car leans right

[Lincoln S.]

My 66 coupe leans to the right. As measured from the center of the wheel openings in the fenders my car is approx three quarters of an inch lower on the right that on the left. I recently replaced the rear leaf spring with a new one, no help, the car is still lower on the right side. I checked the rear strut rod adjustment and they are the same. I am wondering if perhaps a front coil spring might be the cause of this starboard list or possibly some other component. Perhaps the shocks??? Any suggestions on where to focus my search would be appreciated. Thanks, Lincoln

[Timothy B.]

Re: car leans right

Lincoln,

First, make sure your car is sitting on a relatively flat floor.
My 63 looked like it leaned to the left rear but the garage floor was out of level in the area where the tire sat and the floor had cracked and settled.

In you AIM there are checking specs for front and rear springs. The check will become clear when you read it and this will give a indication if there is a problem with springs. Look also in archives for some info..

Make sure before checking anything the car has been driven and suspension normalized then determine where the problem lies. I have read comments from some that it is not uncommon to have a difference in ride height but 3/4" is worth taking a closer look at.

[Dan P.]

Re: car leans right

My 66 coupe leans to the right.

So does mine. It goes out if it's way to run Smart Cars off the road.

[Brian M.]

Re: car leans right

Better right than left.

[Roger O.]

Re: car leans right

Leaning problems in general are in the front of the car , but before blaming springs or frame disconnect one end of the sway bar to make sure its not causing a problem. Make sure all tires are the same height and aired up. Also sit in the drivers seat and have someone measure to see how far off it is.

[Rich P.]

Re: car leans right

Measuring the body won't tell you what is wrong. You need to level the car at all 4 corners on jack stands, Make sure the front horns are the same height and also the rear rails. Now that the frame is level measure the body. If it is still off then it is how the body is set up on the chassie. If it is square then your problem is in the suspension or frame.
Let us know what you find.

Rich

[Lincoln S.]

Re: car leans right

Measuring the body won't tell you what is wrong. You need to level the car at all 4 corners on jack stands, Make sure the front horns are the same height and also the rear rails. Now that the frame is level measure the body. If it is still off then it is how the body is set up on the chassie. If it is square then your problem is in the suspension or frame.
Let us know what you find.

Rich

Rich, I checked tire pressures and levelness of my garage floor, all is level and equal there. A preliminary measurement of the frame rails to the floor shows me that the frame is lower on the right side by 1/2 to 3/4". At this point I am gravitating toward a coil spring as the culprit. I will put the car on jackstands and do a body/frame measurement though per your recommendation. Thanks for your input, it is appreciated. Lincoln

[Rich P.]

Re: car leans right

Lincoln,

make sure the jack stands are resting on the frame when you square it up to measure. If it is set up on the suspension it will give you a false reading.

Rich

[Dan P.]

Re: car leans right

If you will search the archives I wrote how to tell which end of the car is the problem.To check you must find centerline of the frame front or back and jack the car up on that end front is best. .Use a socket or piece of pipe between the jack and frame so you will be on center line and the car can pivot. Check the end that is not jacked up. If it is fine the problem is on the end you jacked up.If the end that is not jacked up is off the problem is at that end.

What you are doing is seprating from from the back

[Lincoln S.]

Re: car leans right

If you will search the archives I wrote how to tell which end of the car is the problem.To check you must find centerline of the frame front or back and jack the car up on that end front is best. .Use a socket or piece of pipe between the jack and frame so you will be on center line and the car can pivot. Check the end that is not jacked up. If it is fine the problem is on the end you jacked up.If the end that is not jacked up is off the problem is at that end.

What you are doing is seprating from from the back

Dan, Thanks for replying to my question and for your advice. That sounds like a good way to isolate the problem.
After monkeying around with the car most of the day yesterday doing multiple Corvette 'must do' projects and checking body to frame spacers, torsion bars, rear strut rods, etc, etc, I am 99.9% convinced that the right front coil spring has decided that it is time it retired! Thanks for your input, it is much appreciated. Lincoln

[Roger O.]

Re: car leans right

Lincoln,
Here is a thread where we talked about leaning that might help.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-tech-performance/1563867-corvettes-that-lean-body-flaw-or-wrecked.html

[Lincoln S.]

Re: car leans right

Lincoln,
Here is a thread where we talked about leaning that might help.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...r-wrecked.html

Roger,
Thanks for showing me this thread, it certainly gives me some food for thought. I bought my 66 coupe last April. It has had several owners and a body off restoration in the mid-90's but who knows really what its been through in the past 43 years! I am thinking of taking it to someone who specializes in mid-years and letting them have a look and get some opinions. I have been leaning (no pun intended) towards the RF coil spring being weak but looking at them yesterday they both look new (but who can tell from just that). The front end collision theory certainly sounds plausable though. The plot thickens! Thank you, Lincoln

[Rich P.]

Re: car leans right

Lincoln,

a simple thing to check is to see if the coil springs are seated correctly. If one is and the other is not it will cause a 1/2-3/4" difference. I just had a 66 brought to me with the same symptoms and that was the problem. It was a quick fix.

Rich

[Lincoln S.]

Re: car leans right

Lincoln,

a simple thing to check is to see if the coil springs are seated correctly. If one is and the other is not it will cause a 1/2-3/4" difference. I just had a 66 brought to me with the same symptoms and that was the problem. It was a quick fix.

Rich

Rich,
Thanks for the heads up on the seating of the coil spring.
How would I go about checking this on mine how do you fix it?
Lincoln

[Mike G.]

Re: car leans right

my 57 did the same thing. it was my front springs that had to be replaced to fix it even though it looked like a rear spring problem.