coil spring problem

ive been having this problem with my skylark, the coil spring is rubbing the side of the upper spring pocket, the top of the spring is in the right spot, it has those metal tabs that hold it centered. the bottom is also in the right spot, ive took it apart and put it back together twice trying to fix it and no luck. anyone have a clue what could be making the spring go off to the side like that? just dosent make sence to me

 

could the spring be bent out to one side? sounds like you have had the spring out, is it straight? or does it bow out to one side?

 

naw spring stood straight up when it was out, wasent curved off to one side or anything

 

New springs or old springs ? If not OEM, could be the wrong springs and the tangs don't line up properly causing the spring(s) to bow out. Just a guess.

 

sounds like too soft a spring[spring rate] for the weight of the car.both a 1000 lb spring and a100 lb spring will hold the the weight, but the 100lb has to compress 10 inches and the 1000lb only compresses 1 inch.the more you compress the more likely to bow.[sorry I was told there would be no math]

 

1972?
Look like original springs?
double pig-tailed at the ends with no rubber insulators, right?

Swap the springs from side to side. If the problem moves, get different springs. If the problem stays on that side, line up another 68-72 and start taking measurements of everything related on the axle housing, the frame, the body bushing locations, the frame rail distances, the frame corner to corner...

Brings back bad memories of a 71 or 72 2dr a friend bought with a spliced frame (just lapped rails inside of each other about under the doors, a twisted pitman shaft on a manual box and automatic, but with the clutch pedals left behind. He let me part it out when he moved.

Edit: I read your post to mean that only one side had the problem. Measure the diff. housing; Most '67 and '66-down have spring pads located differently.

 

thanks for the help, im going to try to swap the springs left with right and right with left and see if the problem still happens. they are the original springs that were on the car so i wasent sure if i spring could wear and actually bow because its a little softer then when it was new, its just enough touching the pocket to where when i hit into a bump with that side tire, you hear the spring rub and make that boing noise, not loud but you can tell what it is lol

 

Coil springs have no moving parts, so they cant wear out. But after time, they sure loose their ability to support a car. If it were my car, and I wanted to drive it, I would buy new.

 

The springs are probably shot. Be careful swapping springs from side-to-side especially if the car has AC. They can be a different spring rate and it does make a difference. I had to fix a few of them in a shop where I worked.

Match up the new ones with the old ones, over the years someone could have put a wrong spring in the car.

Bob

 

Are you absolutley positive there shouldnt be any rubber pads between the coil and the seats?
I remember taking them off once for whatever reason and ended up puttin them back on right away. Coils sounded like they would punch the floor to get in the car even on super mild bumps.!
Wasnt a buick and it was the rear but....