1950s Front spring spacer on an A/C car?

[Cadman-iac]

When I tore down the suspension on my '56 coupe with factory A/C, I found a solid 1/4" spacer between the right spring and the frame. But only one, the left side didn't have it.
I compared the springs and there was no difference between them,  not even a little bit. The part number on them was the same for both sides,  and it matches the number I found for a car with A/C. I'll have to check now where I found the number.  I don't remember if it was in my  MPL or the service manual, or somewhere else.
I wanted to know if there was anyone else who has seen that in their own car, or knows if it is a factory part.
I can  eventually find out by tearing down my sedan deville parts car  >:Dif I have to.  Its also an A/C car, but I really don't want to do that unless it was necessary.  I'm trying to keep it together as much as possible so I can refer to it as I put the coupe back together.
I couldn't find anything in the factory service manuals about it. Can it be because of the added weight of the A/C system?
I'll have to take some pictures of it to post, and I'll get the number off the springs.

[Roger Zimmermann]

This is what I can read in the parts book:

Group 7.425 Shim, front spring 
1953 thru 1956; 1958 thru 1961 exc. 75, CC:  # 1457838  1  Exc. air spring, use on right side w/air cond.

You have the answer!

[Cadman-iac]

This is what I can read in the parts book:

Group 7.425 Shim, front spring 
1953 thru 1956; 1958 thru 1961 exc. 75, CC:  # 1457838  1  Exc. air spring, use on right side w/air cond.

You have the answer!

Thank you Roger,  I can rest easy now when I put it back on. I was thinking that it may have been something that one of the PO's had installed to compensate for a lean or something like that.

I appreciate the help. Rick

[Cadman-iac]

Bob,
Here's the pics of that spacer. Hope it helps.
Rick

PS, I laid it next to the spring for comparison.

[Cadman-iac]

Roger, 
This is what I have in my MPL. That's why I wondered about the spacer.
See pic.

Rick

[Cadman-iac]

It looks like the '62 to '64's may have multiple ones depending on whether or not there was an issue with height.
I'm guessing that the earlier years only had it if it had A/C.
Bob, if you're in need of one,  maybe check out the local salvage yard.
Rick

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Plus, one could be installed for a very heavy driver, as excess weight on one side would create a visual difference in the stance of the vehicle when being driven.

With myself seated in my Eldo, sitting on the left side, and the vehicle being driven on the left side of the road, it creates more of a list to the left, simply because the road cambers to the left.

Bruce.

[Cadman-iac]

Plus, one could be installed for a very heavy driver, as excess weight on one side would create a visual difference in the stance of the vehicle when being driven.
Bruce.

True! That reminds me of one we had come into the dealership in the early '90's with that problem. I had forgotten about it until you just mentioned it.

And I always forget about you guys who drive on the wrong side of the road!!!
Rick

[J. Gomez]

Rick,

I believe the shim was place on the right side to offset the extra weight of the large A/C compressor when you measure the spring height on both sides, since the springs were the same for either A/C or non-A/C cards.

[R S Steven]

Hi Rick,
Thanks For the pictures, they're a great help.

Bob