Spring Problems

[sjmst]

Everything is the same as before the original springs were taken out and reinstalled.
Same stock springs, same tires,same shocks, same everything. That difference noted in my pic above is the only clue I have. I think maybe it is like a screw not fully screwed in? Anyway, I am taking it to the guy I bought it new from 26 years ago. If he can't figure it out, I am not sure who can.

[engineerted]

Did you align the spring seat at the axle also?

Ted

[sjmst]

I had it looked at by my original Fiat mecahnic, and it is STILL UNEVEN!!!
Well, I am trying another local mechanic that knows Fiat's like "the back of his hand."

This is driving me crazy.

[mdrburchette]

This problem doesn't even make sense! Good luck with the other fella.

[ventura ace]

How much uneven is it? I looked thru this whole thread, but I did not see reference to a measurement -- maybe I missed it.

1) Your pictures look different than both my '70 and '76, but since yours is an '81, it may be supposed to normally look different than the earlier cars (the way the springs sit). The difference that I see between your pictures and my spiders is that the end of your spring is visible (points outboard), whereas the ends of my springs are inboard. If the bottom of the spring is installed correctly in its lower mount on the axle, the top of the spring can only sit a certain way. Yours may not be sitting correctly down on the lower mount -- or maybe yours is correct, and there is just a difference between your springs for the '81 and the earlier model springs. Are you sure that the springs are sitting correctly on the lower mounts?

2) It's been mentioned a few times already, but worth mentioning again. if some of the bushings (front or rear) were tightened with the vehicle weight off the suspension, and other bushings tightened with weight on the suspension, it could skew the way the car sits. I would temporarily loosen all the bushings front and back, then bounce and roll the car around a bit to see if it sits differently.

3) Are your shocks gas-assisted? If yes, and one has lost its gas assist, then the car would sit skewed. You may want to take all 4 shocks out and check to see if they naturally extend (gas assisted), or if they stay compressed after you compress them. if they naturally extend, do they all have about the same force to compress them?

How much variation are we talking about, anyway? 2 inches? 1 inch? 1/2 inch? Measured from where to where? I would measure all 4 corners, with the car sitting on an absolutely level paved surface (most garages are not level -- use a carpenter's level to check). Measure from the ground to the peak of the wheel arch on the outer part of the fender.

Keep after it. You'll find the answer!

Alvon

Alvon

[sjmst]

There is a half inch difference.
Good info, thanks, Alvon!

[TulsaSpider]

All this fuss over 1/2 inch? I measured my fronts before I lowered them and there was 1" difference, I didn't give it a second thought! I'm tackling the rears tomorrow, I'll measure mine to see what the difference is back there.

[TulsaSpider]

I cut my rear springs down yesterday one coil and it lowered the car 1 inch in the rear. The pass side is one inch higher in the back comparatively. I think it wound up being 23" 3/4 and 24" 3/4 but I left my paper at home. Does anyone see a problem with the 1" difference?

[sjmst]

I like my car to be even all around.

[manoa matt]

Gas tank and driver sit on the same side, so those springs wear out first.

[So Cal Mark]

just put the shorter springs in the right side, then it will level out when you sit in it

[TulsaSpider]

HA! Now you tell me! I thought of that but figured they needed to go back in the same sides, ah well.

[sjmst]

For my car it was multiple strange problems. I had the stock 81 springs all around and all was fine. Then, to lower it a bit, I put in 1972 Spider springs. That lowered the rear just fine, but the front still was high.
I told my mechanic to take them out and put the originals back in. After that, the right rear was high.
He took them back out, reinstalled, switched side to side, made sure they were seated etc. Still too high on right side. Finally another mechanic was able to get the car to sit just about right, but not 100% perfect to my eye. But probably no one lese would notice.
As I said, strange problem.

[azygoustoyou]

Just put more air in the tires on the low side. SORRY, I couldn't help myself.

[mdrburchette]

Rather than replace the worn out shocks on my 71 I think I'll try that, Brady.