Squaring front suspension.

H

hammondite

Member
I have a 30 Model A rod project with a split wishbone set up.

Now that the body is off, I was able to measure the front suspension for rough alignment. I found there's a 1 5/8 inch front to back difference between the left and right side.

There's enough adjustment in the wishbones to make up the difference. However, I'm not sure how best to move the suspension to accomplish this.

Can I just loosen the spring mounts and pivot the spring or is there a better way?
 
Where/how are you measuring this difference? Front axle to rear axle? Are you sure that the frame and front axle are not bent? Assuming that your wishbones are roughly the same length now, that's a whole bunch to be out, and I think trying to take that much out using adjustable wishbone arms would warp things.
 
As others have said above, I would make sure the frame doesn’t have a “diamond” where one rail is further back than the other. Easy to check with the body off by doing criss-cross measurements at the body mount holes.
 
JayJay said:
Where/how are you measuring this difference? Front axle to rear axle? Are you sure that the frame and front axle are not bent? Assuming that your wishbones are roughly the same length now, that's a whole bunch to be out, and I think trying to take that much out using adjustable wishbone arms would warp things.
Click to expand...

Good questions.

I'm measuring from the center of the kingpin to a mid body mount bracket (where I can hook the tape measure).

The wishbones are not the same length. I mounted the rear brackets in the same place on each side of the frame. In order to attach the wishbones, one is shorter than the other. Making them the same length looks like it'll resolve the issue.

It's possible the prior owner's friends just stuck the front suspension on with no adjustment or measuring. They were putting it together enough to roll around so it could be moved and sold after he died.

The axle should be straight, it came from Okie Joe.

I'll double check the frame. for square. Easy now with the body off.

Thanks for the guidance.
 
OK, a small update.

I confirmed - the frame is square (well, 1/16 inch off). Which I expected - the prior owner had relocated the rear crossmember and spring to the back so they could lower the rear end.

I'm thinking there had to be some play with the stock wishbone set up. The manufacturing wasn't good enough to have all three points align perfectly on the frame without room for adjustment.
 
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