C1 New Springs - Sag height question

[Stephen L.]

Re: C1 New Springs - Sag height question

IF you use the C2 technique, the tire size and pressure become irrelevant, as long as the car is sitting on its suspension, which is the reason for checking ride height..... to determine if there is a problem with the suspension components.

[Joseph L.]

Re: C1 New Springs - Sag height question

Hi Gary
The other item I see in the water test page in AIM is the door sill is parallel with the tire contact surface. So should the bottom of the rocker. These cars ride attitude were level.
Joe

[Joe P.]

Re: C1 New Springs - Sag height question

Thanks for the help, i took some side shots, and added some measurements..appreciate any more insight if this is acceptable or any suggestions.. ther rear wheel well is measuring at 29 3/4" and the front measures 28 3/4".

i also noticed i have developed a water pump pulley wobble that wasn't there a few months ago. i noticed some play in the water pump shaft side to side but not really any front to front. I put the pulley on a flat surface an it looks pretty flat to me.. Maybe time to rebuild the water pump?

IMG_1231_LI (2).jpgIMG_1231.jpgIMG_1232.jpgIMG_1245.jpg

[Joseph L.]

Re: C1 New Springs - Sag height question

From the photos, there is a lot of space between the top of the rear tire and the wheel opening. The headlight dimension is at nominal. You have dimensions that show the rocker panel is up in the rear. It appears the front is at the correct ride height and the back is too high. If the front springs have sagged, they are now at the typical height. Otherwise no issue at that end.

[Joe P.]

Re: C1 New Springs - Sag height question

From the photos, there is a lot of space between the top of the rear tire and the wheel opening. The headlight dimension is at nominal. You have dimensions that show the rocker panel is up in the rear. It appears the front is at the correct ride height and the back is too high. If the front springs have sagged, they are now at the typical height. Otherwise no issue at that end.

Thanks, i did replace the rear shocks recently. The old shocks were completely shot. Maybe these will also settle down? i didnt mesure the space, but the rear wheel well is 1 " heigher than the front one.

[Thomas H.]

Re: C1 New Springs - Sag height question

Agree - rear looks to be high. Are the rear springs original or replacements? Some replacements tend to raise the rear ride height.

Pic is of my 58 - original springs all around, new bushings, spring liners and shocks though

Tom

[Joe P.]

Re: C1 New Springs - Sag height question

Agree - rear looks to be high. Are the rear springs original or replacements? Some replacements tend to raise the rear ride height.

Pic is of my 58 - original springs all around, new bushings, spring liners and shocks though

Tom

Thanks Tom, the rear leaf springs are original, i only replaced the shocks that were purchased from CC.. I did a complete rebuild on the front suspension, and steering, as well as the rear shocks. The front springs have no spacers. Could this be the issue?

[Gary C.]

Re: C1 New Springs - Sag height question

Joe,

Basically, C1's set level. When you take side view photos, you want to illustrate the levelness of the car front to back. Best to take photos from sitting on the ground to get the truest view.

Side frame rail should be level front to back. Same height from the ground in the rear as it is in the front.

Gary
....

[Rod K.]

Re: C1 New Springs - Sag height question

The 1957 AIM has alignment specs on Sheet 4 of Sect 3 (Front Suspension). I expect 58-60 AIM would have similar. There are a couple of diagrams and height specs in a table, including one dimension from the top of the rear axle tube to the bottom of the frame kick-up as suggested above in Post 15. I'd use Gary's diagram from Post 2 plus this info to check although 1960 front dim may be different due to the change in size from single to dual head lights and the rear due to a change in spring height in '58 (about 1.75 inch). But it's a starting point. Shocks won't have any effect on static ride height assuming there's no binding, and AFAIK no spacers were used in the front. Those spacers you're referring to were apparently only used for replacements to correct for out of spec height springs, not factory assembly. Are you sure your rear springs are original? Grooved? Four leaves? Are your rear front spring hangers installed on the correct sides? I think they're reversible and would change the height if reversed. If you can, try to check the chord height of the unloaded rear spring which will require jacking the rear up to the point where you think it would be unloaded then measure from the front-to-rear center line of the eyes to the top of the top leaf. Dimension should be 5-3/8 inch from the info I have. I tried this on my '57 and it's not impossible, just nearly. Good luck, I just went though this process.