first suspension / steering problem with 67 dart

[jasonmrenda]

well i ordered up some leaf spring helpers just to see if something inexpensive would help with the rear suspension. as the c-clamps that hold the springs together are gone on both sides, i thought this might help. so i pulled the wheels off, added the leaf spring helpers and new gas shocks, and buttoned it up. suspension feels much better now and the car is raised up a bit in the rear end now, but now the car really pulls to the left when i apply the brakes.

i had been unknowiingly running on 1 collapsed air shock on drivers side but the car steered straight down the road and stayed that way when applying the brakes. i did notice a pretty good amount of power steering fluid leak and when i turn the steering wheel at all i get the croaking/creaking sound. i am hoping between adding more power steering fluid and checking all tire pressures that the issue will be fixed.

if not, is there something i can look into? just not sure why it would be ok with a bad shock but crappy when the leafs and springs were tighter - unless the front end was adjusted when the shock was collapsed, thus whatever adjustments were made to offset the collapsed shock are now more prevalant since the suspension was addressed?

 

[jasonmrenda]

ok added some much needed PS fluid and it helped a bit, however the car still dives pretty hard to the left under braking. again it was fine before i added the leaf spring helpers so my assumption is that i must have done something when adding them. they are prob not in exactly the same spot on both sides but pretty darn close. could this be the issue? maybe i should move 1 more fwd or back to try to get rid of the dive or should i add some sort of a shim on the left (drivers) side as i have read in other posts?