Lateral movement in leaf springs

[stillridin]

I'm relocating my leaf springs on a 67 mustang, under the frame rail in the front and inward the same distance in the rear. The front will sit in a pocket and the springs are 2" drop 5 leaf. I'll have heavier duty shackles in back and urethane bushings. Not much clearance on sides of pocket. Maybe I'm just over thinking but where there be lateral movement?

[MrQuick]

yes, due to the shackles and urethane...are you worried about tire clearance? factor 1 -1 1/2" inside and 1/2-3/4" outside room.

[Apogee]

You probably won't see that much lateral movement at the front mount just due to the proximity to the mount itself as the majority of lateral movement with leafs will come from the shackle end, but without more details and/or pictures, it's hard to say. If you're worried about it, you should do whatever it takes for you not be to worried anymore IMO. Piece of mind is worth something in my book. You could better control lateral movement with the addition of a panhard/track bar or Watt's link.

[astroracer]

Don't worry about the front mount. You will see very little movement there. Anything that does occur will be rotational around the middle of the bushing. When you get the pocket set-up, do a little look see. Set the spring in place, torque the fastener and move the rear of the spring side to side about 3/4's of an inch both ways. You will see very little displacement at the front and you will be able to determine your actual clearances.
Mark

[SLO_Z28]

Do leaf springs move? yes:


Lucky for you there is a company that makes a panhard rod to fix that:

http://www.maierracing.com/

[MrQuick]

i don't know James, you sure your quarter panels are on tight?

[stillridin]

yes, due to the shackles and urethane...are you worried about tire clearance? factor 1 -1 1/2" inside and 1/2-3/4" outside room.

Yes tires might be an issue. Mocked up a 315-35-20.Just not the right size. I like to get a 335-30-19.

You probably won't see that much lateral movement at the front mount just due to the proximity to the mount itself as the majority of lateral movement with leafs will come from the shackle end, but without more details and/or pictures, it's hard to say. If you're worried about it, you should do whatever it takes for you not be to worried anymore IMO. Piece of mind is worth something in my book. You could better control lateral movement with the addition of a panhard/track bar or Watt's link.

Your right! Piece of mine plays a very big part in it. If you second guess it, it probably isn't right. I think a pan hard bar is the ticket. I know, I need to post up my build. Just got to organize pics first.

Don't worry about the front mount. You will see very little movement there. Anything that does occur will be rotational around the middle of the bushing. When you get the pocket set-up, do a little look see. Set the spring in place, torque the fastener and move the rear of the spring side to side about 3/4's of an inch both ways. You will see very little displacement at the front and you will be able to determine your actual clearances.
Mark

I'm going to try that. Curiosity is getting to me already.

Do leaf springs move? yes:


Lucky for you there is a company that makes a panhard rod to fix that:

http://www.maierracing.com/

Wow! That's an eye opener. Definitely going with the Panhard bar. Since I've changed my frame rails I'll have to make one up.

[David Pozzi]

It's difficult to screen out normal axle movement from side to side since the camera is mounted to the body. For comparison, here is a video from Bad Penny, which has a watts link which allows NO side to side movement of the rear axle. Note that the axle (or body) rotation center is approximately axle center or just below axle center on Penny.
David

[Bryce]

David, looks like a lot of sidewall flex and tire movement on the rim.

[astroracer]

David, looks like a lot of sidewall flex and tire movement on the rim.

That's what I was seeing also. Of course the force has to "go" somewhere. Locking down the lateral suspension movement will force that reaction into the next "loosest" component. It looks like that was the tire sidewall.
Mark

[SLO_Z28]

You want the sidewall to be compliant like that. If it didn't flex because it was too stiff or your air pressure was too high you would oversteer. here is a better shot of the movement:

[stillridin]

You want the sidewall to be compliant like that. If it didn't flex because it was too stiff or your air pressure was too high you would oversteer. here is a better shot of the movement:

Thanks for that video James. I went with the DEL-A-LUM bushings from Global West. So here are a couple of pics hope this makes it a little clearer. Disregard the 2x3 in the pic just mocking it up. If this works I'll get some bent, and down to the pocket in front. So my next question is if I get reverse eye leafs, will they hit in the pocket at full compression. Hate to buy them and not work. I don't have my wheels nor anything for my rear yet. Ordering this week. Thanks again in advance. I need to get my pics together and do a build thread.

[stillridin]

Opps! I also have a drawing with some measurements on it if needed.

[stillridin]

Ya I think it was needed. Crappy cell phone pics. But will have to do.

[Corporate]

This, without a doubt is the best vision of rear end deflection I have ever seen! Thanks for posting it
Regards Corp. Australia

[72BBSwinger]

OP,
Fays2 makes IMO an excellent fix for axle location with their WATTS kits.

[Tom Welch]

I installed a Fays2 watts link on my 67 Firebird and I really like how it works, no lateral movement of springs, period. This is especially important for the composite leaf springs I am using.

[David Pozzi]

I've used a Global West Del-A-Lum bushing in the upper shackle location to stabilize the shackle.

[rsk68]

I have Del-A-lum bushings in all leaf locations, leaf ends and upper body shackle, I have very little clearance in my wheel wells and have no major rubbing, this will make you feel more of the road though, but maybe that's a good thing!

[funcars]

I used to run the Del-alums in my 70 Mach I when I was using leaf springs. They did two things - helped reduce side to side compared to rubber or urethane bushings and also added to the rear roll stiffness since they do bind up the springs somewhat as the body rolls relative to the rear axle. This causes the leafs to want to twist at the front and rear spring eyes since the Del-alum bushings don't deflect much.

If you decide to use either a panhard rod or a watts link it is probably best to use rubber leaf spring bushings so you separate the functions and don't have as much competing roll center issues.

Good luck with your project.