Front Spring Positioning Problem

[Scott De Shields]

As I am finishing installing anti sway bar I noticed that my shackles were in different positions. Checked spring bolt and the head was in the front crossmember and the bolt wasn't broken. Any ways to solve the problem would be appreciated.

[39portlander]

Nice pic's Scott, got disc brakes on my 39. Looking @ your first pic the(L) pass. side frame look's higher than the (R)drivers. I would drop it down off the jack let it settle and then raise it again and re-check.

[Scott De Shields]

Thanks, the slab in the garage has raised a little from age (built before rebar or steel mesh.

[RPM]

Scott, I noticed you have an aftermarket panhard bar installed....Is it adjustable? Is the locating hole thru the passenger side of the axle located correctly? Same for bracket to frame? I'd set car down on floor and simulate the finished weight (radiator, coolant, sheetmetal etc) and check again. Perhaps the axle will center itself, otherwise it appears panhard bar needs to be slightly longer as it appears to be pulling axle toward drivers side slightly. Try it without bar and then check bar to locating hole which has been drilled in axle. Hope this helps....RPM

[deuce lover]

Are your center spring clamp nuts tightened more on one side than the other?

[19Fordy]

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Here is a photo of my 40 with the sway bar and Posie Reversed eye spring. Both hangers point inward like the one shown. Perhaps when you put your car back on the ground they will "self adjust."

[richard crow]

it looks like the spring is to long or you removed leavs & it,s to soft .is that the orignal spring or a replacement. i had my 40 out today it,s stock & rides like a new car why do you guys keep changing things .

[Scott De Shields]

I will try disconnecting the panhard rod when I drop the coup, reworking the bar would be and easy fix. Appears to same amount of u-bolt thread showing on all castle nuts. Front spring has been with the car for as long as I can remember when my grandfather had the car. If the spring is too jacked up then I might purchase that Posies reversed-eye spring.

[19Fordy]

The Posie spring I used is their 39 in. spring,number 2040 with reversed eyes. I think it lowers the front end more than a stock 40 reversed eye spring (which will lower the front end 1 in.) Be sure and ask Posie about their different springs so as to get exactly what you want.

[DICK SPADARO]

Nothing wrong, Just jack the vehicle up off the jack stands and re set it. Shackles will align themselves.

[Scott De Shields]

Thanks for the info Dick. What do you mean about re setting?

[19Fordy]

Originally Posted by Scott De Shields

Thanks for the info Dick. What do you mean about re setting?

Could he mean inserting a pry bar in between the top of the spring and the wishbone and "flipping" the shackle into position?

[1931 flamingo]

My interpretation is to pick it up and set it down....
Paul in CT

[Scott De Shields]

I was thinking the same thing 19Fordy. Hoping to hear back from Dick with the answer.

[DICK SPADARO]

Simply jack the vehicle off the jack stands, set it on the ground and bounce on the bumper this should allow the spring to center. My interpretation is that the axle is bound up on the jack stands and preventing the car to center.

[Phils35]

Mine was the same way , set on the ground and let it settle.

[Mart]

39 springs are shorter than 40 springs and rely on more angle in the shackle to keep the front centered. 40 springs are longer, and the shackles hang down more vertically because the sway bar is relied on to position things sideways. If you look at later 40's springs, they are longer still and the panhard bar takes care of the sideways location.

All this was Ford's development process to improve riding comfort.

In the first pics, I can't see an aftermarket panhard bar, I can only see the 40 style anti-sway bar. If there is an aftermarket panhard rod it must be disconnected so it isn't fighting the sway bar.

Unlike modern anti-roll bars, the 40 sway bar offers a degree of sideways location. it might be that the sway bar can be unbolted, things centered up and the sway bar rebolted up more centrally.

Or just stop worrying about it.

It's fine, really.

Mart.

[Scott De Shields]

Don't know if front springs are 39 or 40. Will try disconnecting panhard bar before lowering car and see if spring settles into a centered position, the bar is adjustable. Just put on new rubbers and sway bar ends.

[RPM]

Mart,
I beg to differ when you say you can't see an aftermarket panhard bar in the pics. I see evidence of the aftermarket panhard bar clearly visible in every pic except the final engine/firewall pic.
On the pass side of the axle there is a large nut nestled into the web. This is NOT FACTORY, rather the attachment point on the axle for the modern panhard. IF someone miss-drilled the axle as little as 1/4" from the ideal location, then the non- adjustable bar ends up too short (or long). Once hooked up at each end, the bar cannot compress or stretch, but it will pull (or push)the unsprung portion of the suspension, in this case the axle which swings from the shackles. This problem will show up as shackles positioned at two different angles (as shown in Scott's pics).
As stated earlier, unhook the bar, settle suspension on floor, lift the end of bar up the hole in axle, and see if bar lines up with the hole. Hopefully it's real close and it won't hurt.
I do agree that the 40 Deluxe sway bar provides some lateral stability, but with higher speeds, rutted pavement, etc, the panhard bar can make for a nice retrofit.
Respectfully, RPM

[Scott De Shields]

Thanks for feedback RPM. The panhard rod was a Magoos product that I bought in the early 90's. The length is adjustable and hopefully when the axle is centered the bar can be adjusted.