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Suspension - Leaf Springs

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by NorcoJeep, Sep 10, 2014.

  1. Sep 18, 2014
    64pete

    64pete Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2012
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    54
    I just had my '67 '5 apart the other night- same issue- left rear was an inch down. I put all new Omix springs on it 2 years ago- 7 leaf front, 9 leaf rear (original was 5 + 9, but 7's were cheaper?) Removed a few leaves to soften it up, down to 6 on front, 7 on rear. It sat good for a year, then started sagging. To even it out, ended up adding 1 (the longest and most arched out of what I took off) back to the left rear to level it out.
     
  2. Sep 18, 2014
    NorcoJeep

    NorcoJeep New Member

    Northern Colorado
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    Aug 25, 2014
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    41
    Thanks for all of the replies!! I will cruise old posts regarding "lean". This is the kind of model specific info and trending that you only get from a place like this!! I would not have assumed it is a common problem with many antidotes.

    I finally got some major scraping and cleaning done under the rear and much to my surprise I found the following:

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/mvi06tf4kej64x0/IMG_20140918_142155177[1].jpg?dl=0

    3/4" steel spacer block, only on the passenger side. It's not accounting for all of the "lean" but at least half. My question NOW is, do the rear leafs typically have that spacer and the driver side is missing, or my assumption that its not standard and doesn't need to be there at all??

    Also, by eye balling it, the axle didnt look like it was aligned properly. After measuring from both ends of the wheel well on both sides, the axle is about 1" out of square with the driver side tire sitting farther back than the pass. side...the spacer block will account for some of the deviation, but the axle is coming off and getting set correctly. The weird thing is, the centering pins on the leafs are both at the front of the hole in the bottom u-bolt plate... not sure if the plates are just old aftermarket units and the hole isnt drilled properly or what....
     
  3. Sep 19, 2014
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Aug 10, 2003
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    23,596
    Jeep had a lean correction kit that was a steel block and pin that went between the axle and spring. Add it to the high side. Lots of brand new CJs came through with some lean, and that was the warranty repair. But only if the customer complained.

    I have one of those blocks around somewhere.

    So a block in there is not so unusual. 3/4" is about twice the thickness of the warranty kit, but sometimes they used two kits.
     
  4. Sep 19, 2014
    Brian P

    Brian P Member

    Clarkdale Arizona
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
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    650
    Your description of the drivers side tire being 1 inch farther back than the passenger side with the axle seeming to be out of alignment is exactly what I found on mine, what I tried to describe in my previous post.
    Just for giggles measure from the center of the front spring mounting bolt or center of the front spring shackle mount in the frame to the center of the rear spring front mounting bolt and see if they are the same.
    Its possible you have the same condition I did, when viewed from the side do both rear spring u shackles look parallel to each other?
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2014
  5. Sep 19, 2014
    NorcoJeep

    NorcoJeep New Member

    Northern Colorado
    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2014
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    Now i understand what you were saying... slowly but surely I'll get it!!! The rear springs do look parallel. When measured against the rear bumper/end of frame the rear spring mounts match up very closely, within 1/4". I did not measure from front spring mounts, good idea. I'll do that today!

    Timgr: That makes me feel a bit better. I was hoping it wasnt the previous owners attempt at lift. I think if the driver side leaf wasn't flat, it would probably sit pretty close to level.

    Does there seem to be any consistency with which side the lean goes to??
     
  6. Sep 19, 2014
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
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    12,367
    Lean is always to the left. Consider that the engine and transmission is offset to the left, plus the gas tank (until they went to the rear tank) and the driver on the left. Of course something else drastically wrong could make it lean a different way.
     
  7. Sep 19, 2014
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
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    5,593
    Just a friendly reminder - you may already know this: with the spacer block mounted under the axle and above the spring pack that will cause that side to ride lower. I think you said the block is only under the passenger side which means if you remove it, it will cause the jeep to lean even more to the driver side - that is it will raise the passenger side. As Tim said, the blocks would be put under the high side of the vehicle to lower that side.

    Good luck.
     
  8. Sep 19, 2014
    NorcoJeep

    NorcoJeep New Member

    Northern Colorado
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    Aug 25, 2014
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    Thanks for the reminder. The block is going to stay in. I am going to measure the spring mounts to verify their symmetry. Never having installed leaf springs, I can't imagine them on mounts that are 1" farther apart than specified is any fun; applying weight so it flattens out? Maybe that is part of the flattening issue...
     
  9. Sep 19, 2014
    Brian P

    Brian P Member

    Clarkdale Arizona
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    Nov 24, 2007
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    I realized my wording and explanation could use some improvement so I went back and edited my first post to better clarify what I found was contributing to "more lean than normal" in my specific case.
     
  10. Sep 19, 2014
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
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    Re: Suspenion - Leaf Springs

    I have a steel hard-top... and there are 11 leaves at there rear.
    The hard-top is around 130 kg and in summer I don't use it.
    And I have the feeling that I drive on a stone pavement, I cannot stay seated! I took some air out of the tyres to have some comfort.
     
  11. Sep 19, 2014
    NorcoJeep

    NorcoJeep New Member

    Northern Colorado
    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2014
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    Okay, this measurement is 34 1/4" - same on both sides from: Back of rear-front spring mount to the front of the front-rear spring mount. The distance from the front of the mount to the center of bolt hole is equal on both sides.

    When I measure from the back of the frame to the approx. center of axle it is about 3/4" out. My plan is to loosen the ubolts on the axle, leaving it attached to the drive shaft, and re-position with a floor jack. I will get some new u-bolts on order, not good to re-use those, in the meantime.
     
  12. Sep 23, 2014
    NorcoJeep

    NorcoJeep New Member

    Northern Colorado
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    I did some in depth investigation and this is what I have come up with:
    - Measuring from the Rear of the front spring mount on both sides, the rear axle center line is within 1/4" from side to side.
    - Measuring from the same location on the inside of the fender well on either side, the axle is 1 1/4" out of alignment with the body. Are the original tolerances really that high for body alignment?
    - Measuring from the end of the rear frame, the axle is within 1/4" from side to side.

    I also measured both rear leaf springs, perch distances, and location of mounts and they are similar, not exact but within 1/8".

    Brian P - Does this sound like your experience, minus the mounts being uneven?

    Matt
     
  13. Sep 23, 2014
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    The body could easily be cocked on the frame, the mounts are not exactly high tech.
     
  14. Sep 23, 2014
    Brian P

    Brian P Member

    Clarkdale Arizona
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
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    I agree with Glen, in your case if the spring mount location measures ok the body could be cocked on the frame. In my case the body location was ok and the front rear spring mount was off.
     
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