Left front higher than right front

[kavesh]

Hi Pieter

My El Camino does not have a torsion bar suspension.

It is based on the Holden HT suspension, 1968-1971.

[Waterhond]

O ok,

In that case I am worthless in providing any help.

Hope you find the solution.

Pieter

[IndianaJones]

But to answer your question it was cold and fitted a day or 2 later.

Kavesh, I was referring to the method the spring specialist used to "fix" the springs.
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.ht ... s&A=112276

It would be a big job, but it you could swop over the springs to the other side, left to right and visa versa, it would be interesting to know whether the sag moves with it...

[kavesh]

But to answer your question it was cold and fitted a day or 2 later.

Kavesh, I was referring to the method the spring specialist used to "fix" the springs.
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.ht ... s&A=112276

It would be a big job, but it you could swop over the springs to the other side, left to right and visa versa, it would be interesting to know whether the sag moves with it...

I doubt the sag would move. This is now the third set of springs on the vehicle. The original was sagging on the right therefore the need to get new springs. The new springs when fitted was also sagging at the right which forced us to stretch the spring to even the front. My latest softer spring is still causing the right to sag.

I therefore don't believe at it is the spring that's at fault but rather something else. Would you agree with my reasoning?

[werner]

I think to get to the point where the lower parts is, one can have it on a lift in a workshop and measure the distance of the lower parts of the suspension and where the springs is mounted to the ground. That way one can try to get to the problem.

[IndianaJones]

Your reasoning makes sense Kavesh.

Did you mark the springs when you removed them? Could the longer one, in fact be the one that wasn’t tempered with at any time, and the other one which was stretched (which is supect), now be the shorter spring?

It is quite difficult to ascertain where the problem comes from, without ever having seen the vehicle, but perhaps some rambling might help.

Could the upper control arms be fitted on the wrong side, left on right and visa versa?

Are you sure, there are no old rubber insulators left somewhere, which isn’t also on the other side?

Is the springs seated correctly in the saddles? Is the springs a mirror-image pair (a left and a right), the coil wire starting and stopping at the exact same place? I assume you know they shouldn’t look exactly alike. You mention the set was made up, is the outer diameter correct, could it be catching inside the saddle? I think this should also be checked on the rear leaf springs, the spring eyelids, not catching on the chassis…

What condition are your shock absorbers in? Are they the same length, and you sure it is the correct length for the Elkie, not bottoming out or fully extended?

Is the vehicle fitted with a sway bar, could it be bent? Or missing some insulators?

Could a ball joint be on its way out? Is the ball joints the same?

Any chance some of the suspension components are out of a later HQ model, and might be of different dimensions? Different height spindle, different length control arm?

[Johann65]

Hullo Kavesh, What is interesting is that my Opel has leafsprings at the rear with the same symptoms! Also got me thinking!!

[kavesh]

Thanks Indy

Lots to contemplate there.

4 years ago I removed the entire suspension had it stripped completely for a good clean and new (refurbished) bushes all round. The upper control arms do look alike but I cannot be 100%. I will try and make that determination. I do have a spare suspension that was removed from a Kommando of the same year which I am seriously thinking about fitting. There was no sag with that although when removed both springs were broken

The first thing that I need to try and establish is whether the spring has seated in the correct position in its tower, will remove the shock to determine. The shocks were tested on the vehicle on one of those vibrating machines at a tyre shop and was given the green light. As to the length I have not placed them next to each other to determine size before. Also cannot be sure if its the correct one for the Elky. These shocks came with the vehicle when purchased and looked reasonably new. (Not much grime on it).

Sway bar is fine and has all its rubbers intact and in good condition.

The components all did look like what came out the Kommando so I doubt there is any parts that may have been swapped.

I am hoping that looking up the shock tower will give me some clues.

[kavesh]

So today I removed the shock from the left side which is higher and had a look.

From I can tell the spring is not sitting how it should. I suspect the guide in the shock tower must have been damaged by the previous owner or a spring fitment place.

I am hoping this is the mystery of the uneven sides.

I am in the process of cleaning up the spare suspension which will be fitted in due course.

Ideally I would like to have the springs fitted onto the suspension before installing onto the elky. That way I can also make sure that the springs are seated correctly. I really hate having to redo what has taken me a good deal of time a few years ago.

Practically that may not be possible though as compressing the spring enough to bolt the ball joint without the weight of the engine. Maybe someone has a clever idea for the job.

[kavesh]

So I swapped out the front suspension and installed the original springs and to my disgust the same side is still sagging. now i rear is also uneven

I sat in the left rear and it actually brought up the front right that is sitting low. So then put a jack on the right rear of the body and jacked up a little to see what it does to the front and it seems to have leveled the front.

I now want to swap the rear leaf springs around to see whether the front sag moves to the other side. This is really very frustrating.

Is it easy enough to remove the rear springs, any advice on leaf spring removal will be appreciated.

Just about ready to throw in the towl

Thanks