I just installed a new set of 5-leaf springs. Everything went well during the install, but after getting it back on the ground, I noticed that the passenger side tire appears to hang out about 1" farther than the other side. The passenger side is also sitting up a bit higher. Prior to the install I noticed that the front bushings both seemed to be pressed in and offset to one side (this is the way they came with the springs). I did have to kick the springs over slightly while dropping the axle down onto the pads.
I left the rear shackle bolts a bit loose as well as the bolts going thru the front bushings. I was wondering if anyone else has experianced this issue and if the offset in the front bushings is causing my problem. If I lift the car can i fix it with a BFH or do I need to remove the springs and press the bushings so they are both on center?
I had the same thing when I changed my springs last year. I had to center the bushings before installing the springs. Also be sure the pads and and shock bracket holes are lined up with the pin in the springs. You may have shifted them when you pushed the springs over .
I was in the midst of typing a post about this same issue last night. Had to pull the spring and center the front bushings. I called the supplier. They stated that,"we've been selling the same springs for 20 years and this is the first time...".
They are still about 3/8" over to the passenger side.
Where did you guys buy your spring?
I'm a hobbyist. Not a professional. Don't be hatin'!
I used the original spring perches. It seemed a little strange to me that both springs bushings were offset to one side. Are the bushings and sleeves normally a tight fit? I would like to try the big-hammer method first before I take all this stuff off again.
The BFH might work. Don't use any heat. You may change the temper of the metal and/or damage the rubber bushing. I had a local shop use a press to center mine.
I'm a hobbyist. Not a professional. Don't be hatin'!
I was able to get some pix. The photos were taken from the front of the spring perch facing the rear. As you can see, there is a flange on the bushing sleeve and they are both coming in from the same side of the spring. The offset of the bushing is about the same on both sides. Since the sleeve has a flange, I wonder if one should be pressed in from one side and the other should be pressed in from the opposite? One thing for sure, you can see how both springs are offset to one side.
I just did that job, make sure the rear shakle bolts are tightend to the stops or where the thread ends if you dont they will lean to the side, I did send perches back to ames nothing lined up... Let us know the out come,If the maker said he's been doing it 20 years "theres always a first time" Good luck Ron ...
69 RA III T/A Auto 69 Sprint vert 3speed ( sold to a new home) 69 350 coupe ( new home in Denver) 69 350 HO 4spd
It almost looks like there is a problem with the fit and looks like they are flopping around in the perch. See the gaps? Could they be in backwards, meaning the front of the spring is located in the back?
Both of those bushing sets shouldn't be offset to the same side like that. Even if you had them backwards, front to back, they wouldn't be right. I'll go out to the 'fridge' and take a quick pic...
Nope...the springs are not backwards. I bought the springs and the hardware kit, which included new u-bolts, shackles, pads, bolts, etc... The front bushings were already pressed into the springs as you see in the photos. I'm trying to figure out why the front bushing sleeve has a flange and both sleeves are pressed in the same direction. I wonder if I got two left feet here. However, I can't imagine that they would be sold as right/left? If the bushing sleeve is pressed to where the flange meets the spring, then there is an offset like you see in the photos. I guess if I just center up the bushings in the springs, that would take care of it.
Jim,your bushings are different than mine. Mine are just as pictured by Ron. No heavy rubber on the sides. The ones I removed were also as pictured, and bothe bushings were pressed in from the same side. But, they were centered.
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Last edited by Bronze Bird; 01/21/0810:25 PM.
I'm a hobbyist. Not a professional. Don't be hatin'!
I got my springs from a local spring and suspension shop. Both bushings are pressed in from the same side. I brought an old spring with me to match it up and I noticed that the bushings on the new springs were sticking out to one side. I asked the builder about it and he said it just had to be pressed in to center it. I did, it lines up. I wouldn't use the bfh while they were mounted in the perches; you don't want to bend something that you'll have to take apart and replace afterwards anyway.
Looked under my car last night--DUH!--the springs aren't in backwards. The rolls on the end are different. Offset roll on the perch, and center roll on the back.
The difference in the outer bushing size threw me. One huge problem with fixing it through the computer is the loose bolts. Do the loose bolts create all the slop causing something that looks like a more lousy fit than it is?
I wouldn't think that the correct torque would take up the slack in such a stout bracket. But I try not to think a lot because it makes life more freindly. So some mojo might whip everything into shape.
Beating with a bfh doesn't correct the problem even if it aligns. The probem is that the leafs flop around in the mounts.
It needs some assbone supporting the spring, similar to what Jim posts.
I will take the springs out and center up the bushings and will let you know how it turns out. Hopefully this thread will save some poor sole from having to do it twice.
I wanted to update on this and see if there is any more advice;
I removed both springs and centered the front bushings in the springs. I reinstalled the springs and it still appears that the axle may be slightly offset. However, it could be an optical illusion, since one side is still higher than the other. My next plan is to remove the shocks to see if it sits any different. If that doesn't tell anything, than I'm going to swap the springs from driver side to passeger side.
Is one side in the rear sitting higher? is that it?
that COULD be a bent subframe...it will kick the opposite diagonally rear up if its low at front or vice versa...mostly seen from rear though...check the car diagonnally and all 4 corners....
I wanted to update on this and see if there is any more advice;
I removed both springs and centered the front bushings in the springs. I reinstalled the springs and it still appears that the axle may be slightly offset. However, it could be an optical illusion, since one side is still higher than the other. My next plan is to remove the shocks to see if it sits any different. If that doesn't tell anything, than I'm going to swap the springs from driver side to passeger side. Thanks, Bob
Bob, removing the shocks won't make any difference. When you remove the springs, place them side by side, upside down. Make sure the springs have the same overall length and arch.
I'm not sure if this is a problem with the 1st gen cars or not but the 2nd gen firebirds and camaros have the rear end off center up to a half inch off from the factory.
Bjorn, One side is sitting up approx 1/2" higher on the passenger side. Actually, the measurement isn't as bad as I thought. I could swear by looking at it from behind that it's more than an inch. I will pull the springs and compare the length and the arch. What do you mean by checking the car diagonally on all 4 corners? Thanks, Bob
all 4 corners...well, its actually 2 and 2... verify the 1/2" you have just gotten...then measure the two fronts and compare...if you have a low 1/2" in rear left , you might have a high 1/2 in front right...that would indivcate a possible bent subframe....dont ask how I know! lol
Okay, I will check that. Also, Jim indicated that perhaps the coils in the front could have something to do with it. The front coils have not yet been replaced and are probably the originals. I could se where perhaps the car could sag on the drivers side, since most of the weight inside the vehicle has been on the drivers side for 40 years.
Bjorn, One side is sitting up approx 1/2" higher on the passenger side. Actually, the measurement isn't as bad as I thought. I could swear by looking at it from behind that it's more than an inch. I will pull the springs and compare the length and the arch. What do you mean by checking the car diagonally on all 4 corners? Thanks, Bob
I think the term is thrust alignment. It's making sure the rear wheels are tracking behind the front wheels. The known result is what we use to call a side winder. You may have seen one. It looks like the car is traveling down the road diagonally.
Bjorn, One side is sitting up approx 1/2" higher on the passenger side. Actually, the measurement isn't as bad as I thought. I could swear by looking at it from behind that it's more than an inch. I will pull the springs and compare the length and the arch. What do you mean by checking the car diagonally on all 4 corners? Thanks, Bob
I think the term is thrust alignment. It's making sure the rear wheels are tracking behind the front wheels. The known result is what we use to call a side winder. You may have seen one. It looks like the car is traveling down the road diagonally.
whats called "dog legging" or "dog tracking" here in Texas, no thats not what I was looking for... its only up /down I`m thinking of... "Dog tracking", you are looking at a car going down the road , while behind it you can see all 4 wheels, the two fronts to one side of the two rears...
no, I was talking about looking at the car from the rear, and one siderearquarter seems lower...and then the opposite front then sits higher...its the upward bent front pushing down the rear diagonally corner
