I just finished installing Aerostar springs in my 49 Ford coupe. When I took it off the jackstands I was amazed and quite pleased with the result on the driver side, but when I walked around to the other side and stood back a little I noticed that the drop was not exactly the same. It was about an inch higher on that side. It actually measures higher front and back on the passenger side. I thought at first that the driver side rear spring was weak, causing the pass. front to sit up higher. I swapped the rear springs side for side with no change. Prior to this I checked and double checked to see if the new front springs were properly seated up into the pockets in the frame and the lower coil impressions in the A-arms. Yup! Everything o.k. here. I even measured the distance from the bottom of the frame to the top of the rubber bump stops. Exactly the same on both sides. I havent had this car very long, but I dont remember it sitting lopsided before, although it very well could have. This car is a very rust free custom club coupe. I have checked for signs of major collision damage, but find none, although someone did some crappy minor bodywork at one time. I put the car up on stands originally to install new clutch,p.p., t.o. bearing and overdrive trans and figured as long as it was up there, Id do the new springs. Id like to get this thing sitting right before I move on to other modifications but I'm sort of at wits end? Any suggestions?
I'm having a similar situation w/ my '51 and I'm curious to hear what you find out. Unfortunately I don't have any advice to offer beyond what you've already checked. I was thinking the rear spring theory might apply to my situation as well but have yet to check. My driver's side was lower by about 3/8" before I put the coils in and it is still about 1/4" lower after. Even the 1/4" difference is noticeable so it seems to me that if you were 1" off you really would have noticed it beforehand. FYI - I only saw 1 3/8" drop w/ the Aerostar coils...not what I was hoping for. All I can think of would be to take it in to an alignment shop that has the abiltiy to straighten (and therefore) measure frames. I would think they'd at least be able to tell you where the problem lies.. Good Luck!
You can try swapping the coils left to right. I had a similar (but less) problem when I replaced my coils. The driver side was 1/2" lower. I swapped left to right and it went to 1/4" difference. I left it that way and over time it pretty much evened out. Have you inspected your body mounts, especially the ones under the A pillars? Are your door gaps equal? Fender gaps equal? Did you change your control arm bushings? A binding control arm will require more spring force. How are the rest of your suspension components? A slight wear difference on suspension parts gets magnified by the geometry.
Did the car sit level prior to the spring swap. Did you use new or used Aerostar springs...Used springs could be different static and compressed heights.
An old friend (now deceased) used to drive a car hauler and delivered those early Fords from plant to dealership. He told me that with the cars on the top deck he used to let the air out of the tires, then ratchet them down as tight as possible to gain clearance under overpasses. He said stuff got bent in the process. You need to start measuring everything.
Just a comment. Take the car for a good ride 10-15 miles, hit a few bumps and then measure the height. I have a 55 ford that sites lob sided. After a ride levels out. No idea why. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
maybe you just need a little ballast in the passenger seat to even things out Seriously though, I would swap the front coils side for side as has been suggested, especially if they are used springs
I don't have a shoebox here right now to look at,but on some vehicles,when you put the front end in full droop and have the upper control arms loose from the frame (as you would when changing springs), It's possible for the upper control arm to get hung up on the frame.The control arm,when loose, can slide inward at the adjustment point enough that the control arm contacts the frame. You have probably already checked that?
Ha! Ha! That ballast thing is damn funny. I never thought of swapping the "new" Aerostar coils side for side. I did not loosen the upper control arms, I unbolted the lower control arms from the bottom of the crossmember. Another Hambr suggested this was the way he had done it. It works very well and I think much easier than taking the uprights loose. It's going back up on blocks soon and I think I'll try swapping the coils side for side. One problem is that I am an old fart and it's a lot tougher now getting down and under on my Mexican creeper, so it will be a while before I have any results.
my 51 did exactly the same thing with areostar springs, after a couple of hundred miles she leveled out. Don't know why or how but she did.
Try disconnecting the lower control arm at the spindle instead. Put the frame on jack stands, remove the shock and the sway bar, then put the floor jack under the control arm. Remove the big bolt and lower the arm. I think you'll find it goes together a lot easier.
Here in O-ree-gone, at least at my place a Mexican creeper is a big ole piece of cardboard usually coming from a recently purchased large household item like a beer cooling device. If you are a old fat guy like me, it affords you that extra inch or two of clearance that a real creeper would displace. In Winter, you use two pieces for extra insulation.
The Jalopy Journal
