Topic: Strange Leaf Spring Issue

[BlueOval]

Hello All,

I have a very strange issue with my rear leaf springs and I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with this before.  The car is a '67 GT500 clone and I pulled it all apart about 3 years ago.  It had a performance suspension with 4 leaf springs, poly bushings all around and the car sat great (pic attached).  Now that I'm re-assembling the car I can't get it to settle in the rear.  It's sitting about 2.5" higher than before and I've tried loosening all hardware, etc to get it to settle (including standing in the trunk area for downward weight but it only springs right back up.

It's almost as if the leaf springs have curled back up, they were even difficult to get back into the car with the rear shackles and I don't seem to remember them being that difficult to remove but then again I am getting up in years.  If any other angles of pics area needed, I'll gladly post them.  I detached the shocks and rear sway bar just to make sure they were not binding anything.  Note: in order to attach the sway bar to the leaf spring, I need to jack whichever side up and attach the hardware which compresses the suspension but hey are still stiff and will not compress much further.  I'm scratching my head.

Any ideas anyone??  Anyone ever deal with leaf springs that have re-sprung

Any advice is welcome

Jim

[J_Speegle]

Never heard of that one (reverse of the common complaint      Have you talked to the company that supplied the aftermarket springs?

[BlueOval]

Hi Jeff,

I didn't want to bother you with this question.  This is the same car I sent you the pics of through my personal email that is a template for the originals with regards to suspension, undercarriage and drive-train assembly marks.  I bought the car with the suspension package already on it so I have no idea who supplied it.  I tried Google with the problem but as you mentioned everyone else seems to have the reverse problem.  It's like the leafs just curled up.  They were also stored correctly and out of the weather.  I can't figure this one out.

I would understand if once on the ground it would settle with me pushing down on the rear but it springs right back up and it's stiff as hell.  It has a stiff light feel to it, not like the original soft heavy feel you gt when pushing down on the rear quarter.   I currently don't have the tank and interior in it but I don't see that bringing it down the needed 2.5", especially considering how stiff it is in the back. Think it will settle after out on the road for a bit ?

Jim

[app01]

Just a few thoughts. I am assuming that the picture you posted is not how it is now, since there are no axle  U-bolts on the RS, so things to look at:

1. No air shocks, correct? If not, are you sure shocks are not binding?
2. How about the sway bar, is it binding someplace?

I can't think of anything else.

[midlife]

It is very common when re-attaching leaf springs onto a car that the car sits too high.  Midlife had the same problem, but after I drove it around 3-4 blocks on the first engine start, the rear height settled down exactly what it was before I removed the springs. 

If you want, lightly loosen the front eye bolts and the shackle bolts, drive slowly a short distance.  When ride height settles down, go back and tighten the bolts.

[BlueOval]

Just a few thoughts. I am assuming that the picture you posted is not how it is now, since there are no axle  U-bolts on the RS, so things to look at:

1. No air shocks, correct? If not, are you sure shocks are not binding?
2. How about the sway bar, is it binding someplace?

I can't think of anything else.

Currently all hardware is attached loosly so as to allow for movement.  No air shocks (using gas charged shocks but they are curently removed to see if the car will settle) and I have the sway bar disconnected.  I think I may have to drive it around the block a couple times to see if it will settle.  I just thought someone else had experienced this issue while undergoing a lengthy restoration which is why I put it up here.  Thanks for the suggestions/comments.

[BlueOval]

It is very common when re-attaching leaf springs onto a car that the car sits too high.  Midlife had the same problem, but after I drove it around 3-4 blocks on the first engine start, the rear height settled down exactly what it was before I removed the springs. 

If you want, lightly loosen the front eye bolts and the shackle bolts, drive slowly a short distance.  When ride height settles down, go back and tighten the bolts.

That makes me feel a little better, I guess I'll have to drive it a couple blocks to get it to settle.  I have left all hardware slightly loose to allow for movement so we'll see how much it drops. It's confusing thought considering the car had the same leaf springs and nothing int hat area of the car has changed and now it sits like a 4wd in the rear.  I'm thinking it has to be a minus interior and lack of weight on them for years kind of thing.  The car is about 3-4 months off from firing so once it does, I'll have to road test and see if I can get it to settle.  Thanks for the info, I'll sleep a little better knowing that others have experienced the same issue.  There is hope in the air once again.

[Armond]

If you titan the U bolts while the rear end of the car is up and the springs hanging down, with the weight of the rear end on them, it will sit high. I always barely snug up the rear end to the springs and then sit the car down on the ground, I tighten up the nuts.  Not doing this cause the car to sit high. At the factory the rear end assembly was originally upside down and the springs laid on top of the housing and there was no real pressure on them.