[Torquewrench]

My old coupe has a tendancy to sit with a little lean to it. It isn't noticable from the front, but from the back it seems one side sits a little lower. Could this be caused by the rear springs getting old?

To make things even more confusing a got a mish mash of different sized tires on the thing right now. I thought I'd be swift and put jack stands under the shock mounts to take the wheel/tire combo out of the equation. It didn't look as bad then, I messured it to be 1/2" different, but that was just to the pinch welded lip of the back panel which isn't exactly a straight edge.

So, do you guys think it might be the springs? I sure hope so because if it isn't I'd hate to think of what it might be.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1575122&a=11977248&p=43129085.jpg
66 C-code convertible
66 C-code coupe
65 GTO hardtop
76 Nova hatchback

 

[autoxsteve]

Sounds like springs to me. I am assuming that this 'tilt' is primarily from the rear of the car. Probably from sagging leaf springs. I had a slight tilt om mine, and it disappeared when I replaced the rear leaf springs (of course, I had already replaced the coils up front).



Steve Leslie, 65 coupe in restoration. 302, toploader, A/C, disc brakes, bench seat

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1571478&a=12409371&p=45514503.jpg

 

[Dees67]

I hope autoxsteve is correct, because my '67 vert does the same thing and I'm
counting on new rear springs (along with new shocks and a rear sway bar) to
fix the problem. I'm also going with subframe connectors but I don't dare put
them on until the rear is levelled out, for fear of making the tilt permanent.

Rich
'67 C-code 'vert (Dees67)
'69 GT FB (project car)
Check out my band: Brickyard Blues

 

[Mike_B]

Same thing is a problem on my 65 Fastback. I replaced the rear springs with new ones and the damn thing still leans! I hope unibody isn't warped.

http://216.71.48.244/archive/mikecar.jpg



65 Fastback 289 4spd in storage :-(
91 CRX Si... A.K.A. my go-kart with AC!

 

[FordDude]

First a little background before I tell you what I found on my 67 coupe. I bought it in 74 from a car dealers son who only had it a month, he was an insurance rick and was not allowed to drive a 4-speed. The original owner was a school teacher. At some point my stang was rearended, but only minor damage. I had mag wheels and air shocks on it when I was in high school. I always wondered why the passenger side was higher than the drivers side. It wasn't until I installed a set of rear leafs from a 69 428 stang that I found the problem. The drivers side was a GT suspension spring and the passenger was a standard spring. The drivers spring was at the same height as the replacement springs I was using and the passenger side was about 2 inches taller. My guess is that this mistake was made at the factory. One of your springs has probably lost some "spring" and that is why it is leaning to one side. BTW my front coils are now big block springs with one coil cut. MMMMM nice and firm ride. fd

1967 GT coupe been in my garage since 1974
1993 Ranger ExtCab 4.0L daily driver
1996 Aerostar wifes ride

 

[66emberglow]

How many beers did you consume before you noticed this phenomenon? /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

/forums/images/icons/blush.gifClick here to see free live bare topless Coppertonecam images./forums/images/icons/blush.gif
/forums/images/icons/smile.gifMy new 64 1/2 vert/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[sbryant]

I have the same problem with my '65. It sags a little lower on the passenger side. Not that noticable, but you can pour water on it (I know...gasp...) and the water wants to run toward the passenger side. It has air shocks on the back (controlled by one valve). I'm probably gonna set it up with independant valves/hoses so I can just put a little more pressure in one side. Good luck

'65 289 4V Edelbrock 1405 600CFM C-4 yada yada yada

 

[Hottarod]

If you sit behind your car on the ground on a completely level surface and stare at your leafs you should be able to see if one has started to sag more than the other. One spring will have an obviously less or more visable curvature in it from the bottom of the axle up to where it bolts to the shackle. It is a common with old leaf spring springs. Another phenomenon of this is that there can be different clearance from your tire to the fender on one side versus the other. This actually makes the rear end toe incorrectly.

The other thing to check is your shackles. On severe bottom out maneuvers you can wind up with one or the other or both of the shackles bent up. They have pretty much no where to go so they slant to one side or the other which will also put the springs out of whack.



You can see my 65 fastback at: http://hottarod.stangnet.com/
http://members.aol.com/macstang/Gifs/macstang3.jpg