SS spring question

[64plymouth]

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?

 

[Fran Blacker]

Added my opinion on other thread.

 

[yella71]

did you bolt it down yet?

 

[64plymouth]

did you bolt it down yet?

Yes seems fine

 

[64plymouth]

thanks for replies. I'm going to weld new perches on. Thanks again

 

[66Satellite47]

What do you mean by "do not sit flat"? Pics?

 

[64plymouth]

What do you mean by "do not sit flat"? Pics?

One 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.

 

[64plymouth]

One 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

Other side

 

[64plymouth]

I tried 2 different housings same thing. These are factory housings

 

[Fran Blacker]

Looks like some body messed with it. Sloppy weld even for factory.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Imo they are not welded square.

 

[64plymouth]

I think it is factory. I pulled from a 68 RR 30 years ago

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Maybe the tube is twisted.....

 

[66Satellite47]

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.

 

[Nate S]

I'd take the housing out and level one perch then check the other with the level to confirm they are coplanar. Didn't use the upper front perch hole on one and the lower on the other right?

 

[64plymouth]

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.

 

[Bill M]

Yes when bolted down everything is flat.

unbolt the shackles and tighten the u-bolts.

Then remount the shackles

 

[66Satellite47]

If you tighten the U bolts all the way tight, the spring will flatten and the shackle takes up the difference. The spring changes its shape to match the spring perch.

Mine always look like that until I tighten the U bolts.

 

[Cranky]

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 AND rear end torquing.

 

[64plymouth]

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