Rear sag and starting issue
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Joined: Sep 2013
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Rear sag and starting issue
My 81 ran great all summer with no issues, finishing the year with a 500 mile road trip. Then I went to put it into storage and noticed that the driver's rear fender is suddenly about 2" lower than it's ever been. And the universal joints were binding/snapping when I drove it. What the heck, did I break the spring?
Also, very uncharacteristically she wouldn't start. So, no problem I just tried boosting it from another vehicle. But even with a boost, a battery change and several minutes of charging she would barely turn over. Seemed like the starter was dragging really hard then would spin up enough to start her. What would make it drag like that?
Also, very uncharacteristically she wouldn't start. So, no problem I just tried boosting it from another vehicle. But even with a boost, a battery change and several minutes of charging she would barely turn over. Seemed like the starter was dragging really hard then would spin up enough to start her. What would make it drag like that?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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1. There are a number of possibilites. Did the rear spring crack or break? Did the strut rod cam bolt come loose? Compare the two sides to determine what is causing the sag.
2. Was the replacement battery new? Did you check the connections at the starter and the ground under the battery compartment on the frame?
2. Was the replacement battery new? Did you check the connections at the starter and the ground under the battery compartment on the frame?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
1. There are a number of possibilites. Did the rear spring crack or break? Did the strut rod cam bolt come loose? Compare the two sides to determine what is causing the sag.
2. Was the replacement battery new? Did you check the connections at the starter and the ground under the battery compartment on the frame?
2. Was the replacement battery new? Did you check the connections at the starter and the ground under the battery compartment on the frame?
2. The battery was not new but it was fully charged. Also, the AMA guy came out to try it too and he used a battery booster that he said had never failed to work on any other car but it didnt work on mine. Then he used the truck cables and that worked, but just barely.
If it was the ground wouldn't the other components have power issues too. Everything else seems to be ok, lights, radio, blower, just the starter is dragging big time. Did not check the connection at the starter though. Just struck me as very odd that it would turn very slowly and then after a few seconds of barely moving it would turn much faster but still not regular speed. Guess that could denote a connection but it seems odd that it would just fail so suddenly if that were true.
Last edited by Give'rBuddy; Oct 18, 2013 at 02:33 PM.
Race Director
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The starter uses more power than anything else, lights, radio etc. You have to start with the simple stuff like the condition of the connections. After that you can pull the starter and have it bench tested.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,503
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From: McGrady NC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
Check the negative ground cable that runs from the battery box to the frame crossmember. Take the cable loose and clean the cable end and the area of the frame when it attaches. The do the same with the engine ground. Mine is at the right side motor mount but not sure where yours might be as it differed from year to year. Make sure the starter cables connections are clean and tight. Then start worrying about starters and batteries.
Regarding your spring question, if the tire is not sitting upright but tilted significantly out at the bottom then I would suspect the strut rod bushings or adjustment. If one side is seriously lower than the other it could be a number of things from the spring bolt bushings at the end of the spring to a broken spring to a broken body mount to a rusted frame. Pictures of the offending side from under the car would help.
Regarding your spring question, if the tire is not sitting upright but tilted significantly out at the bottom then I would suspect the strut rod bushings or adjustment. If one side is seriously lower than the other it could be a number of things from the spring bolt bushings at the end of the spring to a broken spring to a broken body mount to a rusted frame. Pictures of the offending side from under the car would help.
