Need a little help. I have a friend with a '34 Ford coupe fitted with new coil-over shocks on the rear. In order to get the car to sit level, one spring (driver's side) is adjusted all the way up while the other (passenger side) is at the bottom of its adjustment. We have tried switching the shock assemblies and the result is the same. The the spring on the driver's side must be adjusted up while the passengers side must be adjusted down to get the car level. It makes no sence to me. Anyone have any thoughts on whats going on.
--
Dick Z

First thing I would do is check the angle of the two coilovers to see if they are symetrical to eachother. if not adjust the panhardt bar to make that happen. Which if installed in the correct location should level the car side to side. After doing this check the location of the differential under the car from side to side.

That should be a start. Adjusting the panhardt bar will raise one side while it is lowering the other. At least to some degree.

Dick what does it have for front suspension?
--
In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.

It's a Mustang II front suspension. We also checked the springs and interchanged springs while leaving the shocks in place...no difference. Everything is new...both shocks and springs.
--
Dick Z

Check to see if the mounting holes on the frame and rear housing for the coilovers are semetrical. Also check the spring rates. One could be sour. Front suspension???? What kind?
--
WPoC

If its got coils in the front and one spring is a diff rate(or set wrong as in diff height) it will screw the rears up. Which ever coilover is cranked up the most it most times is the front spring on the opposite side screwed up.(its called cross weight) Thats why everything that leaves this shop is scaled. You find wrong springs ..bad front end installs...bad rear installs.. bent /twisted frame rails on and on.
--
In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.

Understood.
--
WPoC

Dick start from scratch block the back of the car up to ride height with NO coil overs hooked up. Now go around the car and check frame heights front and rear(all 4 corners). See what the front looks like. Than block the front at ride height or a bit higher and see what the coilovers do in the rear.
--
In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.

Dick, Is the rear set up with 4-Link bars? If so, are they adjustable lengthwise? If so, turn the top drivers side bar in the direction that will shorten it's length, OR turn the bottom bar in the direction that will make "it" longer. That adds pre-load on that left rear tire therefore raising the drivers side. Learned this from 25 years of drag racing. Hope this helps.

Lynn
--
'65 GTO Convertible

If the 34 has an anti-sway bar on the front or front and rear both, unhook the link on one end of the bar(s)and see what results. It take very little preload on a sway bar on a light car to jack up one side of the suspension. If that's the problem, lengthen or shorten the link on one end of the bar until it's neutral.
Wayne
--
Measure twice; cut once, ie. "I cut it three times and it's still too short"

Sax makes a good point about sway bars.You should allways save putting on the last links till you have the car set on a level pad or garage floor,with all the correct tire pressure. Now the bar links should just fall in place with no pushing or pulling(preload). They should be the last thing you hook up when finishing a build before that test ride. Also if they are not adjustable make at least one side adjustable. It makes a huge diff as swaybars(anti roll bars)add or sub tract spring rate and affect handling a lot ...as in the car/truck will turn better in one direction than the other(more roll to one side) Good point Sax.
--
In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.

Yes, the rear is a four bar triangular setup. Thanks guys, you've given us a lot of great information. I invited my friend to read your posts and to provide feedback as your ideas are checked out. He is signing up as a new member. It will probably take a day before he can post...as you all know.
--
Dick Z