Suspension question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Dryden New York
Suspension question
I have finished up a rebuild on the front and rear suspension. But I am not happy with my ride height. I have about
a 1in Difference from side to side. The driver side (front and rear) is 1in lower than the passenger side (front and rear).
I have only driven the car a couple miles; I have moved the car to different places in the garage. Here is a list of things
I have replaced:
Rear: New trailing arm assemblies, rear spring, smart strut rods, All U-joints, shocks
Front: New springs, shocks, upper and lower control arm bushings, all ball joints, all tie rod ends, power steering valve and ram,
Rotors, idler arm, sway bar end links, wheel bearings
a 1in Difference from side to side. The driver side (front and rear) is 1in lower than the passenger side (front and rear).
I have only driven the car a couple miles; I have moved the car to different places in the garage. Here is a list of things
I have replaced:
Rear: New trailing arm assemblies, rear spring, smart strut rods, All U-joints, shocks
Front: New springs, shocks, upper and lower control arm bushings, all ball joints, all tie rod ends, power steering valve and ram,
Rotors, idler arm, sway bar end links, wheel bearings
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 10
From: Sault Ste Marie Ontario
Re: Suspension question (69side)
That is so when the driver gets in it is level. Just kidding. :lol: Not sure why. Are the bolts holding the rear spring the same length? They are probably 8" long. Good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,046
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Re: Suspension question (69side)
Were the bolts on the ends of the control arm shafts tightened AFTER the car suspension had settled?
Are the front springs properly aligned in the top of the spring towers?
Were the bolts in the rear suspension torqued with the car at ride height?
Just a few thoughts.
Are the front springs properly aligned in the top of the spring towers?
Were the bolts in the rear suspension torqued with the car at ride height?
Just a few thoughts.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Suspension question (69side)
Mine is the same and always has been. I tried jacking one side up with the rear hanger bolt but it still is not level. There has been past posts on this but I don't remember what the solution was. It is not your rebuilding that has caused this.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Burlington Ontario
Re: Suspension question (69side)
69side:
I am just finishing the same work to my car, have not got it down off the jack stands yet. I have read in some previous threads that you should leave the control arm bushing bolts (front upper & lower, and rear trailing arm bolts) slightly loose until you get the car on the ground. If you tighten all the bolts up with no weight on the suspension it can give you different heights from one side to the other. Did you put new springs in the front, if so are they seated properly in the pocket?
Jeff :smash: :smash:
I am just finishing the same work to my car, have not got it down off the jack stands yet. I have read in some previous threads that you should leave the control arm bushing bolts (front upper & lower, and rear trailing arm bolts) slightly loose until you get the car on the ground. If you tighten all the bolts up with no weight on the suspension it can give you different heights from one side to the other. Did you put new springs in the front, if so are they seated properly in the pocket?
Jeff :smash: :smash:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Dryden New York
Re: Suspension question (mapman)
the front control arm shaft bolts (upper and lower), the rear trailing arm
bolts and the strut rods were all torque with the car on the ground
after I took the car for a very short ride. I used front springs from zip
the ones they say "are similar to a F-41 factor suspension" "but shorter
(pg 218 p/n SU-660) .
How do I check to see if the front springs are seated properly, I know about
the small holes in the spring pocket top and bottom. How should the spring
end compare to those?
bolts and the strut rods were all torque with the car on the ground
after I took the car for a very short ride. I used front springs from zip
the ones they say "are similar to a F-41 factor suspension" "but shorter
(pg 218 p/n SU-660) .
How do I check to see if the front springs are seated properly, I know about
the small holes in the spring pocket top and bottom. How should the spring
end compare to those?
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Racer
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 422
Likes: 3
From: Oxford MI
Re: Suspension question (69side)
where are you taking your measurements? You shouldestablish your height from the frame to the ground first. The height at the wheel well is affected by body mounts as well as alignment geometry, ie. camber.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,335
Likes: 1
Re: Suspension question (69side)
Make sure your front coil spring is seated properly. There is a small stop at the base of the lower control arm. Make sure the spring is not sitting on top of it. Also, are you sure both of the springs in the front are the same. If one has a higher spring rate then the other it will cause the problems you are describing. I have seen different spring get installed before :skep:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,046
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Re: Suspension question (69side)
69side,
The spring alignment is to the UPPER spring tower. Per the A.I.M and the shop manual, the spring should be 0.37" + or - 0.13" from the upper spring stop.
If you can see the end of the spring in the small hole in the spring pocket top that will be pretty close. (When I rebuilt the front end on my 1980, I set the end of the spring, when viewed through the top hole, approximately centered in the hole.
If you can't see the end of the spring, it may mean that the spring is riding on top of the spring stop. This would cause that side to sit higher.
[Modified by mapman, 1:07 PM 5/30/2003]
The spring alignment is to the UPPER spring tower. Per the A.I.M and the shop manual, the spring should be 0.37" + or - 0.13" from the upper spring stop.
If you can see the end of the spring in the small hole in the spring pocket top that will be pretty close. (When I rebuilt the front end on my 1980, I set the end of the spring, when viewed through the top hole, approximately centered in the hole.
If you can't see the end of the spring, it may mean that the spring is riding on top of the spring stop. This would cause that side to sit higher.
[Modified by mapman, 1:07 PM 5/30/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,046
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Re: Suspension question (69side)
I will check the front springs, do you think that the front spring would
effect the rear on the same side ?
effect the rear on the same side ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 1
From: OKC Oklahoma
Re: Suspension question (69side)
I have my entire rearend out right now and one of the mounts on the rear crossmember sits at a different height- I suppose it's from years of use and the torque has pulled the mounts to a different height. You may check that. Also, you can try flipping the spring around and see if the height difference switches sides. As has been said, make sure that the front springs are seated correctly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Re: Suspension question (norvalwilhelm)
my 75 has been a little higher on the drivers side since i bought the car in 1980. Replaced front and back springs a few years ago and same thing. I'm just not going to worry about it, but am interested as you and Norval both have this. I wonder if this was a common thing? I always assumed it was because my car had been wrecked.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 44
From: Gods Country WI
Re: Suspension question (69side)
First off, make sure your springs are seated in the pockets. Second make sure your bushings were not tightened with out a load. If your car has a sway bar front or rear, make sure neither it or any of the attaching hardware, brackets are not bent. Try switching your front springs side to side in case there is a left/right difference for air conditioning possibly.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Dryden New York
Re: Suspension question (Jeff78)
It was one of the front springs, It was not seated. The front side to side is
with in 1/4" of eachother. The rear is the same side to side with the spring
nuts in the same position. I measured from the floor to the top off the wheel
well (center of the tire). The front is 27 1/2 27 1/4, The rear is 28 3/4.
Its still a little high but I think it should settle after time. That is with 8"
rear spring bolts.
Thanks to all that replied
Mike :cheers:
with in 1/4" of eachother. The rear is the same side to side with the spring
nuts in the same position. I measured from the floor to the top off the wheel
well (center of the tire). The front is 27 1/2 27 1/4, The rear is 28 3/4.
Its still a little high but I think it should settle after time. That is with 8"
rear spring bolts.
Thanks to all that replied
Mike :cheers: