Left front 2" lower then right(?)

-

GTGrinly

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
1,497
Reaction score
38
Location
Central PA
65 Dart Convertible..My left front is lower then my right front by 2". Tried to straighten with torsion bar adjustment but it took too much adjusting in my opinion and stiffened the left while the right is still soft.

Could my problem be rear leafs?? Maybe my right rear is stronger then my left rear. I used the old springs with new bushings, those springs would be 56 yrs old(1965)..yea, probably should have just bought new ones in the first place..also used the original torsion bars. Going to buy new springs and torsion bars. Do you think this will correct my problem or should I look elsewhere??

PXL_20211218_214030595.jpg
 
Leaf sprAngs can certainly have an effect. I would measure from a point on all four frame rails to the floor and see what kind of differences you come up with.
 
My 70' Dart was pretty much like yours and handled like crap. I got Mancini XHD leaf springs, PST 1.03 torsion bars, car sits great and handles a bunch better.
 
65 Dart Convertible..My left front is lower then my right front by 2". Tried to straighten with torsion bar adjustment but it took too much adjusting in my opinion and stiffened the left while the right is still soft.

Could my problem be rear leafs?? Maybe my right rear is stronger then my left rear. I used the old springs with new bushings, those springs would be 56 yrs old(1965)..yea, probably should have just bought new ones in the first place..also used the original torsion bars. Going to buy new springs and torsion bars. Do you think this will correct my problem or should I look elsewhere??

View attachment 1715858599
You don't state whether or not you've driven the car or not after the new bushing install. If you haven't taken it for a drive, once you do things may settle a bit and you'll get a better idea what is what.
 
Has the front suspension been apart? Torsion bars installed correctly?
 
Yes rear springs can be the problem. When one rear corner goes down, opposite front corner goes up. This is a rare condition since rear spring typically fatigue/sag at same rate. Our 1st 67 notch was down in the rear. The front was a little different but nowhere near 2 inches. The leaning tower of power could have been a factor also. Good luck with it.
 
Has the front suspension been apart? Torsion bars installed correctly?

Yes, completely apart..new upper and lower arms, new disc brake setup. I believe they are installed correctly but if you have a check that I can do I can always look again!
 
You don't state whether or not you've driven the car or not after the new bushing install. If you haven't taken it for a drive, once you do things may settle a bit and you'll get a better idea what is what.

No, have not driven, didn't think it would correct that much..but??
 
Yes rear springs can be the problem. When one rear corner goes down, opposite front corner goes up. This is a rare condition since rear spring typically fatigue/sag at same rate. Our 1st 67 notch was down in the rear. The front was a little different but nowhere near 2 inches. The leaning tower of power could have been a factor also. Good luck with it.

This one started as a 273 4bbl, /6 not an issue.
 
just by chance are both tires the same height. I had a neighbor that couldn't get his loader bucket to sit flat and wanted me to look at it and tell him what was bent. I looked at it and put air in the opposite rear tire and it flattened out. Man he was relieved!Joe
 
When adjusting the ride height in the front put the rear on a jack in the center. Like a tripod.

When ever you install older Super stock 002-003 springs that is what you did. When leaving the jack down the car would be lower in the front left. One turn up would even the height for the street on most cars depending on the weight. Then you would crank that weight out for the track and disconnect a stabilizer link

Check your ride height with the car on a jack in the center of the rear and the stabilizer link out on one side. See if the adjustments are close. If not you may have a weak bar or a mismatched set.
 
When you rebuilt the front end, did you:
1.) Assemble the components leaving the cam bolts and LCA pin loose, tightening them only after the car was lowered to the ground, with full weight on the suspension?
2.) Reinstall the torsion bars correctly, side to side and front to rear? Part numbers are on the ends. The torsion bars get installed with the numbers towards the rear, odd number on the DS and even number on the PS. They are NOT interchangeable.
3.) Adjust your ride height with weight off the suspension, then lower to the ground, and roll it around a bit while bouncing the suspension a bit?
4.) Did you make absolutely sure there was no damage (rust or accident) to ANY of the frame areas or attaching points?
All these things can contribute to your problem, if it all checks out, start checking your rear suspension.
 
Pennsylvania? Is the torsion bar crossmember in good shape? They rust from the inside out and the T-bar socket gradually starts to twist out until BANG! No anchor for the t-bar and you're on the ground.
 
2.) Reinstall the torsion bars correctly, side to side and front to rear? Part numbers are on the ends. The torsion bars get installed with the numbers towards the rear, odd number on the DS and even number on the PS. They are NOT interchangeable.

Post #13 all good advice. This one is easy to check.
 
While checking you can mark the TB socket to the frame and see if Post 14 is on to something.
 
Yes, completely apart..new upper and lower arms, new disc brake setup. I believe they are installed correctly but if you have a check that I can do I can always look again!
Professor Fate and OldManMopar beat me to it, lol. Go through their checklist to the tee.:thumbsup:
 
IF both lower control arm frame bumpers are off the frame changing the height will NOT affect stiffness. You CANNOT twist the torsion bars any more at rest.
 
Similar amount of thread showing on the torsion bar adjuster? I don't remember exactly, but when I installed a bar once, I think that I didn't quite clock the socket right and didn't have the right amount of adjustability.
 
Pennsylvania? Is the torsion bar crossmember in good shape? They rust from the inside out and the T-bar socket gradually starts to twist out until BANG! No anchor for the t-bar and you're on the ground.

Full floor replacement, had the cross member open didn't find any rust/rot..
 
65 Dart Convertible..My left front is lower then my right front by 2". Tried to straighten with torsion bar adjustment but it took too much adjusting in my opinion and stiffened the left while the right is still soft.

Starting point IMO is - Is your right rear 2" taller than left? It should be as the frame/body measuring points should be in a single plane. There was certainly factory tolerance on that.

DC 340
 
Starting point IMO is - Is your right rear 2" taller than left? It should be as the frame/body measuring points should be in a single plane. There was certainly factory tolerance on that.

DC 340
Yes it is higher on the right rear..low on the left front..
 
-
Back
Top