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55jlc · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:45 am Post subject: Springs / Ride height

A few years ago I put dropped spindles and stock springs under the front of my '55. My car had begun to sit low on the drivers side so I broke down and got new stock height rear leaf springs, bushings and new shocks for it. I put them under there Sat. It sat way high in the back but looked good other than that. I took it for a test drive and rechecked everthing. It handles substantually better now. When I went out on Sunday it is already sitting a bit low on the drivers side. Any ideas what would cause this and what to do to fix it? Will these springs settle in and the rear drop any or much? I really don't want to put lowering blocks but it looks like I might have to if it doesn't settle/drop down on its own. Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks,
Jim

Marv Cowden · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:55 pm Post subject:

Did you personally put the new rear springs on? When putting new leaf springs on, you should always wait until the car is sitting on the ground before tightening the shackles. You might want to loosen them and retighten while it's weighted. While your down there, make sure the shackles are on correctly. Having the rearend much higher can mess with the geometry of the front end, reduce the caster so the thing won't steer correctly going down the highway, will "hunt" while at speed. Mine did this so I put some 1" spacer blocks in the rear, problem solved.
Hope this helps. Marv.
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acardon · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:57 pm Post subject:

Did you tighten the spring and shackle bushings with the full weight of the car on the suspension. If the rear end was hanging down when they are tightened, it can keep the rear from settleing.
Also, the front suspension can cause one side of the rear to appear to be sagging.

55jlc · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 10:07 am Post subject:

Thanks for the information on the shackles. I will get under it loosen and retighten the shackles and see if that helps.

If the front suspension can cause the rear ro apear to sag how would you adjust for that? It is the driver side rear that apears low.

Marv Cowden · Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:18 am Post subject:

I don't know about you but I'm 230+lbs, my car tends to steer in circles whenever I'm driving. Other than that, it would take a major failure up front (spring collapse, etc.) to effect the rear as much as you have described.
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55jlc · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 10:55 am Post subject:

I tried loosening the shackles, bouncing it and retightening all. It didn't make any difference. I drove it some Sunday to see if that would make a difference, but nothing. It is still sitting low on the drivers side with no load in it.

black57 · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 2 Location: collevville , texas

On the topic of rear leaf springs . Thre's no need to replace the rear springs ,because you usually get the rear too high with replacement springs. You can take them apart and glass bead the leaves and rearch them cold and with a little practice you can raise the rear the amount you want . If anyone is interested I will describe how to do this ,. I have done over 20cars this way. It is hard work! black57