the car has been wrecked, worn springs.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Swap the rear spring 180*
Ensure the front springs are properly seated in their pockets.
Beyond that, my guess is that the car will keep it's lean no matter what you do, like 95% of the other people that have complained about it over the years.
Ensure the front springs are properly seated in their pockets.
Beyond that, my guess is that the car will keep it's lean no matter what you do, like 95% of the other people that have complained about it over the years.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 10
From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
I chased my lean for years...replaced both front and rear springs with new glass versions, swapped them both 180* measured the frame everywhich way. Nothing is bent, body mounts O.K. yada yada yada. Still have to crank up the drivers side spring bolt 3/4" to level it out.If you look closely you can see the difference in this pic....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
As I was backing out my drive a few weeks ago I noticed the same thing about my 71 that was setting in the garage. It has been a project car for the last two years. I measured from the top center lip of all four wheels wells and discovered an inch difference from the driver side to the passage side rear. I started looking all over the car for what was causing the variance. As I mentioned it is a project car and not really driven much further than in and out of the drive so if I had a handling problem it was yet to be discovered. Then It came to me to check the tire pressure and after filling all tires equally the car leveled out. My problem was an easy fix I hope yours is too.