1950s 59 leaning

[Paul]

Gents- hope you can help with an odd ball question. My 59 cdv seems to lean down on the drivers side front. The rear passenger side is up. I've tried working the springs but they aren't settling any more.  The tire pressure is even all around. No suspension parts look bent out of shape. Control arms look good, sway bar ok.  I'm at a loss? I plan to bring it to a suspension shop but wondered if anyone had a similar experience and if they settled it? Thank you.

[Clewisiii]

I once had a coil break on my spring. Took me a minute to figure it out because it was still in there just collapsed. 

[Paul]

Thanks. I looked. All is well. No broken coil.

[Chopper1942]

The springs are what sets the ride height of the vehicle. If one corner is suddenly lower, something has happened to the spring for that corner.  Sometimes the spring will break inside of the upper spring seat and it is very difficult to see the break.  if this was a gradual thing, the spring has lost some of its tension and needs replaced.  It is always best to replace as pairs, both fronts or both rears.                                                                                                               

[Paul]

Chopper1942 I would agree with your assessment but the springs are new. They were installed two months ago. Do you think there is an issue with the spring? They are from Eaton Detroit Spring. I don't see any breaks?

[Roger Zimmermann]

If the springs are from Eaton, I would contact them.

[Chopper1942]

Since they are new, there is definitely an issue with the the left spring.  Contact your supplier or the manufacturer. Either the it has the wrong spring rate, spring height, or metallurgical issue.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

One thing I have found with driving a LHD car in Australia, on the Left side of the road, the cars always seem to lay further to the left.

I put this down to the camber of the road, plus the weight of the driver putting more weight than was intended when the cars were built.

When going around a tight right hand bend, with the extra mass on the outside, the car appears to lean a lot further to the left, or outside.

It may be an optical illusion, but it is how it seems to me.   Especially as by the time a car gets to Australia, after having done years of service in USA, the springs gain a "memory".   I find I have to swap the springs from side to side.   With my Eldorado, it was just a matter of adjusting the torsion bar a touch.

Bruce.

[Paul]

It was suggested to me to use an extended coil spring spacer or shim to even out the stance. Can anyone recommend a good product/ manufacturer? I think I need to raise that side by about one and a half inches. Thanks.

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

I'm assuming the 59, like my 54 has rubber coil spring insulators. It would be worth checking if this is the case and if they were fitted when your springs were replaced.

[badpoints]

I would try swapping the front springs and see if it leans the other way.

[Paul]

Does the 59 have a front torsion bar I can adjust to get added height on one side? I'm not too familiar with the suspension, this is a new area to learn. Any help would be appreciated

[Roger Zimmermann]

No torsion bar on this type of suspension! that came later with the 1967 Eldorado and FWD.