springs lopsided

[BlackBrick]

So I just finished installing some Mopar Superstock Springs on my Dart and I was miffed that the passenger side sits so much lower than drivers side.

I verified before mounting them that I had them going in the right way (sides).....What am I doing wrong or missing here? I know the front sits a bit high on drivers side, so I may be jumping the gun here. I am going to be lowering the front end by about 1.5 inches on the passenger side and 2 inches on the drivers side.

The entire back suspension has been replaced, bushings, shackles, etc, just not the actual hangers. Suspension is tight as hell and feels good.

Could the unibody be tweaked or something?

 

[green1]

Normal for SS

 

[BlackBrick]

Awesome, glad I know that now :angry7:. Oh well, at least it does not slope backwards :cheers:. Maybe I should have ordered 2 drivers side springs.....

 

[oldkimmer]

Normal for SS

..........Acutually the pass side is higher............kim.........

 

[BlackBrick]

Then i guess I got them on the wrong sides.....damn. Gonna stay that way. I'll swing by Dunbar and have them pop a leaf into the passenger side spring to level them out. Oh well, at least the new rear is in!

 

[green1]

I mis-read that. Passenger sits higher. In order to put pressure on driver's side. Oops, mis-read.

 

[6pk2goDemon]

So I just finished installing some Mopar Superstock Springs on my Dart and I was miffed that the passenger side sits so much lower than drivers side.

I verified before mounting them that I had them going in the right way (sides).....What am I doing wrong or missing here? I know the front sits a bit high on drivers side, so I may be jumping the gun here. I am going to be lowering the front end by about 1.5 inches on the passenger side and 2 inches on the drivers side.

The entire back suspension has been replaced, bushings, shackles, etc, just not the actual hangers. Suspension is tight as hell and feels good.

Could the unibody be tweaked or something?

You may actually have them on the correct side! If the drivers front is high, once that gets adjusted down, the passenger side rear will raise.

What part # did you put on which side?

 

[BlackBrick]

Thanks guys, this all helped out. Called my local spring shop and they will pop an extra leaf in for $50. That'll get it all levelled out. I am just not into ripping the rear out again. Guess I should have called Summit before I ordered....grrrrrrr. Oh well. At least the rusted, clapped out springs are out and gone.

 

[1968FormulaS340]

He said pass side is low but should be high with SS springs. SS springs are designed for drag racing so lop sided is the correct stance with those springs.

In my opinion selling your SS springs and getting some XHD springs would be a better option over modifying your new springs.

 

[6pk2goDemon]

The passenger side should sit higher w/ SS springs 002, 003.

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

The passenger side should sit higher w/ SS springs 002, 003.

X2 I've used many a set of 002,003. And the passenger side will be higher. This is so that on the launch the torque of the engine rotating will keep the body roll down and plant the rear equal.

 

[1968FormulaS340]

X2 I've used many a set of 002,003. And the passenger side will be higher. This is so that on the launch the torque of the engine rotating will keep the body roll down and plant the rear equal.

I must be getting old...... Memory fading.



Oh god… I just walked out and looked at my car. Yes, pass side should be high, that it what I meant all along. My dusty brain doesn't know the drive side from the pass side when Im sitting here at the computer.

 

[BlackBrick]

PNs on the springs I used - 0863 Drivers side, 0864 Pass side. Of course looking at the invoice I got them swapped. Price difference between the SS and the XHD is over $100 a side. More Cost effective to get the extra leaf added to the lower one. Again, probably should have called Summit to make sure they were going to be the same height, but hey, they are in now.

 

[jefflock]

X2 I've used many a set of 002,003. And the passenger side will be higher. This is so that on the launch the torque of the engine rotating will keep the body roll down and plant the rear equal.

Yep What he said.

 

[BlackBrick]

Again, thanks guys. First time I had to buy a set of springs. Had a set rebuilt for my 71, so no questions there. At least the F body 8 1/4 went in really easy.

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

PNs on the springs I used - 0863 Drivers side, 0864 Pass side. Of course looking at the invoice I got them swapped. Price difference between the SS and the XHD is over $100 a side. More Cost effective to get the extra leaf added to the lower one. Again, probably should have called Summit to make sure they were going to be the same height, but hey, they are in now.

Another trick for a street car is to order two of the same part numbers. this way the car is level. The stance may look a little weird but hey they work great when installed as recommended.

 

[BlackBrick]

Yeah, was just saying that to a buddy on FB.....He laffed at me hard because he knows i usually triple check everything before I buy. The one time........dammit......lols

 

[trapster]

Yep, did that have the same problem. IF you were closer I would swap one out with you.

You can fix this " kind of" by futsing with the front end height adjustment.

 

[BlackBrick]

I don't feel so bad. Been turning a wrench for most of my life, I guess i got gun happy when wife okay'd the spring buy. But hey, live and learn right?

@Traps - will probably try to use the front end adjustments to bring it closer, but my other car buddies have already suggested adding a leaf to the lower side. I am okay with this and next time, i buy 2 of the same spring

 

[aDODGEmann]

Isn't the extra leaf, A half leaf, only for the front segment. You could just remove the extra leaf on the one side, you wouldn't spend a dime and your car would sit level...

 

[BlackBrick]

@aDodgemann - Good Idea. I will take a look at it in the next few days to se if it is just an extra leaf in the front, but I really like the height of the higher spring.

 

[BlackBrick]

Sitting here staring at the picture of the springs in the car, from my Resto post and it looks like I could turn the bottom 2 leaves from the lower spring and get the height I am looking for, but I would still need to take the leaf out.

I'll throw that idea at Nick from my local drivetrain shop and see what he says. Worse case, I pull the spring out and get the other one with the same PN.

 

[twofosho]

Sounds like you're making this thing way more complicated than it needs to be. It's because Mopar's torsion bars are adjustable that they're able to make the rear leaf springs asymmetrical to resist engine torque lifting the right rear tire on take off and loosing traction.

Just make sure you have the springs mounted on the correct side and adjust the torsion bars up or down to get the car's static ride height level side to side. I've found measuring under the rocker panels next to the pinch flange and out toward the ends to be the most accurate and consistent. If you care about retaining as much caster as possible and you're running the stock upper control arms, make sure the front to rear ride height is the same, again measured under the ends of the rocker panels. It may require readjusting over and over until you get it, but it goes faster the closer you get. Remember to jack up the front end high enough to take the weight off the torsion bars before you try to turn the adjusters. Lower the car back down off the jack and roll it back and forth eight or ten feet to unload the front suspension to get accurate measurements too. Of course a level concrete pad, garage floor, or driveway is essential.

Because they were designed to be used as a set, why would you even consider modifying one asymmetrical spring, and destroy the factory designed in parameters of that set? Do the right thing and get them swapped over if they have been mounted on the wrong side. With all the fresh bits it shouldn't take too long to bust the springs loose from the car then roll the rear end out from under it. Easy enough to swap the springs on the perches with the rear end in the open. Take the wheels and tires off first, balance the pumpkin on a floor jack, and you don't even need to get the car all that high to clear.

I purchased and installed 340 XHD springs (120 bucks or so each at that time) for my Duster several years ago and even they were asymmetrical, requiring the above setting up.

 

[BlackBrick]

@twofosho - you've got the right of it. I am going back under the car next weekend, swapping the sides of the springs and then adjust the front. I was doing a lot of armchair mechanic stuff on this one, just because I didn't want to pull the springs again. Best advice so far!

Thanks a million!

 

[BlackBrick]

Thanks to all that had ideas for me. twofosho, you were right on the money. Swapped the springs to the other sides, and what do you know, the whole damn car is level!

I don't like how much wheel well is showing in the front, but will possibly address that with a torsion rod adjustment. Want to get the alignment done first, drop in the drive shaft, and drive it to see how it handles before piddling with it.

Here is a shot of the drivers side, as it sits now.