The Ford Barn

John Kuhnast · 10-24-2015, 08:44 AM

I thinking of placing a shim on my springs to level out the tilt to the drivers side. Tilt is about an inch and a half. Any thoughts on this? How to hold it in place? Thanks

Larry Jenkins · 10-24-2015, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kuhnast

I thinking of placing a shim on my springs to level out the tilt to the drivers side. Tilt is about an inch and a half. Any thoughts on this? How to hold it in place? Thanks

Find out what's causing the "tilt" first..

Larry

John Kuhnast · 10-24-2015, 09:21 AM

I think the springs are bent this way from many years of only a driver and also a left front fender spear tire. This is a 31 pickup closed cab. My other thought is to disassemble the springs but this seams like so much more work.hanks for your help

Y-Blockhead · 10-24-2015, 11:32 AM

This may or may not be true but I read somewhere (on The Barn??) that if you loosen the spring U bolt on the side it is leaning to and tighten the other side U Bolt it may "rock" the spring over and can help with the lean.

Don't forget to retighten the first U bolt and install new cotter pins.

Again I have not done this myself but may be worth a try??

Or you could get a big Ol' Dawg to ride on the passenger side...

katy · 10-24-2015, 11:44 AM

Take the spring out and turn it around?

Big hammer · 10-24-2015, 12:30 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by katy

Take the spring out and turn it around?

If you take it out and turn around ( good idea ) why not take it apart and clean and paint it

Cape Codder · 10-24-2015, 01:15 PM

As said above, "Find out what's causing the "tilt" first.."
I would think turning the spring around would just put the lean on the passenger side. If you don't want to replace the spring, maybe turning every other leaf would level the vehicle.

1931 flamingo · 10-24-2015, 02:53 PM

Re-read post #4.
Paul in CT

P.S. · 10-24-2015, 02:54 PM

This leaning thing gets discussed frequently.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122663

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108600

Tacoma Bob · 10-24-2015, 02:59 PM

Frame sag...Left cowl bolt area

John Kuhnast · 10-24-2015, 03:32 PM

wow Nobody from down under answered yet, Think Ill try the shim and report back this winter Thanks guys.

1955cj5 · 10-24-2015, 08:45 PM

My pickup leans....my brother stuffed a wooden wedge between the rear spring and the cross member on the drivers side to correct it.....

I just replaced the front spring so maybe I'll look into this lean a little further...

First I'll try the technique in post #4.....it sounds reasonable...

wrndln · 10-24-2015, 08:56 PM

John,
I had a lean to the left on my 28 coupe. I reversed the rear spring (front spring was new). Reversing the rear spring did NOT help at all. I have no idea why it didn't help. I did finally find a way to get rid of the lean, but it was work. PM me if you want to find out what I did.
Rusty Nelson

Tom Wesenberg · 10-25-2015, 12:56 AM

See #4, that fixed the lean on my Tudor.

Mike V. Florida · 10-25-2015, 01:57 AM

Get a full bodied woman to sit next to you.

waltere · 10-25-2015, 02:54 AM

Good answer Mike V. It is always the simple fix's that I over look!

Walter

George Miller · 10-25-2015, 08:52 AM

What works best for me to make it set level. Take the spring apart and rotate ever other leaf 180 degrees. Then it will set level ever time. unless you have a bent frame or some other problem.

George Miller · 10-25-2015, 10:18 AM

Like to add I've said this many times but most do not believe. Most Model A's have the frame rail on the driver side bent down at the rear motor mount. like 1/8 to 3/8 which does not help with the car sitting straight. If you are redoing your car be sure to check it with a string on top of the frame, from the front to the back. Of the 25 A's that I have done only one was straight. That was a town sedan that lived its life in Town. Not on the bad country roads.

Cape Codder · 10-25-2015, 05:02 PM

George Miller - I said that in post #7 but I guess no one agrees.

George Miller · 10-25-2015, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cape Codder

George Miller - I said that in post #7 but I guess no one agrees.

Sorry I missed it.

10-24-2015, 08:44 AM	#1
John Kuhnast Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 564	Spring tilt I thinking of placing a shim on my springs to level out the tilt to the drivers side. Tilt is about an inch and a half. Any thoughts on this? How to hold it in place? Thanks

10-24-2015, 09:21 AM	#3
John Kuhnast Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 564	Re: Spring tilt I think the springs are bent this way from many years of only a driver and also a left front fender spear tire. This is a 31 pickup closed cab. My other thought is to disassemble the springs but this seams like so much more work.hanks for your help

10-24-2015, 11:44 AM	#5
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,716	Re: Spring tilt Take the spring out and turn it around? __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

10-24-2015, 02:53 PM	#8
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: Spring tilt Re-read post #4. Paul in CT

10-24-2015, 02:54 PM	#9
P.S. Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Hazzard County Posts: 1,922	Re: Spring tilt This leaning thing gets discussed frequently. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122663 https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108600

10-24-2015, 11:32 AM	#4
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 6,652	Re: Spring tilt This may or may not be true but I read somewhere (on The Barn??) that if you loosen the spring U bolt on the side it is leaning to and tighten the other side U Bolt it may "rock" the spring over and can help with the lean. Don't forget to retighten the first U bolt and install new cotter pins. Again I have not done this myself but may be worth a try?? Or you could get a big Ol' Dawg to ride on the passenger side... Last edited by Y-Blockhead; 10-24-2015 at 11:38 AM.

10-24-2015, 01:15 PM	#7
Cape Codder Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,337	Re: Spring tilt As said above, "Find out what's causing the "tilt" first.." I would think turning the spring around would just put the lean on the passenger side. If you don't want to replace the spring, maybe turning every other leaf would level the vehicle.

10-24-2015, 02:59 PM	#10
Tacoma Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,042	Re: Spring tilt Frame sag...Left cowl bolt area

10-24-2015, 03:32 PM	#11
John Kuhnast Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 564	Re: Spring tilt wow Nobody from down under answered yet, Think Ill try the shim and report back this winter Thanks guys.

10-24-2015, 08:45 PM	#12
1955cj5 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,607	Re: Spring tilt My pickup leans....my brother stuffed a wooden wedge between the rear spring and the cross member on the drivers side to correct it..... I just replaced the front spring so maybe I'll look into this lean a little further... First I'll try the technique in post #4.....it sounds reasonable... __________________ Early '29 CCPU that had a 4-speed, but not any more.......in the family since '62

10-24-2015, 08:56 PM	#13
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,300	Re: Spring tilt John, I had a lean to the left on my 28 coupe. I reversed the rear spring (front spring was new). Reversing the rear spring did NOT help at all. I have no idea why it didn't help. I did finally find a way to get rid of the lean, but it was work. PM me if you want to find out what I did. Rusty Nelson

10-25-2015, 12:56 AM	#14
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Spring tilt See #4, that fixed the lean on my Tudor.

10-25-2015, 01:57 AM	#15
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida between Sarasota and TampaSouth Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Spring tilt Get a full bodied woman to sit next to you. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

10-25-2015, 02:54 AM	#16
waltere Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 135	Re: Spring tilt Good answer Mike V. It is always the simple fix's that I over look! Walter

10-25-2015, 08:52 AM	#17
George Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 2,975	Re: Spring tilt What works best for me to make it set level. Take the spring apart and rotate ever other leaf 180 degrees. Then it will set level ever time. unless you have a bent frame or some other problem.

10-25-2015, 10:18 AM	#18
George Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 2,975	Re: Spring tilt Like to add I've said this many times but most do not believe. Most Model A's have the frame rail on the driver side bent down at the rear motor mount. like 1/8 to 3/8 which does not help with the car sitting straight. If you are redoing your car be sure to check it with a string on top of the frame, from the front to the back. Of the 25 A's that I have done only one was straight. That was a town sedan that lived its life in Town. Not on the bad country roads. Last edited by George Miller; 10-25-2015 at 11:53 AM.

10-25-2015, 05:02 PM	#19
Cape Codder Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,337	Re: Spring tilt George Miller - I said that in post #7 but I guess no one agrees.