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Opinions on Coil Springs? |
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billd 
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Forum Administrator Joined: Jun/27/2007 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 30894 |
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 Posted: May/10/2018 at 7:50pm |
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Bounce is 100% shocks and nothing else at all. If you put good new shocks (key word - good) on it it would not bounce and you'd likely lose the mush.
Can't judge springs at all by bounce.
A car with new springs will bounce with bad shocks (been through that in recent times) Need to go only by ride and height, - and discount any bounce as that's the sole job of the shock - just like a capacitor in an electronic circuit, the shock stops the oscillations natural with springs. |
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rms827
AMC Nut 
Joined: Apr/18/2018 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 378 |
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Posted: May/10/2018 at 8:08pm |
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Thanks again, Bill.
Damnedest thing is I *know* I've been told that multiple times in the (semi-distant) past, but between being away from turning wrenches for almost 10 years, and a bad migraine today, I brain farted. This pic (one of the first I posted of the car) would SEEM to indicate the ride height is about right (just eyeballing it). Ergo I guess the springs are OK.  Always nice to save a little money, LOL |
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1964 AMC Rambler Classic 660
"You can think I'm an idiot, just don't talk to me like I'm one." - Batman |
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tomj
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Joined: Jan/27/2010 Location: earth Status: Offline Points: 7555 |
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Posted: May/10/2018 at 9:29pm |
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i do not know how, or if, AMC specified "ride height", but you can do a simply suspension geometry check with a tape measure and the car sitting on the ground: on the lower suspension arm, the height off the ground of the center of the ball joint, and the height off the ground of the inner pivot (bushing/bolt) should be equal, or very likely, the inner arm higher than the ball joint height.
the height off the ground of the ball joint center is determined by wheel and tire. the spring is pushing the car up, and determines the height of the rest of the car. i suspect that new the the factory the inner pivot was about an inch higher than the ball joint -- but that's just a guess. it is certain that it should not be lower! that's my main point. |
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1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5 http://www.ramblerLore.com |
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rms827
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Joined: Apr/18/2018 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 378 |
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Posted: May/11/2018 at 3:23am |
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My old Plymouth Duster was the only vehicle I recall that had a ride height spec for alignments. Supposedly most cars do have a factory ride height spec though. It's just a matter of finding the info, which is often only in alignment guide / spec books. Yeah, migraine is mostly gone so brain is working again, LOL.
In this case though, my previous comment was a "general eyeball" check. Car does't look like it's been lowered, all corners at roughly same height, etc... Good info on the suspension geometry check though, Tom. That I can check. I already know from the ride quality, condition of the wheels, and the excessive camber that the suspension geometry is pretty out of whack though.  |
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1964 AMC Rambler Classic 660
"You can think I'm an idiot, just don't talk to me like I'm one." - Batman |
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TX390AMX
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Joined: Dec/27/2012 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 803 |
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Posted: May/11/2018 at 9:48pm |
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Excessive camber and bowed coil springs when unloaded could also be worn trunnions. Since the car is (only) 54 years old, you might check the trunnion bushings & bearings as well as the upper and lower control arm bushings. I've found a wide range of conditions on 68/69 Javelins & AMX's from surprisingly good to trunnions bushings that were mostly dust. Trunnion rebuilding isn't difficult, it's just different. When restored with new bushings & bearings, the trunnion cars drive as good as when new. Easy steering, no wobbles or clunks, Rambler quality suspension for the DIYer. And don't forget to check the coil spring isolators, they also deteriorate with age. Like us!
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Terry
68 AMX 390 4 Sp Rally Green 68 AMX 390 4 Sp Matador Red 68 AMX 390 4 Sp Calcutta Russet 56 Chevy Sedan Delivery 2016 Can AM Spyder 55 Chev pickup |
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rms827
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Joined: Apr/18/2018 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 378 |
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Posted: May/12/2018 at 2:30am |
I'm figuring it is the trunions, TX. The bushings are dry rotted to heck, but none are actually wobbly loose yet. Ergo the Trunions are a prime suspect. At this point I've factored in a full replacement of all the bushings, replace the trunions, and yes the coil spring isolators too. :) I'm just glad it doesn't look like I have to add another $600 for four new springs as well. |
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1964 AMC Rambler Classic 660
"You can think I'm an idiot, just don't talk to me like I'm one." - Batman |
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TX390AMX wrote: