The Ford Barn

Ron Barber · 08-11-2010, 01:19 PM

I have a 31 fourdor and I have notice that the left side of the car is down about 1 1/2 inches front and back. The axels are level but the frame is down. I don’t have rear shocks but I do have front ones. Any idea where I should start to check? The frame blocks seem to be installed and look good.

V4F · 08-11-2010, 02:01 PM

first try bouncing up & down on the passenger side running board . you cant get some movement that way . i loosen my spring hanger "U" bolts (frame to spring) , then bounce it . it will let the spring move a little to the side . this should help some . mine was like that due to only having a person driving , no passenger . the spring will either sag or shift . you can also reverse thew spring . take it out & swap ends . if you take it out , be very carefull on how you do it . it will take your head off . use a spring spreader & be very careful . good luck .................... steve

bobbycoke · 08-11-2010, 02:37 PM

Just get a gal thats heavier than you to ride along!

Dave in MN · 08-11-2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbycoke

Just get a gal thats heavier than you to ride along!

I knew this thread was going to go in this direction...Good humor!
Thanks!

Dave in MN

PS: I had almost the same cure for my car! The center bolt had snapped and the springs were shifting. Replacing the bolt and re-centering fixed the problem.

Louis · 08-11-2010, 04:53 PM

for a temp fix, when you get out of the car [driver's side] push up on top of the door jam, it will level it out untill you get in it agin, only takes a split second.
most "A's" i,ve been around do lean to the left.

Art Bjornestad · 08-11-2010, 08:36 PM

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I finally fixed my bad lean by putting in a new rear spring. I put a new front one in earlier but it did not help.

Roger V · 08-11-2010, 08:54 PM

As with Art, replacing the rear spring brought it back to level. Unfortunately, I replaced the front spring thinking it was down on the front corner. After measuring the whole side I realized the fatigued rear spring being much larger controlled the whole side.

Tom Wesenberg · 08-12-2010, 01:39 AM

First try loosening and retightening the 4 nuts holding the rear spring in place. My 29 Tudor leaned to the left until I R & R the rear end to replace the clutch disc. Now it sets perfectly level.

Ron Barber · 08-12-2010, 06:42 AM

Thanks for everyone's help. I will try some of your suggestions except the one "have a gal that's heavier than you to ride along!" HA,ha

Bruce Adams · 08-12-2010, 10:26 AM

The other idea is to move the car to England or Down Under where they all lean to the right. Yours would be unusual there.
I have the same problem and always look at the "Spring Guy's" booth at the Hershey show.

Pothole Jim · 08-12-2010, 10:30 AM

Unbolt rear spring, rotate 180 degrees and re- install. Now its right, when you sit in the car it will be level. Just a thought.

Roger V · 08-12-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Unbolt rear spring, rotate 180 degrees and re- install. Now its right, when you sit in the car it will be level. Just a thought.

Funny you mentioned that. I thought long and hard about doing that wondering with all of the variables if it would come out level or lean right. Then I thought about reversing every other leaf. In the end I replaced with a new spring since it was such a miserable job I didn't want to do it again.

RichardW · 08-12-2010, 10:13 PM

"Just get a gal thats heavier than you to ride along!"

I can't afford to feed a gal that big.

08-11-2010, 01:19 PM	#1
Ron Barber Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Glen Gardner, New Jersey Posts: 57	Leaning to the left. I have a 31 fourdor and I have notice that the left side of the car is down about 1 1/2 inches front and back. The axels are level but the frame is down. I don’t have rear shocks but I do have front ones. Any idea where I should start to check? The frame blocks seem to be installed and look good. __________________ Ron

08-11-2010, 02:01 PM	#2
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	Re: Leaning to the left. first try bouncing up & down on the passenger side running board . you cant get some movement that way . i loosen my spring hanger "U" bolts (frame to spring) , then bounce it . it will let the spring move a little to the side . this should help some . mine was like that due to only having a person driving , no passenger . the spring will either sag or shift . you can also reverse thew spring . take it out & swap ends . if you take it out , be very carefull on how you do it . it will take your head off . use a spring spreader & be very careful . good luck .................... steve __________________ V4f

08-11-2010, 02:37 PM	#3
bobbycoke Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: pawlet vt/ port jefferson sta. ny Posts: 183	Re: Leaning to the left. Just get a gal thats heavier than you to ride along!

08-11-2010, 04:53 PM	#5
Louis Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Marietta GA. Posts: 647	Re: Leaning to the left. for a temp fix, when you get out of the car [driver's side] push up on top of the door jam, it will level it out untill you get in it agin, only takes a split second. most "A's" i,ve been around do lean to the left.

08-11-2010, 08:36 PM	#6
Art Bjornestad Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Westlake Village, CA Posts: 477	Re: Leaning to the left. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I finally fixed my bad lean by putting in a new rear spring. I put a new front one in earlier but it did not help.

08-11-2010, 08:54 PM	#7
Roger V Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,593	Re: Leaning to the left. As with Art, replacing the rear spring brought it back to level. Unfortunately, I replaced the front spring thinking it was down on the front corner. After measuring the whole side I realized the fatigued rear spring being much larger controlled the whole side.

08-12-2010, 01:39 AM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Leaning to the left. First try loosening and retightening the 4 nuts holding the rear spring in place. My 29 Tudor leaned to the left until I R & R the rear end to replace the clutch disc. Now it sets perfectly level.

08-12-2010, 06:42 AM	#9
Ron Barber Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Glen Gardner, New Jersey Posts: 57	Re: Leaning to the left. Thanks for everyone's help. I will try some of your suggestions except the one "have a gal that's heavier than you to ride along!" HA,ha __________________ Ron

08-12-2010, 10:26 AM	#10
Bruce Adams Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northport, NY Posts: 1,597	Re: Leaning to the left. The other idea is to move the car to England or Down Under where they all lean to the right. Yours would be unusual there. I have the same problem and always look at the "Spring Guy's" booth at the Hershey show.

08-12-2010, 10:30 AM	#11
Pothole Jim Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Western, NY Posts: 82	Re: Leaning to the left. Unbolt rear spring, rotate 180 degrees and re- install. Now its right, when you sit in the car it will be level. Just a thought.

08-12-2010, 10:13 PM	#13
RichardW Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Deer Park, Texas Posts: 100	Re: Leaning to the left. "Just get a gal thats heavier than you to ride along!" I can't afford to feed a gal that big.