The Ford Barn

PeterBo · 12-30-2016, 08:08 PM

I have a RHS drive 1929 Phaeton and it has a significant lean to the right (drivers side) of about 1 inch lower body on the right. I have tried greasing front and rear springs, adjusting U bolt tension and order of tightening as described in other posts. The problem is a bit improved by doing these steps but not sufficiently. I now notice some contact between the right front wheel rubbing on the right side spare wheel well of the right fender!!

So, my question is, "Why can't I jack up the front of the car by the chassis and then release the front Spring shackles and the U bolts, remove the front Spring cluster and simple reverse it and re-insert (that is, the left side of the springs becomes the right side and vice versa)".

The attached image shows the lean.

Thanks, Peter

Y-Blockhead · 12-30-2016, 08:22 PM

Nothing to prevent you from turning the spring around. Can't hurt to try. But your problem may be from frame sag. Seems the cars in the US lean the other way. Probably from the fat assed drivers over the past 86 years...

Synchro909 · 12-30-2016, 08:25 PM

I'd check for a broken leaf in one of the springs - front and rear before I did too much.
It might be designed that way to allow for the camber in the road!!

Mitch//pa · 12-30-2016, 08:35 PM

We just had one with a seized shock and boy was it pulling the one side down..

PeterBo · 12-30-2016, 08:53 PM

This car does not have front shocks. The knobs on the Spring perches are there but no shocks or linkages. Interestingly but not uncommon in Oz, the rear has Hassler shocks and these seem to operating just fine.

I have checked the springs visually (but without taking them off at this stage) and cannot see any broken leaves.

Peter

Brentwood Bob · 12-30-2016, 09:06 PM

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Bent frame. bent axle, shifted spring, broke leaves, rough roads
Several other areas to eliminate.

1955cj5 · 12-30-2016, 09:14 PM

I replaced the front spring, removed and disassembled the rear spring, and alternated leaves when re-assembling, and it still leaned.

What worked well was to jack up the truck on the low side with a floor jack and a wood block against the frame at about the center cross member location, then loosening all the spring u-bolts front and rear, then jacking it again as high as you dare, and then tightened all the u-bolt nuts while the frame was still on the jack.

Was nearly level for quite a while but has started to sag again.

J Franklin · 12-30-2016, 09:54 PM

Look to see how relaxed the spring has become over time by looking how close the shackles are to the axle. Maybe it is time for a spring re-arching or replacement. The front one is easy to remove and replace. A jack or two & a 2x4 block between the axle and spring is all you need to get the shackles out and in. do this while all else is bolted up.

ian Simpson · 12-31-2016, 12:51 AM

Also known as bachelor lean. Turn the springs around and wait awhile, it should self correct given no significant problems such as broken spring leaves. Do not turn only one spring as this could place extra strain on the frame by attempting to twist is.

Early Land Rovers had extra leaves on the right side springs to alleviate this problem that was in their case exacerbated by the fuel tank being on the right side.

I experienced it with an 1960 Ford (UK) Thames 15cwt van. I cured the problem by replacing the rear springs with custom heavy duty replacements that made for a very rough ride.

C26Pinelake · 12-31-2016, 01:35 AM

the picture may be deceiving but it looks like 2 or 3 inches and not only one. Start by removing the spring to examine it properly. My guess is a broken leaf. Wayne

Tony Hillyard · 12-31-2016, 05:49 AM

That is very amusing Y-blockhead! And Ian Simpson calling it "batchelor lean" , that is very good! We all know about the rumble seat being called the "mother-in-law seat". I wonder what other amusing expressions there are out there?

Perhaps we should make a dictionary of similar funnies?

jm29henry · 12-31-2016, 09:20 AM

Did it happen all of a sudden or did you purchase the car that way .?

Dollar Bill · 12-31-2016, 10:27 AM

Irregular hood to body gaps would indicate a bent frame. If your gaps are OK, my next move would be R&R the leaf spring for closer inspection.

Chippy Minton · 12-31-2016, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

Seems the cars in the US lean the other way. Probably from the fat assed drivers over the past 86 years...

Exactly.

12-30-2016, 08:22 PM	#2
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,848	Re: Lean to the right Nothing to prevent you from turning the spring around. Can't hurt to try. But your problem may be from frame sag. Seems the cars in the US lean the other way. Probably from the fat assed drivers over the past 86 years...

12-30-2016, 08:25 PM	#3
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Lean to the right I'd check for a broken leaf in one of the springs - front and rear before I did too much. It might be designed that way to allow for the camber in the road!! __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

12-30-2016, 08:35 PM	#4
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Lean to the right We just had one with a seized shock and boy was it pulling the one side down..

12-30-2016, 08:53 PM	#5
PeterBo Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Crackenback, NSW, Australia Posts: 25	Re: Lean to the right This car does not have front shocks. The knobs on the Spring perches are there but no shocks or linkages. Interestingly but not uncommon in Oz, the rear has Hassler shocks and these seem to operating just fine. I have checked the springs visually (but without taking them off at this stage) and cannot see any broken leaves. Peter

12-30-2016, 09:06 PM	#6
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,234	Re: Lean to the right Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Bent frame. bent axle, shifted spring, broke leaves, rough roads Several other areas to eliminate.

12-30-2016, 09:14 PM	#7
1955cj5 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,578	Re: Lean to the right I replaced the front spring, removed and disassembled the rear spring, and alternated leaves when re-assembling, and it still leaned. What worked well was to jack up the truck on the low side with a floor jack and a wood block against the frame at about the center cross member location, then loosening all the spring u-bolts front and rear, then jacking it again as high as you dare, and then tightened all the u-bolt nuts while the frame was still on the jack. Was nearly level for quite a while but has started to sag again. __________________ Early '29 CCPU that had a 4-speed, but not any more.......in the family since '62

12-30-2016, 09:54 PM	#8
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: Lean to the right Look to see how relaxed the spring has become over time by looking how close the shackles are to the axle. Maybe it is time for a spring re-arching or replacement. The front one is easy to remove and replace. A jack or two & a 2x4 block between the axle and spring is all you need to get the shackles out and in. do this while all else is bolted up.

12-31-2016, 12:51 AM	#9
ian Simpson Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 709	Re: Lean to the right Also known as bachelor lean. Turn the springs around and wait awhile, it should self correct given no significant problems such as broken spring leaves. Do not turn only one spring as this could place extra strain on the frame by attempting to twist is. Early Land Rovers had extra leaves on the right side springs to alleviate this problem that was in their case exacerbated by the fuel tank being on the right side. I experienced it with an 1960 Ford (UK) Thames 15cwt van. I cured the problem by replacing the rear springs with custom heavy duty replacements that made for a very rough ride.

12-31-2016, 01:35 AM	#10
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Lean to the right the picture may be deceiving but it looks like 2 or 3 inches and not only one. Start by removing the spring to examine it properly. My guess is a broken leaf. Wayne

12-31-2016, 05:49 AM	#11
Tony Hillyard Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pleines Oeuvres, Normandy, France Posts: 194	Re: Lean to the right That is very amusing Y-blockhead! And Ian Simpson calling it "batchelor lean" , that is very good! We all know about the rumble seat being called the "mother-in-law seat". I wonder what other amusing expressions there are out there? Perhaps we should make a dictionary of similar funnies?

12-31-2016, 09:20 AM	#12
jm29henry Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: michigan Posts: 1,126	Re: Lean to the right Did it happen all of a sudden or did you purchase the car that way .?

12-31-2016, 10:27 AM	#13
Dollar Bill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Keystone Heights, FL Posts: 647	Re: Lean to the right Irregular hood to body gaps would indicate a bent frame. If your gaps are OK, my next move would be R&R the leaf spring for closer inspection. __________________ I Love Anything That Turns Money Into Noise