Leaning Left

[Brobrian]

My '31 pickup leans noticeably to the left. Politically we are in a bit of a disagreement. I'd like to drive a car that doesn't make me look like I weigh 600 lbs.

Recently, I took the front shock off and changed the oil, they seem to be moving freely, haven't done the back one's yet. The shackles look to be in good shape. The center bold on the rear spring is in place.

I'm thinking of taking the springs out and switching them so that if the springs are the cause the car would be level when I'm sitting in the driver's seat.

Sound like a good idea?

When I priced parts for replacing both front and rear springs, and the brackets and shackles it was $840, which included $210 for two spring spreaders and a ream. I could probably afford it. (Just another side job.) But I don't want to change out any original parts on the cars if I can help it.

What do you guys suggest?

[jkeesey]

Drop the springs and turn them 180. Then maybe it will lean to the right and your weight will counteract it. No need to change parts except maybe the shackles

[Brobrian]

That's what I was trying to say. Thanks

[Louis]

Someone here sug. [I think it was Tom?] jacking the frt. up to take the pressure of the springs and spray them the best you can with silicone, That you might have to do it several time's.

[jkeesey]

Why would you need a reemer? Are you planning on changing the kingpins? The bushing removal tool sold works great and id suggest getting one of those if your doing the job.

[CarlG]

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Originally Posted by Brobrian

... which included $210 for two spring spreaders and a ream...

I always look at owning a Model A is all about an excuse to buy more tools!

[Charlie Stephens]

Any chance your front bolt is not in the hole in the crossmember? Any chance a your local Model A club has a spring spreader they loan(or maybe rent to nonmembers)? What are you going to use the ream for?

Charlie Stephens

[Tom Wesenberg]

Sometimes just loosening and retightening the 4 spring U-bolt nuts will make it set straight. My 29 Tudor leaned to the left until I changed the clutch. Now it's level.

[Aerocraft]

I believe that Tom has suggested the fix. Loosen up the low side nuts and tighten the high side. Worked for me several times on different cars. Gar Williams

[Brobrian]

Cool! I'm all over it.
Tomorrow I'll loosen and retighten the u bolts and spray a little lube in there.
Sorry for the confusing message. The reamer is for the kingpins on the '28.
Thanks again.

[Milton]

I'll go with what Tom said although I like to loosen the left and then tighten the right side first then left. Oops! Gar Williams nailed it.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by Brobrian

Cool! I'm all over it.
Tomorrow I'll loosen and retighten the u bolts and spray a little lube in there.
Sorry for the confusing message. The reamer is for the kingpins on the '28.
Thanks again.

Instead of reaming them have them honed at a local machine shop. Better and cheaper if you are just doing one. Be sure the shop understands that the two bushings must be reamed in alignment with each other.

Charlie Stephens

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Brobrian,
Ever see a black granite R/H running board?
Bill W's GHOST

[theHIGHLANDER]

Mine sags to the left as well. Nice to hear my "fix" has worked for a few already. Thanks fellas...

[Steve Wastler]

You say your shackles are in good shape, make sure they are not froze, old grease can keep new grease from going in, easy for them to bind, and not return to their correct position.

[Brobrian]

Just to be clear about the u-bolt clamp thing. You guys are suggesting loosening both sides, and then retightening them left side first. And this while the car is jacked up by the frame.

My dad, from whom I inherited the cars, is coming in tomorrow. This will be a perfect little project for us to do together this weekend. Not technical and thus doesn't interfere with drinking homebrew, yet has a visible result. We'll also be changing the oil in the trans over to Lucas hub oil, another tip I got here in the Barn.

[Steve Wastler]

tighten right side first then left. should be able to do it on the ground, depending on the severity of the lean, once loose you may give a quick lift under left fenders, but may not need it.

[Brobrian]

Well, Dad and I attempted to level the car this weekend. We lifted the frame from the springs and re centered it before tightening the u-bolts. The body was about 3/4 left of center in the rear and 1/4 in the front. At first we thought we'd been successful, but after 20 or so miles a little of the lean has returned. So next weekend I'll reverse the springs. Still, had a great time. Heard lots of "A" stories from the farm days.
We also put a Snyder high comp head on the '28. Dad really liked that and showed me how to lap the valves in the process.

[V4F]

i usally just jump up/down on the passenger running board . works for a few days . loosen the u bolts & then do that works better .....

[Fred K-OR]

Just happened to think about the bolt in the center of the spring that holds it together. If this bolt happened to be broken, then the spring could shift. You could check this by taking the two u bolts off and removing the bottom plate that goes under the spring and see if the nut is there and if so, can you turn it. If you can turn it, then it could be broken. Kind of an easy thing to check.