Driver side rear is lower than passenger side.

67topless

Member

Mar 31, 2006

203

0

16

Raleigh, NC

Apr 17, 2006

#1

• Apr 17, 2006

• #1

My convertible has always been about 1/2 inch lower in the rear on the driver's side; now I have always attributed this to the 39 year old leaf springs. However, I swapped those out a couple of weekends ago and when I put on a rear sway bar this weekend, I noticed that it is still 1/2 an inch shorter.

My measurements have been taken from the center of the outside of the wheel-well at it's highest location. In addition, the front driver's side and passenger's sides are the same height.

Any ideas to help me track down the issue? I am stumped once again,

Scott

 

DukeGnarley

Member

Apr 2, 2003

597

2

19

Auburn/Ellensburg, Wa

Apr 17, 2006

#2

• Apr 17, 2006

• #2

when you measure the height, is the car on level ground?

 

67topless

Member

Mar 31, 2006

203

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16

Raleigh, NC

Apr 17, 2006

#3

• Apr 17, 2006

• #3

May not be exact, but pretty close (my garage floor). I know there is a slope from front to rear in my garage... but I wouldn't think there would be much of one lateraly.

 

68torinogt

Hey guys, guess what--I have a bi-pass!!!

Mar 21, 2006

0

0

53

Welcome my son, welcome to the machine

Apr 17, 2006

#4

• Apr 17, 2006

• #4

my torino was that way have you replaced any of the front end?

 

67topless

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Mar 31, 2006

203

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16

Raleigh, NC

Apr 17, 2006

#5

• Apr 17, 2006

• #5

68torinogt said:

my torino was that way have you replaced any of the front end?

Click to expand...

Not yet... but was planning on tackling that next weekend. Coil Springs - Spring Perches - Front Sway bar - Shocks

Not replacing any of the control arms yet. What I think is weird is that the front appears to be level. Both measure the same height... it is just the rear driver side that appears to be out of whack.

 

NasaGT

Founding Member

Sep 19, 2002

1,993

2

49

Virginia

Apr 17, 2006

#6

• Apr 17, 2006

• #6

Have the floors been replaced? Subframe connectors installed?

 

kmterrill

kill joy

Jun 10, 2005

2

1

29

Redford, MI

Apr 17, 2006

#7

• Apr 17, 2006

• #7

Here's a simple test to do. Jack the front up so the springs are not taking any weight and support it on equal height jackstands. If your rear end is still out of whack, it's not your front end doing it. Just a suggestion.

 

67topless

Member

Mar 31, 2006

203

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16

Raleigh, NC

Apr 17, 2006

#8

• Apr 17, 2006

• #8

NasaGT said:

Have the floors been replaced? Subframe connectors installed?

Click to expand...

No to both... have patched the floors, but not replaced. Was going to install subframe connectors but have not done that yet.

 

67topless

Member

Mar 31, 2006

203

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16

Raleigh, NC

Apr 17, 2006

#9

• Apr 17, 2006

• #9

kmterrill said:

Here's a simple test to do. Jack the front up so the springs are not taking any weight and support it on equal height jackstands. If your rear end is still out of whack, it's not your front end doing it. Just a suggestion.

Click to expand...

Sounds like a logical plan... and easy enough as well. I'll tackle that this evening.

 

68torinogt

Hey guys, guess what--I have a bi-pass!!!

Mar 21, 2006

0

0

53

Welcome my son, welcome to the machine

Apr 17, 2006

#10

• Apr 17, 2006

• #10

do the front end rubbers,perches and springs if you have them. theres most of the problem the rubber is gone and it is sagging to one side mine leveled out after the front end rebuild

 

67topless

Member

Mar 31, 2006

203

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16

Raleigh, NC

Apr 17, 2006

#11

• Apr 17, 2006

• #11

kmterrill said:

Here's a simple test to do. Jack the front up so the springs are not taking any weight and support it on equal height jackstands. If your rear end is still out of whack, it's not your front end doing it. Just a suggestion.

Click to expand...

Ok, according to this test, you can eliminate the front end. I just jacked her up and put the car on jack stands up front and the height issue is exactly the same (still off by 1/2 an inch).

 

kmterrill

kill joy

Jun 10, 2005

2

1

29

Redford, MI

Apr 17, 2006

#12

• Apr 17, 2006

• #12

Is the distance between the rear axle and the rear frame rail the same on both sides? Is it also centered from side to side? Just some measurements to take into consideration...

 

67topless

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Mar 31, 2006

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16

Raleigh, NC

Apr 18, 2006

#13

• Apr 18, 2006

• #13

Ok, I am hoping this turns out to be an issue of inexperience when installing my leaf springs. I just read a post from the archives:

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=450099&highlight=shackle+torque

I installed my leaf springs with the car on jack stands and the tires not supporting the suspension! So I am hoping that if I loosen everthing up and take the car for a spin around the block (gingerly), alll will settle in where it is supposed to be.

Question on the shackles, are they supposed to be torqued down to anything specific - hand tight - or loose enough to where the shackles freely move?

 

67topless

Member

Mar 31, 2006

203

0

16

Raleigh, NC

Apr 21, 2006

#14

• Apr 21, 2006

• #14

Ok, turns out my last post was spot on. I loosened the shackles and the u-bolt nuts and took the car out for a spin. Both sides are now exactly the same height of 24 1/2 inches from the floor to the top center of the outside fender.

In addtion, I actually read my blue bible (the 1967 shop manual) and looked up the torque requirements. It's a shame that I had the information right in front of me the whole time.

Scott