Trying to figure out way my drop is not even in the front? - Cut-Weld-Drive Forums

**StickerDick** · June 30th, 2012, 06:05 PM

We got rid of the 6" narrowed beam on Barney when we went with the refurbish and I put in a 2" narrowed linkpin beam with adjusters and dropped spindles with the wide five disk brakes. We put everything together, nothing seems to be binding, it all looks correctly centered and mounted, we did a simple alignment, put on new shorter shocks and then I drove it around the block and when I got back to the shop, the rear height is even on both sides at 24.5" to the lower fender lips, on the drivers side front it is 22.25" to the center of the lower lip, but on the passenger side it is almost 24"! What the heck is going on? I am hoping one of you guru's will have the simple answer for me besides it is screwed up, I kinda have assumed that.

What do you guys think I should check first?

**bugdust** · June 30th, 2012, 06:37 PM

Where are you measuring? If it's to the fender lip, are the fenders the same? Have you tried measuring to the beam itself?

**hotrodheb** · June 30th, 2012, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bugdust

Where are you measuring? If it's to the fender lip, are the fenders the same? Have you tried measuring to the beam itself?

My first thought exactly.

Second thought is are the torsion bars new, or used? Typically cars will settle more on the driver side since they always have someone on that side of the car when they are being driven.

**Unkl Ian** · June 30th, 2012, 08:25 PM

Double check the tire sizes.

**StickerDick** · June 30th, 2012, 08:44 PM

I will check the fenders in the morning, the torsion bars are new, the tires are the same and I will measure the beam in the morning, I will also snap some photos for perspective.

**bugdust** · June 30th, 2012, 09:22 PM

Park the car on a level surface and crawl underneath. Measure from the ground to the beam at the same points on each side. Earlier fenders will have a lower measurement than a later fender, from ground to top of the arc.

**StickerDick** · July 1st, 2012, 07:15 AM

of course you tell me this after I have the car up on the jackstands to start the fixing the wiring gremlins deal.... I'll measure it after I get the lights working , bye.

rostigbug · July 1st, 2012, 07:43 AM

tire pressure

**StickerDick** · July 1st, 2012, 12:41 PM

I wish i was that dense, but no the tire pressures are equal, I am going to guess I have a bind on the passenger side with my comtrol arms too tight up against the bushings. I'll know for sure by Wednesday... I hope, maybe?

**Unkl Ian** · July 1st, 2012, 01:01 PM

Bent or seized shock holding that corner up ?
?

**bugdust** · July 1st, 2012, 01:27 PM

When you had it up on stands (assuming the beam was close to level) was one tire stuck in the fender and the other hanging down?

**StickerDick** · July 1st, 2012, 02:54 PM

No, I tried to watch that as I was putting it up on the stands, I could not see much of a difference if any as the tires dropped. I also tried to move them, but everything is still pretty tight, the whole front assembly does not have more than two miles of driving around the block on the setup, so nothing to really get any wear on it yet.

**bugdust** · July 1st, 2012, 03:56 PM

I have had urethane bushings stick. Did you use urethane bushings? The last 4" beam I put together had to have the red urethane bushings shaved a little to let everything move. But, it was obvious immediately...the suspension was stiff and would not move.

**StickerDick** · July 1st, 2012, 05:13 PM

That is what I'm thinking the suspension is really stiff, I'm thinking it may be just too tight. I am finding all kind of things that were just kinda put together without really making sure it was working properly before it was bolted in. I'll work on it some more Monday night, I'm quitting for now.

**StickerDick** · July 5th, 2012, 03:15 PM

Well, I lubed up the front end, took the car out for another test drive, got back, made sure all the tires had equal air pressures of 40lbs, and here are the results... My passenger side front fender still looks high than my drivers side front fender. I got under the front, took pictures of the front end adjusters, which are now equal in setting, and I laid a ruler on both ends of the beam, see what you think? It looks like its 6" to the center on both sides, or damn close to it. So, like Charlie was saying earlier, could my passenger fender be that much off in mounting?

Wraithblade · July 5th, 2012, 06:09 PM

I'm still way noobish but from the pics one wheel looks center of wheel well and the other looks to be forward of center. That's my 1cent.

bigguy · July 5th, 2012, 06:17 PM

measure the lengths of the trailing arms. Could there be an issue with the lengths for some reason.

volksmike · July 5th, 2012, 06:22 PM

set it on a Level surface (side to side and front to back) measured with a actual carpenders level and then measure at the top of the dash or where the wipers mount on the cowl. if the car is level and the fenders are different, it'll show up there.

**StickerDick** · July 5th, 2012, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigguy

measure the lengths of the trailing arms. Could there be an issue with the lengths for some reason.

On the front beam? The car is sitting very close to level, I have my buddy coming Saturday that did the paint and body, I'll get him to look at it in person and I hope he can tell me something. Thanks for all of the advice and guidance folks.

**Dbug41** · July 5th, 2012, 07:38 PM

might have a combo of issues

Pass side of the beam may be bent back 1" that with the "drivers sag" could be the problem

put a strait edge across the beam tubes, may need a new/better beam

MR TROY · July 5th, 2012, 07:53 PM

from the photos it looks like your frame head is twiked or bent

**StickerDick** · July 6th, 2012, 03:17 AM

Dbug, you are making me nervous, i just put ALL new beam, leaves, spindles, brakes and shocks on this bugger (the only thing I re-used were the arms), I sure hope you and Mr. Troy are wrong, but I'll get further into it this weekend and see. I guess to do it right, find a common point on both sides of the chassis and take my measurements from there and from the ground, right? My shop floor is level so I know that can be one point.

**Unkl Ian** · July 6th, 2012, 06:20 AM

Framehead could be twisted.

Spanish Flea · July 6th, 2012, 07:21 AM

One way to see if the bulk head is bent is to measure from center front to center rear on each side. Numbers should match up.

Spanish Flea

sandfreaks · July 6th, 2012, 09:17 AM

If you look at the pics with your ruler the passenger side is def higher.
your at 14" on the passenger side from ground to Zirc fitting and
roughly 12.5 on the drivers side Zirc fitting.
If the frame head is fine I would put a passenger in it and drive it around some.
Your new springs may just have to settle somewhat.