Leaf spring question....

dk9mm

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Dec 23, 2012

#1

• Dec 23, 2012

• #1

Hello, while driving there is a little swaying if the road is a little uneven. Do I need new leafs? Looks like original leafs but someone changed the shackles... See pics. Also, it's an I6.

Thanks for the help!

 

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dk9mm

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Dec 23, 2012

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dk9mm

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Dec 23, 2012

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dk9mm

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Dec 23, 2012

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Realmongo

I prefer to be called "Evil Genius"

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Oct 10, 2001

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Dec 23, 2012

#5

• Dec 23, 2012

• #5

First off, you shuld check your tire pressue with an accurate gauge and ensure everything in the rear suspension is torqued to specs. Next up, those extended shackles have a nasty habbit of destroying rear springs. You can either replace your springs with new ones or have yours re-tempered. Then at the same time you can replace you rear bushings and put in some replacement stock-length shackles. Be a good time to swap out the rear shocks too.

 

rbohm

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Apr 12, 2002

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Dec 23, 2012

#6

• Dec 23, 2012

• #6

if the springs are original, then yes it is time to replace them, after all they are 46 years old. second if you have the longer rear shackles they also need to be dumped. give them the float test, IE toss them into a lake and if they float them keep them on a shelf somewhere.

 

Hwyman

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Nov 25, 2010

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Bakersfield, CA

Dec 24, 2012

#7

• Dec 24, 2012

• #7

Springs support your car and provide the "cushion" for the ride. The shocks control the cushioning motion. They slow the bounce down to prevent it acting like a po-go stick. If they (shocks) are worn, there is no control of the springs action, and curves or bumps in the road will allow the car to wallow, or sway. If your shocks have some miles or age on them, I would replace them first. If the car doesn't sit at the right height or have enough support after you remove the extended shackles, I would buy new springs.

 

dk9mm

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Dec 24, 2012

#8

• Dec 24, 2012

• #8

Ok thanks for the info HWYMAN... Rear shock are new. So I should change out the shackles to standard ones first...

Question, why would anyone put extended shackles??? Reposition leaf angle due to being worn out?

 

horseballz

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Dec 24, 2012

#9

• Dec 24, 2012

• #9

Question, why would anyone put extended shackles???

Click to expand...

Answer:
To raise the rear of the car, either to regain stock height from worn springs or to make it higher than stock for tire clearance or aesthetics. It looks as though your car is a bit higher than stock all the way around. My guess is that after installing new front springs, a previous owner used the shackles to "level" it out, front to rear.
My $.02,
Gene

 

Hwyman

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Nov 25, 2010

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Bakersfield, CA

Dec 24, 2012

#10

• Dec 24, 2012

• #10

Longer shackles were popular when I was younger (the old days). The raised rear of the car was a common look in the 60's. It made your car look different than the rest, and raising it with extended shackles was very cheap and easy. It can also get your car back to normal height if the springs are very worn and saggy.

As to your swaying ---- Make sure you take a good look at all your front end suspension components. Looseness in the front can cause the car to rebound unevenly and feel like swaying. Even something as simple as uneven tire pressure can cause the car to feel "funny".

 

hipo_p51

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Dec 24, 2012

#11

• Dec 24, 2012

• #11

If you shop around you can replace your shackles and springs for 300 bucks or less. Very easy job, assuming you have the tools required. Good luck.

 

2

2+2GT

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Apr 25, 2009

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Dec 26, 2012

#12

• Dec 26, 2012

• #12

hipo_p51 said:

If you shop around you can replace your shackles and springs for 300 bucks or less. Very easy job, assuming you have the tools required. Good luck.

Click to expand...

Glazier/Nolan will sell you show-correct GT springs with eye and U bolts, and shackles for under $200.

 

SoCalCruising

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Jan 7, 2013

#13

• Jan 7, 2013

• #13

Oh boy! I see another "How do you get the bolt out of the front spring bushing?" story coming .... Stay tuned.

 

horse sence

15 Year Member

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Jan 7, 2013

#14

• Jan 7, 2013

• #14

SoCalCruising said:

Oh boy! I see another "How do you get the bolt out of the front spring bushing?" story coming .... Stay tuned.

Click to expand...

 

Mr67Stang

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Feb 10, 2007

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Jan 8, 2013

#15

• Jan 8, 2013

• #15

The natural stance of these Mustangs was to be sitting a little lower in the rear than in the front. It looks as though yours might have tire clearence issues if you convert it back to a stock shackle. I am not a fan of the extended shackles by any means. I used air shocks to get my cars rear raised but that mackes it ride like a truck and hurts traction on hard launches. So, while I am not recomending air shocks, it is another option that would be cheaper than what you maybey should do. With the I-6 you should not have traction issues.

The proper fix would be to replace the springs/shackles and find some wheels with an offset that tucks them in just a little more.