69 Leans After Suspension Rebuild

[Rich P.]

Re: 69 Leans After Suspension Rebuild

Brad,

one thing I'm suprised no one mentiond (unless I missed it reading this thread) is if you had bodywork done before and the suspension was incorrectly set. Then when the suspension was done just now bringing it back into specs the body would be off. I have seen this countless times. Hope its not the case ut wanted to mention it.

Hope this helps, Rich

[Brad H.]

Re: 69 Leans After Suspension Rebuild

Thanks Rich,
This was not a body off restoration so nothing was altered before and after, but I appreciate the ideas.
Brad

[Rich P.]

Re: 69 Leans After Suspension Rebuild

Don't know if you checked the upper control arm bumpers. If one is missing or torn and flattend out it will allow that arm to seat further down than the other rasing that side.

Rich

[Michael M.]

Re: 69 Leans After Suspension Rebuild

As far as the upper control arm bump stop, a car with a properly installed suspension would not be resting on the bump stops. I thought those were there to limit suspension travel at extreme suspension travel and don't come into play with a car sitting at rest on its suspension. I would look into the proper spring installation first but it's worth a look to check the bump stops. If it's resting on the bump stops, then that is an issue in and of itself, I think.

[Rich P.]

Re: 69 Leans After Suspension Rebuild

Your right Michael, my dyslexia got the better of me on that one.

[Dan P.]

Re: 69 Leans After Suspension Rebuild

I posted on this before . You can do a search. The first thing in order is to figure out if the problem is in the front or back. This can be done by putting a pipe ot socket on your floor jack and jacking one end of the car up right in the middle. You can figure centerline with a tape measure from side to side.The pipe is so the car can pivot.Either end on the jack is fine.If you have the jack in the front jack the car off the ground on a level survace and measure the back. If it is off then the problem is in the rear . If it is fine the problem is in the front.All you are doing is getting all the weight on the back or the front do you can determine which end is the problem.

[Rich P.]

Re: 69 Leans After Suspension Rebuild

Brad,

was any thing else at all touched except suspension parts? Was the front frame extension remoed or adjusted? How does the gap look on the rear crossmsmber to frame attacing points, are both sides similar?
It is strange that the entire car leans to one side not just the front or rear.
My first move would be to have the car an a level surface and measure several spots on each side of the frame to see if it is level. Then measure several spots on the body and compare. You'll know if it is the frame or the body that off (Just as Joe said earlier). If it is the body that is leaning it is actually easier to fix than you think. I have reshimmed many bodies to get them straight without removing them from the chassie. Just need to know the tricks.

Rich

[Joe M.]

Re: 69 Leans After Suspension Rebuild

69s had solid aluminum body mounts which tended to disintigrate.
Front rad support rusted and the jostling of taking the front suspension apart might had an effect?

Variation in control arms if replaced? Recall differeni configurations either in the arm or cross arm for offset.

Dan had the right idea with figuring out if it was the front or back that was off. Those two rear spring bolts would be the first to check, perhaps the bolt length is not the same. The lean at either end could make the whole car lean. I remember my 69 had a left lean that I fixed but can't remember if the problem was unequal springs or the rear bolt adjustment.

measure measure measure to check symmetry

[Brad H.]

Re: 69 Leans After Suspension Rebuild

Thanks guys,
I'll check everything you mentioned. The lean is the body. The left lean is obvious to me but casual observers do not really notice it. The A arms are original with new bushings. With the car on a level surface a slight lean to the drivers side is noticed. The body is all original and has not been altered in any way and has intact fender well lips. The T/A radials are new and inflated the same and all the same size. There is about 1/2" less distance from the fender well lip to the top of the tire on the left side. If you stand out in front or behind the car you can see the lean. The rear distance is not quite as much possibly indicating the front is the culprit. I'll try the pivot idea and see what that reveals. Both rear spring bolts are identical and the nuts are cottered in the same vertical position.
Thanks so much for all your help!
Brad