Calling all suspension boffins!

[Dom]

Right i've swapped the multi leaf springs on my mk1 capri to RS2K singles and added 2in lowering blocks. Looks brilliant one side but the other is much much higher and I can't for the life of me figure it out!

 

The left side is higher and when jacked up the axle sits on the bump stop with the spring hangers pointing backwards but the other side theres a big gap between the axle and the bump stop and the hangers face more downwards. I don't get it as i've loosened all the nuts and bolts, jumped up and down on the boot and taken it for a v.v.v.v short drive.

 

HELP!

[v6pop]

It sounds like you have two different spring rates?? (second hand parts?)

The softer one will allow the car to sit lower,closer to the bump stop.

Are both leaf springs the same thickness and overall length??

[Dom]

Yeah they're the same and I got them as a pair. I didn't have a problem when I put them on my mk2 tina

 

Also the axle seems like it sits further right as there is a bigger gap between the arch lip and wheel on one side

[v6pop]

Ok....the lowering blocks,do they locate onto a raised peg on the spring?

This location point is critical as it positions the axle correctly.

[Dom]

Yep but saying that when I put the blocks on the car the axle popped into the bit onto of the block but the right side didn't and was a pain to line up.

 

They both sit pukka, wait a sec, I have an idea!!!

 

Feel free to add adivce though guys

[Dom]

Right i've half sorted it. It's got coilovers on the back and i've just realised they're not the same shape/size! One is longer than the other one! So I've adjust them both so they are the same length and put it all back together, but one side is still higher!

[v6pop]

Coilovers and single leaf springs???

Any pics of this setup on your car.

[Dom]

Fraid not. It looks the same as normal just with springs on 'em. My dad got given a set ages ago an the shocks on mine were shot and I didn't have any to go back on so he said I might as well try them.

[Dom]

I've found the problem, tis a weaker leaf spring. I have no idea why one is weaker than the other but i'll drive around like it is and hopefully the other will tire as well .

 

Gives a nice stiffish and low ride

[arch]

it should sort its self out wen i bought my escort it was sat on un even ground an we put it on flat it was lobbed sided but it did sort it self out an its fine now

[Retromotorsport]

If you have one leaf at 115 lb/in and the other at 145 lb/in in about 50 years they will probably be around 114lb/in and 144 lb/in

 

As you have siad you tightend all fitting on the floor then it does sound like a missmatch of componants, now that could be the leafs, the coils or the dampers.

 

Leafs .. take off leafs, get a heavy weight and 2 skateboards as you dont have a spring test bench ... put each leaf on the skates and place a ruler at the highest point ... place the weight on and see how much it drops, do the same with the other spring and see what you get .. now if the weight 100lb its easy to work out what rate spring you have with maths , but either way both springs should compress the same.

 

Coils you can do the same ... place weight on top and see what the difference is

 

Dampers .. if they are Bilstien Gas Pressure dampers then they have an effective spring too.... unless one has lost its gas pressure. You can add weight to the top of them and see when they start to compress, they should both move at the same weight.

If they are not Gas Pressure then they may have a bend in them or some other fault.. carefully look and feel what they are like when pushing and pulling on them.. if the feel the same then ... i dunno

 

Personally i would run it without the coils on the dampers... the last thing you want to do to a road capri is "stiffen" it ...

[Dom]

I got them as a set, and when they were on my cortina they were all good. Saying that I did crash the cortina .

 

Without the springs on it's as spongey as, well, as a sponge. I'll run it for a while and see what happens, it's free at the end of the day.

 

Oh it's deffo the leafs, an inch difference in height either side so the left is -3 and the right is -2. I'm not bothered too much and I put the stronger one on the drivers side to take my girt big arse.

[w p e]

swap the springs around as you sit in the drivers seat more then the passenger seat.the drivers side will have become weaker?

[Dom]

I've put the stronger spring on the drivers side so it gets weaker, then it'll make my car lower