1941 Mercury lowering and spring shackle angle

S

Sharmack

Member
Hello All,

I have I question I was hoping to get some advice on.

I have a 1941 mercury that I have been in the process of rebuilding and lowering the front suspension on.

I have a original ford axle that has been dropped 2”. I also have installed a factory leaf spring pack that I had a reversed eye main leaf made for and removed the leaf right abouve the main leaf. I will be using the factory stabilizer bar. I have installed all of this and when under load my shackles come up at an exact 90 degree angle. I have always been told that your shackle angle should be at about a 45 deg. However I read in the green factory service manual that the factory stabilizer bar “permits the use of vertical spring shackles employed with the new longer front spring, since it supplies the necessary sideways stabilizing effect, which the angle mounted shackles previously provided”.

My question is this. Does anyone know what the factory shackle angle is on 41 cars? I was hoping someone could shed some light on all this and tell me if I am asking for trouble by not having the shackles at the standard 45 deg. I know the service manual basically says it’s ok. But I have also had people tell me that front stabilizer bar is worthless and to throw it away. Anyhow I’m just looking for some real world advice. In a worst case scenario I could have a new main leaf made that is narrower to get closer to that 45 deg angle but, if I do that I’m sure it would necessate the removal of not only the main leaf helper leaf but also the leaf above that. Any advice or words of wisdom are appreciated. I’m trying to wrap this up and drive this sucker.
 
If you have the factory bar that is a solid bar running from the chassis at one end and the axle (perch) at the other, then the shackle angle is immaterial. Some cars from the factory have the shackles at the opposite angle, to get a longer spring for more comfort. In other words, you can do whatever you like with the shackles.

The correct type of bar is generically referred to as a panhard rod.

Mart.
 
Mart-

Thank you for the reply. Yes I do have what they call the factory stabilizer bar. It mounts to the frame at 2 points and to the top of the perch pins on each side.
Thank you again for taking the time to respond.
-chris
 
That type of bar, which sounds like the 40 style, is not as good as the later type, which are a true panhard bar. If all the bushes are in good shape, though, you might be ok. The later type, though, are much better.

Mart.
 
I was planning to remove spring leaves on my roadster. I talked to posies and they told me to only remove top leaves. Removing lower leaves can weaken and bend the spring by leaving the bottom spring unsupported. They said the spring needed to look like a stair step.

John
 
john in illinois said:
I was planning to remove spring leaves on my roadster. I talked to posies and they told me to only remove top leaves. Removing lower leaves can weaken and bend the spring by leaving the bottom spring unsupported. They said the spring needed to look like a stair step.

John
Click to expand...
That is correct. I only remove the top springs. Removing one from the middle of the pack or next to the main leaf is a recipe for a broken spring.
 
Don't know in this case, but some springs with the eyes reversed require the removal of the next leaf above it. That is not an issue as long as you don't end up with a lot of distance between the end of the next leaf and the eye on the main leaf.
 
With shackles at 45 degrees at rest, the addition of side load during a turn tends to lift the outside as the outside shackle angle goes more vertical, and lower the inside as that shackle flattens. Those forces oppose body roll, but not very effectively. The addition of the "sway bar" in 1940 (I think) adds additional opposition to body roll in a turn, - again only partially effective. The factory "stabilizer" bar (or panhard) prevents the body shifting sideways relative to the axle, which negates any anti-roll effect of the 45 degree shackles. So anything from vertical to 45 degrees is fine.

If you go past vertical you risk having the spring jam against the perch. If the shackles are near flat, the side loads on the perch as the spring spreads under load can cause catastrophic failure of the perch. Like upside down in the ditch catastrophic.
 
Thank you all for your responses.

In reference to the removal of a leaf in the pack, I did remove the one helper leaf right above the main, however when I had the main leaf made I narrowed it a little in hopes of getting a better shackle angle, so when the next leaf up from the main is installed it is very close to eyes and there is really only maybe 1/2" at most unsupported area so I don't think this is an issue. My spring definitely has a stepped appearance.

drolston: thank you for the informative response. Based on what I am reading here it sounds like I might be ok but, I guess I could always add some sort of additional panhard bar if a problem arises.

If anyone else has something to add please feel free. Id like to hear what you have to say.

Thank You
Chris
 
Sharmack said:
Thank you all for your responses.

In reference to the removal of a leaf in the pack, I did remove the one helper leaf right above the main, however when I had the main leaf made I narrowed it a little in hopes of getting a better shackle angle, so when the next leaf up from the main is installed it is very close to eyes and there is really only maybe 1/2" at most unsupported area so I don't think this is an issue. My spring definitely has a stepped appearance.

drolston: thank you for the informative response. Based on what I am reading here it sounds like I might be ok but, I guess I could always add some sort of additional panhard bar if a problem arises.

If anyone else has something to add please feel free. Id like to hear what you have to say.

Thank You
Chris
Click to expand...
Thanks for the clarification regarding the second leaf. It sounds like you are fine with the distance from the second leaf to the main leaf.
 
TJ
Thank you for contributing to this discussion.

With all this being said does anyone have any recommendations for a front bolt on panhard bar for a 41? Possibly adapting a 42-48? I see that speedway markets one for 40 ford however I don't know if it could be used on a 41 and it requires drilling of the axle which Im not too keen on.

Thank you
Chris
 
Sharmack said:
TJ
Thank you for contributing to this discussion.

With all this being said does anyone have any recommendations for a front bolt on panhard bar for a 41? Possibly adapting a 42-48? I see that speedway markets one for 40 ford however I don't know if it could be used on a 41 and it requires drilling of the axle which Im not too keen on.

Thank you
Chris
Click to expand...
Are you running stock or tube shocks? If you have tube shocks with the stock sway bar I think you should be fine.
 
TJ-

Im going to be running tube shocks. I have an old aftermarket conversion kit, I still need to measure for shocks but, im trying to get that spring situation sorted out first.

Thanks
Chris
 
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