Leaf Spring Suspsension - 1964 Valiant

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Convert4Speed

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Leaf spring shackle (passenger side rear) touches the trunk floor. Memory arch appears to be maintained. Yes, shackle bushing appear to be old and cracked. Yes, springs appear to be painted over rust. Allegedly, the previous owner had rebuilt springs installed. Lifted and supported the body, replaced the shackle and then and set the car down. Everything looked fine until I moved it. The spring returned to its memory arch and the shackle touches the floor.

Still under investigation - preparing to remove the entire rear axle and suspension to examine the springs closer. I plan to rebuild and clean it up anyway. Will update when I know more.

RearShacklePassSide1964Valiant.jpg
 
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All you should have to do is raise the frame of the car so that the rear end is suspended then (using a long heavy duty pry bar) push the rear spring eye down until it pivots to the lower position where it belongs. the shackle should be vertical (slight angle towards the rear). Somebody just lowered the car with the shackle in the wrong place.


PS - Use care when prying on the shackle/spring eye, when it pops down to the lower position the pry bar will fly up into the fender or smash your knuckles against something!!:mad::BangHead:
Treblig
 
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Here is how it sits with no load. It maintains the same position when I set it down, until I move it.

1964PlyPassRearNoLoad.jpg
 
If the shackle won't stay in the more vertical position then there's another problem...springs too short, springs with too high an arch, or something else. You kinda have to keep pressure on the shackle while you lower the weight of the car onto the axle because it will try and stay in the wrong position. If the spring is the correct length it will "pop" back into the right location if you push the shackle down as you have someone lower the weight of the car onto the springs.
About the only way the shackles can accidentally get into that position is if you hit a big bump at higher speeds causing the rear end to lift off the ground which can allow the shackles to pop into that higher position.
Treblig
 
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If the shackle won't stay in the more vertical position then there's another problem...springs too short, springs with too high an arch, or something else. You kinda have to keep pressure on the shackle while you lower the weight of the car onto the axle because it will try and stay in the wrong position. If the spring is the correct length it will "pop" back into the right location if you push the shackle down as you have someone lower the weight of the car onto the springs.
About the only way the shackles can accidentally get into that position is if you hit a big bump at higher speeds causing the rear end to lift off the ground which can allow the shackles to pop into that higher position.
Treblig
Agreed, I will be taking some measurements and I have been talking with people at the local spring shop. Thanks everyone for the input.
 
my 65 with a 8 3/4 like yours is up on frame jackstands now like yours and my shackle is stock, points down to about 7:00. Your spring is too short or has an exagerated arch.
 
A spacer is not a good fix for this as it will move the tire and the whole rear axle back in the wheel well of the body and it won't look right. This does remind me of when I accidentally put a body Springs on a b-body. They were an inch too short and they did the exact same thing. From where did these Springs come?
I wonder if you were to use elongated shackles if it would help.
 
A spacer is not a good fix for this as it will move the tire and the whole rear axle back in the wheel well of the body and it won't look right. This does remind me of when I accidentally put a body Springs on a b-body. They were an inch too short and they did the exact same thing. From where did these Springs come?
I wonder if you were to use elongated shackles if it would help.

I meant a spacer behind the rear shackle hanger bracket. Sorry I wasn't clear. It'll improve the shackle angle. Seen it done a number of times. Total bandaid fix, but it works.
 
my 65 with a 8 3/4 like yours is up on frame jackstands now like yours and my shackle is stock, points down to about 7:00. Your spring is too short or has an exagerated arch.
Agreed, I believe the memory arch between the two springs is different. I took many measurements to determine that the car is straight and all the mounting holes/brackets are correct leaving only one thing: the spring itself. They are coming off this weekend and will be sent to the shop next week. Thanks everyone for the input. I will post pictures after and then I can move on with the restoration.
 
Thanks again everyone for pitching in with observations and advice. Today I successfully removed both springs with out getting rust in my eyes and without breaking my hand or a bolt. The memory arch between the two spring does not match, so next week it's off to the shop. Pictures tell the story.

IMG_20170714_201005124.jpg


IMG_20170714_201017896.jpg
 
The spring with the blue line on it looks like it's shorter than the other. Is the one with the blue line the one that was the problem?? If it is, the spring shop won't be able to fix it without replacing the top leaf.

treblig
 
The spring with the blue line on it looks like it's shorter than the other. Is the one with the blue line the one that was the problem?? If it is, the spring shop won't be able to fix it without replacing the top leaf.

treblig
The blue one marks the good side. Both are lined up equally to show the difference. The memory arch makes it appear that they are different lengths, but they are not.
 
Using a tape measure check the length of the spring from the pin to the center of the eye on each spring. Be sure to keep the tape measure up against the top leaf or use something more flexible like a piece string either way you have to keep the measuring device up against the leaf to get a good measurement. If the lengths are the same then it's the arch that is incorrect, if the lengths are different then you have a spring with the wrong length (if the attach points "perches" are in the correct location).

Treblig
 
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