Gettin' ready to do a rearend swap on my '55 Studebaker and as always one thing leads to another and another and.............. The car sat for about 25 years, was driven sporadically for 8 years about 2,000 miles total and then sat another 4 years just before I bought it. Overall the steering is tight for a car that age, it could use new bushings due to age but it is not unsafe however the left rear of my car sits 1 inch lower than the right, no signs of a broken leaf and the car rides fine it just sits funny. Actually I like where the left side sits and would like the right to come down to match. Could a spring shop equalize the existing springs for ride height? New springs for mine are about $480 a pair and that just isn't in the budget this year with all the other things it needs. I rather try to make these work. While apart I would clean them install teflon strips, new spring eye bushings etc. TIA.
Had the same problem with a 2wd Suburban. Spring shop de-arched the springs to match and sits level now.
Are you sure it's in the springs? Check the frame height from the ground and the body from the frame and compare the sides. It could be the body sitting weird or, gasp, the frame might be tweaked. I'd check those things before you tear the leafs apart...
480 a pair sounds a little steep for new ones. I work at a spring shop in Michigan and I bet we could beat that price if you decide to get new ones. We could also make them with a lower arch.
You might be surprised when you take the spring packs apart. If the sag is not from a tired leaf, you may discover a cracked leaf that will force you to make a repair. Springs are an important safety item. You really want to keep both sides eaqual to each other.
$480 seemed real steep to me, there is a local spring shop I'm going to check with tomorrow. As far as being surprised when I take the pack apart, no, nothing would surprise me.
Another vote for take them both out and apart. You'd be suprised how many don't reveal themselves til a half hour of impact wrenching loosens everything up. If you can find a heavy U shaped piece of metal, like a foot long piece of RR track laid on it's side, then you've got an anvil to rearch your own springs. All you need is chalk tracings on the floor and a whole lot of hammer swinging good luck
There was never any question of doing that, it's the same age I am and I know what kind of shape I'm in!
Just re-arched all my spring packs on my pick up.Used our hydralic press and used new main leafs as a guide.Was suprised how easy it was to do.Used St louis spring for the new main leafs.Charged $140.00 total for four new main leafs,thought that was pretty fair.Burl
The Jalopy Journal
