The Ford Barn

Tom in SW VA · 02-22-2011, 10:38 AM

Many have posed this question before, but I am still very interested in a solution. Short of getting a real heavy person to sit on the right side, what is the cause and solution for a car leaning to the left side, a.k.a, ... a Bachelor Lean? I feel confident that the problem lies in the rear spring area. Any suggestions??? Is replacing the spring the only solution?

Thanking you in advance.................

Tom in SW VA

deuce lover · 02-22-2011, 10:59 AM

Try loosening the spring clamp on the drivers side and tightening the clamp on pass side.

Gary in La. · 02-22-2011, 11:03 AM

I'm not sure changing springs will be your answer. I installed NOS front and rear springs on my '46 convertable thinking this would cure the minor offset but it did not. Maybe Henry built them this way. Several other V-8's around here also have the left lean be it ever so slight.

1931 flamingo · 02-22-2011, 11:15 AM

Is the spring center bolt broken? Is the bolt head inserted into the frame crossmember?
Paul in CT

billwill · 02-22-2011, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom in SW VA

Many have posed this question before, but I am still very interested in a solution. Short of getting a real heavy person to sit on the right side, what is the cause and solution for a car leaning to the left side, a.k.a, ... a Bachelor Lean? I feel confident that the problem lies in the rear spring area. Any suggestions??? Is replacing the spring the only solution?

Thanking you in advance.................

Tom in SW VA

Frame is bent.

flatheadernie · 02-22-2011, 11:28 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thats why we turn left on the hi speed ovals, faster that way. other than wedges on front left and rear springs enjoy the look!! LOL ernie n tx

Lawson Cox · 02-22-2011, 11:28 AM

Lose some weight? lol

jerry grayson · 02-22-2011, 12:22 PM

Deuce Lover has the answer. loosen the spring to crossmember u bolts on one side and tighten the other side, front and rear.

Coupe35 · 02-22-2011, 01:09 PM

On my 35, I removed the rear spring and rotated it to where the left side was now on the right side. Did not help at all. Maybe I need to do the front spring also.

Mart · 02-22-2011, 01:18 PM

I made a sheetmetal shim that fitted between the spring and the crossmember and folded one side double. I fitted that, and tightened the u-bolts carefully to correct a persistant lean. I seem to remember fitting one front and rear.

Mart.

51 MERC-CT · 02-22-2011, 01:32 PM

As above;
Could add a wedge between the spring and crossmember of the proper angle just like we used on stock cars in the 50's. (that's where the term "adding a little wedge" came from that is now used in stock cars)

Mike51Merc · 02-22-2011, 02:39 PM

For what it's worth, I read that some cars are engineered with a little "batchelor lean" because we drive on the right and most of our roads are crowned (highest) at the center.

Adam/Mill Valley CA · 02-23-2011, 12:30 AM

Are you sure the rear spring is exactly centered on the crossmember? It was a little off center on my '36 pickup; loosened the U-bolts, moved the spring sideways to center it and it corrected the lean.

Adam

Roadster62 · 02-23-2011, 03:06 AM

Rubenesque girlfriend.

gerrald meacham · 02-23-2011, 08:10 AM

the shims that are posted will work , just play with them

4dFord/SC · 02-23-2011, 08:50 AM

Any suggestions for a Mechanic's Lean?

Kube · 02-23-2011, 09:38 AM

While I appreciate all the advise you've been given, With all due respect, I have to say, DO THE REPAIR CORRECTLY. Adding shims, etc. is what we referred to (pre PC) as 'riggin it".
If nothing is broken (or worn very badly) in the spring assembly (shackles, etc) than it's simple - you need new springs.
These cars were NOT designed to lean one way or the other. They were designed to sit level. Any quick check of a dimensional drawing, crash manual, etc. will quickly allow that reality.

Lawson Cox · 02-23-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4dFord/SC

Any suggestions for a Mechanic's Lean?

Is that to be read, Mechanic's "lien"? LOL

JM 35 Sedan · 02-23-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

Is that to be read, Mechanic's "lien"? LOL

You can't fool a lawyer when it comes to legal lingo

Seth Swoboda · 02-23-2011, 01:57 PM

I would first check to make sure the center bolt in the leaf spring is not broken or just not centered up on the cross member. I have seen this problem before with my dads 47 Tudor and we centered up the leaf spring with the cross member to fix it.

02-22-2011, 10:38 AM	#1
Tom in SW VA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Richlands, VA Posts: 545	What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? Many have posed this question before, but I am still very interested in a solution. Short of getting a real heavy person to sit on the right side, what is the cause and solution for a car leaning to the left side, a.k.a, ... a Bachelor Lean? I feel confident that the problem lies in the rear spring area. Any suggestions??? Is replacing the spring the only solution? Thanking you in advance................. Tom in SW VA

02-22-2011, 10:59 AM	#2
deuce lover Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rockwall TX Posts: 6,018	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? Try loosening the spring clamp on the drivers side and tightening the clamp on pass side.

02-22-2011, 11:03 AM	#3
Gary in La. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Louisiana Posts: 866	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? I'm not sure changing springs will be your answer. I installed NOS front and rear springs on my '46 convertable thinking this would cure the minor offset but it did not. Maybe Henry built them this way. Several other V-8's around here also have the left lean be it ever so slight.

02-22-2011, 11:15 AM	#4
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? Is the spring center bolt broken? Is the bolt head inserted into the frame crossmember? Paul in CT

02-22-2011, 11:28 AM	#6
flatheadernie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 229	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thats why we turn left on the hi speed ovals, faster that way. other than wedges on front left and rear springs enjoy the look!! LOL ernie n tx

02-22-2011, 11:28 AM	#7
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,119	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? Lose some weight? lol

02-22-2011, 12:22 PM	#8
jerry grayson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Atlanta area Posts: 833	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? Deuce Lover has the answer. loosen the spring to crossmember u bolts on one side and tighten the other side, front and rear.

02-22-2011, 01:09 PM	#9
Coupe35 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 226	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? On my 35, I removed the rear spring and rotated it to where the left side was now on the right side. Did not help at all. Maybe I need to do the front spring also.

02-22-2011, 01:18 PM	#10
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 9,239	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? I made a sheetmetal shim that fitted between the spring and the crossmember and folded one side double. I fitted that, and tightened the u-bolts carefully to correct a persistant lean. I seem to remember fitting one front and rear. Mart.

02-22-2011, 02:39 PM	#12
Mike51Merc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 1,582	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? For what it's worth, I read that some cars are engineered with a little "batchelor lean" because we drive on the right and most of our roads are crowned (highest) at the center.

02-23-2011, 12:30 AM	#13
Adam/Mill Valley CA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mill Valley,CA Posts: 310	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? Are you sure the rear spring is exactly centered on the crossmember? It was a little off center on my '36 pickup; loosened the U-bolts, moved the spring sideways to center it and it corrected the lean. Adam __________________ 1936 pickup, stock, black 1965 Mustang coupe 289/4bbl, black/red 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 coupe, dark red/tan 1970 911E 2.2 litre dark blue/black 1968 BMW R50/2 US, black (m'cycle) 1967 Triumph TR6R , sea foam/cream (m'cycle) 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 red (m'cycle) 1974 Honda CB750 red (m'cycle) 2000 Kawasaki W650 blue/silver (m'cycle)

02-23-2011, 03:06 AM	#14
Roadster62 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ridgefield, Ct Posts: 3,450	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? Rubenesque girlfriend.

02-23-2011, 08:10 AM	#15
gerrald meacham Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: FRANKLIN GEORGIA Posts: 158	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? the shims that are posted will work , just play with them

02-23-2011, 08:50 AM	#16
4dFord/SC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,579	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? Any suggestions for a Mechanic's Lean?

02-23-2011, 09:38 AM	#17
Kube Super Moderator Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 10,540	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? While I appreciate all the advise you've been given, With all due respect, I have to say, DO THE REPAIR CORRECTLY. Adding shims, etc. is what we referred to (pre PC) as 'riggin it". If nothing is broken (or worn very badly) in the spring assembly (shackles, etc) than it's simple - you need new springs. These cars were NOT designed to lean one way or the other. They were designed to sit level. Any quick check of a dimensional drawing, crash manual, etc. will quickly allow that reality.

02-23-2011, 01:57 PM	#20
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 4,213	Re: What can be done about a Bachelor Lean? I would first check to make sure the center bolt in the leaf spring is not broken or just not centered up on the cross member. I have seen this problem before with my dads 47 Tudor and we centered up the leaf spring with the cross member to fix it.