C2 Front springs

[Subfixer]

Here's a problem that has me baffled..... As I was disassembling my 64 about 18 months ago, I paid particular attention to the original placement of the front springs in the spring pockets. I was able to see that the ends were correctly positioned in the lower A-arm spring pockets (end of the spring aligned with the hole) and the same at the top of the spring in the frame spring pocket.

As I took the springs out, I labeled left/right, top and bottom, so I would get them back in correctly.

When I put the front suspension back together a couple of months ago, I could get the bottom of the springs correctly indexed in the lower A-arms, but they would not index correctly at the top in the frame spring pockets. It's like they untwisted somehow. I'm about 1/4 coil off at the tops when the bottoms are correct.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm lost......

 

[WayneC]

Line up the top coil in the frame pocket, it's position is more critical. End of top coil needs to be 3/8" away from the coil stop with the spring under mild compression, so make this adjustment with enough tension relieved from the spring compressor so as to "hold" the spring snugly in place between the lower control arm and frame... use a drift punch, if needed, to rotate the spring into proper position. Then remove the spring compressor completely.

 

[JohnZ]

I'll just add that the closely-spaced coils go up top, against the frame pocket; where the end of the bottom coil ends up doesn't matter - that hole is just for water drainage.

 

[youwish2bme]

What are the reprocussions of not having the spring properly oriented in the frame pocket? Dave..

 

[Subfixer]

What are the reprocussions of not having the spring properly oriented in the frame pocket? Dave..

The ride height will be wrong (front too high). It would be like having spacers in there.

 

[youwish2bme]

Makes good sense to me.. Does anyone know by how much this can lift the front end? Dave..

 

[Subfixer]

I don't think it would lift the front more than about an inch. But, if one spring was in the pocket and the other wasn't, I think the car could display a noticable lean from side to side.

 

[saopm]

That sounds like it could be my problem too. I have been trying to figure it out for a while. The right front side of my 63 is about an inch lower than the left. Its been driving me nuts. My next step was to remove the springs to make sure they were sitting right on both sides. This thread confirms my suspicion.

 

[Subfixer]

Got my front springs fixed over the weekend. The driver's side spring was perfect, but the pass side was in upside down, and the top of the coil was not correctly positioned in the frame pocket.

When I initially removed both springs, I had marked left/right and top/bottom. Looks like "Bubba" had been there before me. It's all better now.