GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand Dork
10/30/08 8:41 a.m.

Okay, so I got the Sammy back now with some newish springs on it. The stance is a lot better, but I did some quick measuring in the dark last night and it seems that the chassis is now level with the ground, but the body is not. The fender gaps are VERY different left to right but on an eye inspection I can't even tell for sure if the body is leaning at all or not. I'll have to give the jeep a proper checking to make sure but I'm fairly certain of it. If the chassis is not actually level, the only thing I could imagine might be causing that is the shocks. There are all new suspension bushings installed now.

Leaning seems to be a pretty common problem with leaf sprung vehicles AND body-on-frame vehicles. If the body isn't level with the chassis I'm thinking I could just get some big rubber washers and shim the body-to-frame bushings on the low (driver's) side. Good idea?

Handy facts:

  • The driver's side was very visibly sagging with the old springs. The chassis was not level (by about 1" IIRC)
  • The previous owner was a big fat guy.
914Driver
914Driver Dork
10/30/08 8:58 a.m.

I use $1 hockey pucks with a hole in it.

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand Dork
10/30/08 9:06 a.m.

I was wondering why yours is so nice and level

joey48442
joey48442 Dork
10/30/08 10:25 a.m.

I don't know how the bushings are on your Sammy work, but could you have tightened the bolt that goes through them while the vehicle was off the ground, and the suspension unloaded? I know while working on the Miata they always recommenced tightening the bushings when the car is on the ground.

Joey

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand Dork
10/30/08 10:30 a.m.

I didn't do the spring swap myself...but I'm pretty sure any issues concerning the suspension bushings being centered correctly will go right out the window on the first speedbump/pothole/offroad trail. It's running a cartoonish amount of toe-out right now so it's parked until I can take it in for an alignment next week.

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