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Technical 32 Ford not sitting level

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Topock Andy, Sep 30, 2025 at 5:59 PM.

  1. Topock Andy
    Joined: Yesterday
    Posts: 3

    Topock Andy

    I've done some googling, and some searching here, but to no avail.

    I have a 32 ford that my Father built around 28 years ago. I've owned the car for about the last 10 years now.
    I pulled it apart this summer to re-do the suspension bushings, tie rods etc... and change the color from "rusty/flaking" chrome to all black.
    Car is back together now, and sitting about 1/2" higher on the Passenger side. Orginally I thought I just needed to adjust the C/O pre-load in the rear, but that didn't seem to change anything. I have more adjustment, but I think my issue may be in the front.
    Today I pulled the axle from the spring to make sure it wasn't bound up, as I could see that the front was not level either. I pulled the spring out, made sure it was centered in the crossmember, and reinstalled. Bolted the front end all back together, and it's still no level.

    For details and information, It has a Pete and Jakes 5" drop tube axle, Posies dual-flex spring, hairpins with ford tie rod and the 4 link bushing type ends on the batwing end, and a panhard bar.

    Rear is a 4 link 9" with ride-tech coil overs.

    Could the hairpin adjustment, or panhard bar be causing this? Or what am I missing? The front end is pretty dang simple. Wondering if I just have something adjusted a little bit wonky. thumbnail_20250723_083245.jpg thumbnail_20250723_083258.jpg thumbnail_20250731_072344.jpg thumbnail_20250731_072411.jpg

    FWIW, I haven't really driven the car yet more than about 2 miles since I reassembled it.

    Here's some pics, but I can take more if it helps.
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2025 at 6:59 PM
  2. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 10,615

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska

    I've built 100's of buggy spring rears and occasionally one wouldn't sit level. It didn't take much to get them level. I went down to the local big truck alignment shop and got the thinnest 2.25 pinion wedges they had. It didn't take much, it worked and they never fell out. Probably not the perfect solution but when your working with s customer a thousand miles away it was a solution that worked.
     
  3. Topock Andy
    Joined: Yesterday
    Posts: 3

    Topock Andy

    Where did you install these shims?
    Also FYI, I do not have a buggy spring rear end, it's 4 link and coil overs.
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2025 at 6:55 PM
  4. F-head
    Joined: Oct 20, 2007
    Posts: 1,468

    F-head
    Member

    I think Krylon 32 thought you had a buggy spring in the rear
     
    Topock Andy likes this.
  5. inthweedz
    Joined: Mar 29, 2011
    Posts: 626

    inthweedz
    Member

    Just wondering, maybe it was set up that way to compensate for the weight of the driver, and you've now fitted the spring the wrong way round, e.g. turned it around/swapped end for end??
     
  6. Topock Andy
    Joined: Yesterday
    Posts: 3

    Topock Andy

    Wait, is that a thing?
    Maybe I should call Posies tomorrow.
     
  7. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,535

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Gary uses a transverse rear spring. HRP

    [​IMG]
     
  8. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 22,497

    alchemy
    Member

    I’d turn the front spring around, but if that doesn’t fix it, get a 1 degree wedge like Gary recommended.
     
    Oneball, Tim and Just Gary like this.
  9. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 19,860

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    If you do a search for bachelor lean you’ll find this.

    Years and years of one guy cruising the car sags the suspension un evenly.

    The pinion shim he’s talking about putting them between the cross spring and the cross member near the tie bolt to lean the car back correct. You can see if it’s in the spring by flipping it side for side and putting it back in and seeing if the lean changes sides.

    as far as the coil overs it could be the same thing and you could test for it the same way. Swap them side for side. I know not all coil overs are adjustable but if yours are I’m sure it wouldn’t take much to get 1/2 different side for side.
     
    Topock Andy likes this.
  10. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 11,149

    BJR
    Member

    I would not be a bit surprised if every new car is 1/2" off side to side. I have measured most of the old cars I have owned through the years, and non of them were right on, and most were 1/2" off.
     
    alchemy likes this.

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