http://www.fototime.com/%7B46770...7D/picture.JPG Are there any disadvantages of mounting the spring and shackles this way? I always thought they should be aimed inwards 45*.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
YEAH, Yer at about max travel right now... bet it rides pretty bouncy. Also, In due time you will end up ripping the shackle apart from the spring getting longer and the shackle having no where to go.... AND/OR the shackle going over~center and flipping up the wrong way while cornering. That set up IS UNSAFE !!!
The picture is kinda small but a casual observation show that there is nothing wrong with this installation. The spring is free to flex and the shackle is not obstructed, whether it is 45 in or 45 out makes no difference. Problems develop when the spring is to short or way to long and the shackle is rotated horizontally to make the spring/shackle connection. The key is to have opposing shackle angles from side to side, this locates the axle to the chassis. Shackles that hang straight downward usually promote a slight bit of bumpsteer as the lack of opposing shackle angle. With a cross steer car lack of opposing angle allows the frame and axle to move independently form each other and this movement although very small is transmitted to the drag link and the drag link incorrectly becomes a panard rod to locate the front end. The movement of the front end tracking on road curvature or bumps then is felt thru the steering wheel as bumpsteer.
I LOVE it when someone who actually knows what the hell he's talking about answers a question. Very refreshing.
The shackles in the photo are not at max length. They will approach max length as they rotate upward.
WHAT? Jeeez Guys !! He is correct in much of what he is saying, But shackle angle & spring length is what is in question here. There is a reason why the shackles are to angle INWARD... So the spring can GROW when it travels downward, & controll the front axle from side to side movement. True this a a later front with a panhard rod, but why mask a problem with a panhard rod ? But then, Why am I worried... It aint my car, But maybe the guy who asked this question & who does own it will do a lil research and find that there is a correct way .....AND HIS AINT IT.
How much more can the spring grow? probably no more than a 1/4 inch when its straight. If the shackles were leaning the other way then there would be the possibility of them flipping over but not in the position they are in now. I'd drive it anywhere.
in this case with such a flat spring there is not going to be much of a groth in the spring causing change in the shackle angle.
O.K. COOTER, Yer on yer own Man.... I can see that the majority here says its fine... Maybe it is... Maybe it will last longer than you own the car. But its not correct, And maybe i read it wrong but i thought that was the question. If it were my car & it came out of a shop like that I would not accept it & would make sure no one i knew took there car to that shop. HAPPY MOTORING !!
I don't know how to convince you guys but there is nothing wrong. The original question was based up how the shackles point. Most of the articles showing pictures of spring/axle combination deal with combinations where the spring is over the axle and between the perch pins. The shackles have to be pointed inward to keep them from bottoming out on the perch. When the spring axle combination has the spring in front or behind the axle this design is not necessary and the spring shackles can point inward or outward. As long as they are not pointing perpendicular or parallel, the spring itself is not hitting the perch or the spring is so long that its extension during compression is greater than the alloted perch/ shackle distance, which would cause it to bind also, its ok. Ideally they should be in the area of 45* but this is not in stone. The 45* angle is to allow the correct length spring to expand and compress within a 90* swing. The only negative existing in this picture post is that there is minimum travel in the spring. It appears that the stance of the car was to be as low as possible. The axle and spring do not appear to be matched and the spring is either a low arch spring, had to many leafs removed or is so weak it will not support the weight on the front end. This spring is only going to grow about 1" as it flattens out so the shackles are only going to move 1/2" per side. Which is no problem for the shackles but once the spring reaches full extension the effectiveness is zero as it reaches overload. So outside of a harsh ride and potentially bottoming out on a severe bump the set up will operate just fine.
dick, suspension wise I agree that it won't be a problem. I have a slight issue with it if there wasn't a panhard bar. shackle rock would be excessive on that setup. it is possible that under the right circumstances while accelerating out of a hard turn that the car could lean hard enough to cause the inside shackle to lift and flip up. the tension of a correct length spring helps lesson the problem of shackle rock and adds anti-roll properties.
This spring and shackle arrangement looks like an exact copy of my 37 slant back. Mine does have a panhard bar and I've put about 40,000 miles on that spring with absolutely no problems. Just recently replaced it with a Durant single leaf and now the shackles are turned in 45 degrees and I swear it rides and handles the same.
You guys are going to have to think about your posts before you push the button. In the picture there is provision for a panard.In this case shackle rock is at a minimum due to the flat spring. There is no way that this "shackle flip" over can happen because the spring will hit the perch hanger as the shackle reaches a point parallel to the spring.
Hey Dick - I just emailed you about my shipping address for those Tudor parts. Fun with the internet.
NO, Not really, I thought about just enough to know that this set up is not right.. Sure, it may "work" but it aint right... Almost looks like a wide '48ish spring Flattened out under a '36ish Ford. But Hey, Its his ride so if he wants to run it like that.. No Biggie ! But if he wants to fix it correctlly, It needs a Shorter spring.
The photo in question isn't my car.....I pulled it from another post. But, I was wondering if this could work safely since I will be running a spring in front setup under my A sedan. It would involve less heating and bending of the spring perch to get the stock spring to fit again. I've also read the instructions in the Speedway catalog for measuring for a spring but that is for a spring above setup. Running the shackles as pictured above obviously wouldn't work with the spring above.
COOTER, Are you finally finishing my old sedan? How much have you got done on it? That is one clean sedan and it would be great to see it on the road again. Tex
Finishing? I wish. The fenders, runningboards and engine have been pulled. I'm still collecting a few parts and building it in my head. Got to get my shoebox on the road first, then I can focus my energy on the A.
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