64plymouth
Well-Known Member
I installed new SS springs in my 64 Belvedere (456/457). When I put 8-3/4 housing on springs the perches do not sit flat. I tried 2 housing same thing. Is this normal with SS springs?
Yes seems finedid you bolt it down yet?
Other sideOne perch is flat on spring. The other side has a gap. I can rock housing back and forth. This is without ubolts bolted down. The spring are hanging full droop.
View attachment 1016514
Yes when bolted down everything is flat.I think you may need to tighten the U bolts more. The arc of the SS spring is much greater than a stock spring. You need to bring the housing to meet the spring. Be sure to torque the U bolts to full torque, front to back, side to side. Mine all look like that right spring until I get the U bolts fully torqued.
With the bolts tightened, the spring will flatten out a bit.
Yes when bolted down everything is flat.
Yes, this is normal. SS springs are 'biased' and the right side is the spring that has more arch than the left. DO NOT counter act this by laying the perches on the springs then sticking the housing on them then weld. I've run into this before and that's wrong. The whole idea to SS springs is to help induce preload into the chassis and put more load onto the right rear tire. It's pretty much the same thing as using an air shock on the right side only if SS springs are not used. You can also induce preload with just about any suspension system to help make the car launch flat and straight. You can also adjust the right front torsion bar to add more preload.......if needed. One of the things most do not think about is the rear end torques over opposite of the engine and tries to lift the right rear tire. If you ever wondered why an open diff always spins the right rear tire, now you know. Having a spring on the right with more leafs and arch counteracts engine AND rear end torquing.I installed new SS springs in my 64 Belvedere (456/457). When I put 8-3/4 housing on springs the perches do not sit flat. I tried 2 housing same thing. Is this normal with SS springs?
Yes, this is normal. SS springs are 'biased' and the right side is the spring that has more arch than the left. DO NOT counter act this by laying the perches on the springs then sticking the housing on them then weld. I've run into this before and that's wrong. The whole idea to SS springs is to help induce preload into the chassis and put more load onto the right rear tire. It's pretty much the same thing as using an air shock on the right side only if SS springs are not used. You can also induce preload with just about any suspension system to help make the car launch flat and straight. You can also adjust the right front torsion bar to add more preload.......if needed. One of the things most do not think about is the rear end torques over opposite of the engine and tries to lift the right rear tire. If you ever wondered why an open diff always spins the right rear tire, now you know. Having a spring on the right with more leafs and arch counteracts engine. That makes perfect sense. I thought it was normal. Just wanted to hear it from guys with more experience than me. I will bolt it back together. Thanks to everyone Mike