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New rear leafs on concord, have some questions
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motorhead_1 View Drop Down
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    Posted: Aug/24/2019 at 9:00pm
Replaced the rear leafs yesterday and have some questions. 
rebuilt the entire front end, figured the rear needed it as well. car initially had uneven ride height at each end. now both side match ride height, albeit sitting real high in the rear. 
Guess my questions are as follows. 
will the rear settle some or should i get some lowering blocks? see pic
the new rear leafs are the same length that came off, but seem too short, much like the originals? -see pic. the reason i think they are short should be evident in the pics. the rear shackle is leaned forward almost all the way and touching the frame. the leafs i took off did the same. looks to me like it will make for a rough ride and not a lot of suspension movement?
another pic will show the 2 old leafs and explains the uneven ride height. looks like one was replaced and they are not exactly the same. 
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In the old days new springs would go down a little in a few years.Today all of the new springs that I have put on seem to stay and not settle down.
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I would say the spring has to much arch. If they had less arch it would make them seem longer. The way the shackle sets the spring cannot work and it will have a harsh ride and the spring will not settle.
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Points: 7555 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tomj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/25/2019 at 12:29am
is the new spring the same length, over it's surface, as the old one? a tape measure stretched over the "back" (outside curve) of the spring, eye center to eye center.

if it's the same length (or error under an inch), and it's just too much arch, if you pry the shackle backward as you put weight on it, it should flatten out.

i swear this happened to me once but i cant recall what i did.

of course the new springs have no load on them, and the car jacked up without a shock. so the spring may be curled up, pulling the shackle forward. if the spring is the correct length, then once you get the shackle aiming right, as you lower the jack, the shock ought to prevent the car from lifting off the spring and allowing the shackle to fold forward. IF THAT ISNT TRUE then something else is wrong (likely short spring).
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Points: 1007 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote motorhead_1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/25/2019 at 1:17am
springs looked to be the same. i'll measure them. 
i like the idea of trying to pry/aim the shackle the right direction. 
i'll contact the place i got the springs from, ESPO springs. i used as they were one of the few places to have a listing and they said they match them before shipping. 
could i reverse the shackle mounts? the TSM shows them pointing the correct way on the car now.  
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Originally posted by tomj tomj wrote:

is the new spring the same length, over it's surface, as the old one? a tape measure stretched over the "back" (outside curve) of the spring, eye center to eye center.

if it's the same length (or error under an inch), and it's just too much arch, if you pry the shackle backward as you put weight on it, it should flatten out.

i swear this happened to me once but i cant recall what i did.

of course the new springs have no load on them, and the car jacked up without a shock. so the spring may be curled up, pulling the shackle forward. if the spring is the correct length, then once you get the shackle aiming right, as you lower the jack, the shock ought to prevent the car from lifting off the spring and allowing the shackle to fold forward. IF THAT ISNT TRUE then something else is wrong (likely short spring).


'spose this explains why the wheel is too far forward in the wheel well. if the shackle moved back it should center the wheel better, no?
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Points: 284 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mark09 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/25/2019 at 10:44am
Is the rear mount put on backwards.
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Points: 284 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mark09 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Aug/25/2019 at 11:04am
Sorry I'm wrong, just looked at my wagon, you are  on correct. 
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looks like tomj was on the right path. 
got this today from the spring shop

Hi Jay,


Looks like you let the car off the jack too quickly and got the shackles forward.  It happens a lot with new springs when they use a fairly high arch.  When you get them where they are supposed to be the car will be lower too.  Here's how to fix that.


Put the car on jack stands under the frame.  Jack up under the rear and start to compress the spring.  Pry the shackle back as you're jacking it up.  Once the weight of the car is on it, it'll help lengthen the spring and then the shackle will go the correct way and drop the car down and work like it's supposed to. 
 
Don't drive the car with the shackle forward like that or it'll break whatever is the weakest point because your suspension is locked. 
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Points: 32 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jfunk378 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct/07/2019 at 8:22pm
Would love to see how everything turned out. Did your springs settle any? Did you go with stock height? Also, what tire size are you running. I am getting ready to do the same thing to my 74 Hornet hatchback. Could use some first hand experience. Thanks. 
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