Eileen, eye lien, I lean

Discussion in 'Technical' started by scooper77515, Jan 28, 2006.

  1. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2004
    Messages:
    14,672
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    233
    Location:
    Issaquah/Grand Coulee, WA
    Vehicle:
    Fresh out of Mavericks
    I have a lean. It was about 1.25", then put new springs in the front, cut them, and got it less than 1/4", then put mismatched used tires on the front, and got a good 1" of lean back.

    What is the CORRECT way to fix a lean?

    I probably need new rear leaf springs, and I have air shocks on the back. Are the shocks part of the problem? I know when I buy all new matched tires, some of it will correct itself, but what do I do to correct the remaining lean afterwards?
     
  2. Rick Book

    Rick Book Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2002
    Messages:
    5,744
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    197
    Location:
    Thailand
    Vehicle:
    Missing my old '70 Maverick
    Where is this < 1/4" measured from?
     
  3. Blown 5.0

    Blown 5.0 Hooked on BOOST MEMBER

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2004
    Messages:
    784
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    MS.
    Vehicle:
    1974 Maverick
    The 74 gas tank sits to the drivers side. Plus the weight of the driver, Mine leaned about 1/4 till i put new springs on. I still had a small lean with a full tank of gas and the driver in the car. I removed 1 spring from the passenger side and all was fine.PS i bought the 4 leaf spring packs
     
  4. Zooomzoomguy

    Zooomzoomguy Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2005
    Messages:
    961
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Detroit, MI
    Vehicle:
    73 maverick, 2 door
    i was thinking under heavy acceleration dosen't the engine force the body to lean to the passenger side?
     
  5. Blown 5.0

    Blown 5.0 Hooked on BOOST MEMBER

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2004
    Messages:
    784
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    MS.
    Vehicle:
    1974 Maverick
    Under normal conditions yes, Depends on suspension set up. But i am assuming he means at rest.
     
  6. Zooomzoomguy

    Zooomzoomguy Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2005
    Messages:
    961
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Detroit, MI
    Vehicle:
    73 maverick, 2 door
    yeah i figured that, but i think its bad ass when a car has a little lean on it hehe
     
  7. fan2488

    fan2488 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2004
    Messages:
    3,254
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    147
    Location:
    spring,TX
    Vehicle:
    1969.5 maverick, 1972 grabber
    i though you were calling for my car.
     
  8. Mercurycruizers

    Mercurycruizers David (Coop) Cooper

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2004
    Messages:
    6,278
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    198
    Location:
    Venetia, PA
    Vehicle:
    1973 LDO Comet GT Daily driver: 2008 Ford Taurus X SEL
    When you put the air shocks on, did you reverse the mounting bracket on the upper right side? If you didn't, that's part of the problem....
     
  9. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2004
    Messages:
    14,672
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    233
    Location:
    Issaquah/Grand Coulee, WA
    Vehicle:
    Fresh out of Mavericks
    I am measuring from the ground to the bottom of the fender lip. Of course, since I am measuring, it is at rest in the garage.

    What is this "reverse the mounting bracket on the upper right side" all about? I am leaning to the left/driver side, full tank of gas. I have always leaned a little left (both politcally, and on the car) since the Great-grandmother who bought the car in '73 always drove alone, and I usually drive alone, and the gas tank is on the driver side, so that side has always had a "little" more weight on it.

    I could make new different length shackles to level it out, at least at the rear, but I don't know if that is the "correct" way to do it.

    Any suggestions for how to "correctly" level out the car?
     
  10. j miller

    j miller Montana MCCI state rep

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2003
    Messages:
    1,027
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    177
    Location:
    Polson, Mt
    Vehicle:
    77 2 door Maverick, 250ci, power disc brakes, a/c,
    scooper, i just saw your thread and realized i just asked the exact same question. mine leans to the driver side 1". i also have air shocks but it was leaning prior to installing them. i have seen several conversions to air shocks and have never heard of reversing the mounting bracket. please someone explain this. i do have matching tires and the original leaf springs. my question is could the old springs account for this?
     
  11. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2004
    Messages:
    14,672
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    233
    Location:
    Issaquah/Grand Coulee, WA
    Vehicle:
    Fresh out of Mavericks
    Yes, please, someone explain this... :huh:
     
  12. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2002
    Messages:
    26,590
    Likes Received:
    2,937
    Trophy Points:
    978
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    MACON,GA.
    Vehicle:
    '73 Grabber
    do a search on "air shocks"...frank...:D
     
  13. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2004
    Messages:
    14,672
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    233
    Location:
    Issaquah/Grand Coulee, WA
    Vehicle:
    Fresh out of Mavericks
    Did a search on "air shocks" and only got 115 hits. Can you help me narrow it down? i don't have the patience to read all 115 threads :drink: I am too busy hittting the bottle :D
     
  14. Mavaholic

    Mavaholic Growing older but not up!

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2002
    Messages:
    14,993
    Likes Received:
    214
    Trophy Points:
    258
    Location:
    Live Oak, FL
    Vehicle:
    Original 72 Sprint Owner, 71 Comet GT, 57 Ranchwagon, 57 4 dr Wagon
    71 & up cars have staggered shocks. Therefore the shock in front of the axle will lift the car higher than the shock behind the axle, given equal pressure in both shocks. You should not use the shocks to lift a car because it puts pressure on structures that are not designed to lift. The springs do the lifting, the shocks just dampen. That being said. You could run separate lines on the airshocks and add a little more air to the low side. Thats the easy fix, not the best way to do it, but it will work. If you do, keep a good eye on the upper shock mount.
     
  15. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2004
    Messages:
    14,672
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    233
    Location:
    Issaquah/Grand Coulee, WA
    Vehicle:
    Fresh out of Mavericks
    I am trying to sell the air shocks...so, if I put "regular" shocks back on, it should even out my ride? I recognize that "staggered shocks" means that one is mounted in front of the axle, the other behind. Is that my problem? I originally put air shocks on to lift my car so the side pipes would not drag, but I have since lost the side pipes, and want the lower profile. For $30 I could swap out the air shocks and be back at stock...
     

Share This Page