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Help with leaf springs

Jiri Deak

Jiri Deak

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Hi everyone, today we installed new leaf springs from Firm Feel on the car and we have a problem. The car is leaning to the left (about 1.5cm) and we don't know why. It seems as if the entire axle is shifted more to the left. Do you know what it could be? on the driver's side there is about 2mm gap between the tire and the wheel arch and on the passenger side there is about 2cm gap. We wondered if the urethane bushings could have an effect on this, because the original ones we removed are a bit narrower. There are 6 leaf springs on each side. Thanks for any advice!

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I found that switching to MP HD rear springs caused a similar tilt. Probably from the rate bias in the right spring. I adjusted the front t-bars to the correct ride height and the rear height also leveled out. The side to side issue is likely a different problem. I’d set the front ride height , then loosen u-bolts and see if you can push the back end to the correct location. Retighten and recheck front ride height.
 
This is interesting. You say the car leans to the left and I was thinking it was leaning measuring vertical height. From what I am reading and I also had to look it up, its about 18 mm difference. However you say the axle seems to have shifted to the left, so the slight clearance would be horizontal on left side? Also, to me, it looks like the vertical difference looks like the bumper is off a little.
 
I don't think the problem is with the torsion bars, before the leaf replacement the car was straight and the rear axle was more in the middle. It seems to me as if the rear axle was somehow shifted to the left side. In the back on the driver's side there is almost no space between the fender and the tire and on the other side you can fit a whole finger between the fender and the tire. The car should be the same, before the replacement there was a different number of leaves on each side (driver's side 6 and passenger side 8) and this problem was not there.. I don't understand it and I'm quite annoyed by it, something that should have been without a problem has just caused a lot of trouble.. please give me any advice that would help solve this problem

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The original springs were not even. But the front-end was set to compensate.
Now that they're even, readjust the torsion bars to level it out
 
RemCharger said:
The original springs were not even. But the front-end was set to compensate.
Now that they're even, readjust the torsion bars to level it out
Click to expand...
Okay, thanks for the tip. And which side of the torsion bars should I tighten if I want the rear of the driver's side to go up?
 
LowBikeMike said:
Is it shifted to the side which appears to have the cocked U bolt? The torsion bars will level it but no address the side to side.
Click to expand...
It doesn't seem to me that the U bolt is cocked, but I don't know, is there a way to tell? I'm thinking if that side isn't shifted because the car is tilted to one side.. that would be possible, right?
 
Have either of the rear shackles flipped ahead, instead of rearward? I have had this happen.
 
I’ve been doing a lot of reading after looking at your thread, partly because I need some springs. A couple of things, on one picture here, it looks like the spring is very tight between the u-bolts even though they seem to be further apart than where they were, judging by the rust marks. And well I’ll stop there. Found this other thread that I found interesting.
S

Thread 'S/S SPRINGS'

I have read ever thread in this suspension thread. A lot of good information. I have a 65 coronet with a 440 6pac, 4speed . I have completely rebuilt front end New torsion bars ect. The front end is raised as far as I could get and still get a good alinement. Backed is raise using air shocks( 90 lbs of air) . Car sets pretty level and rides fine. I want to put on S/S springs (3800 lbs ) and get same height or close and rely less on air shocks. I have heard S/S springs will have one side lower than the other. Has anyone used the S/S springs on a 65 coronet and how did it affect rear end...
 
I, Wonder if, one of the spring packs location pin/bolt
was drilled wrong, or slop in them, on one or other, or maybe both (?)
possibly offsetting the rear housing, off to one side, because of the pins (?)
as to the 'side to side change'/rear ends housing movement over to one side...
Maybe, also...
Lose them both up & see if it has play side to side, if it does,
Then push it over to the side it needs to go to
then tighten it back up, see if that helps...

You sure ? you have the springs on the right sides,
they should be a DS & PS specific, by the part #s on them...

These things/leaf springs, & these springs are mass produced
& not with the best of care anymore, not sure the metal/s
they use now either, is the 'same dimensions as the org. are' either
&/or it could be an error (in production) when drilling or assembling,
at the source/supplier, or Quality control issue possibly...

I'd call the supplier, ask...

It's not all that uncommon
for the car to be higher in the right rear (P/S)
but that's usually due to
MoPars, with performance BBs (not 100% sure on 1964's) have more springs count
on the passenger's side, for torque
especially on HD leaf springs

& yes you can adjust the ride height, as a band-aid to level it out
by lowering the opposite side TB in the front
or especially S/S style springs, it's intended to be that way
if it's a racecar
4 corner weighting/scales are far more important process, far more accurate
with the dedicated driver sitting in the car, & it usually doesn't sit level
side to side either

I don't know if the reproduction one/s, spring rate or even count etc.
are the same as it should be, like the OE factory units were
 
Last edited:
Do this simple test.....swap the springs to the other sides. If the ride height gets reversed , you will know the problem ls in the spring.
 
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