coil springs are bent

[19_again]

I just put new shocks and springs on the GT6, in preparation for getting wheels on it and moving it out of the garage for a while. But the left side went on kinda hard, the right was pretty good. The left side also shows a pretty obvious bow or bend as it tails into the chassis at the top. I tried putting a jack under it to see how much resistance there was as it was not moving by hand and it just lifted that side of the car. These are not the short coils I posted about earlier, these are the same units as originals. All other parts original. Will this all settle out with the weight of the engine on it?
Pix for comparison.
https://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-7/1317492/DSCF0020.JPG
https://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-7/1317492/DSCF0021.JPG
Thanks,
Mike

 

[Andrew Mace]

Odd, to say the least. How did they compare with the original springs before you installed them?

 

[19_again]

They appeared to be the same as the originals, so much so that I didn't bother to measure or anything. They looked correct and were the same height standing next to one another.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Hmmm...what about the shocks? Is the lower "perch" for the springs in the same location?

 

[tdskip]

 

[19_again]

Now cut that out!! I used to be able to post my pix, but my framis broken or something and I'm reduced to linking.Oopa, sorry Andrew, I'll go check the bottom spring cup right now.

 

[19_again]

The springs are both sitting on the perch at about 2.5 inches from the base of the shock.

 

[Bob Claffie]

If you take the pressure off the spring and rotate it 180* will it push out at the top or still lean in? Or can you not do that because of the shape of the bottom seating surface? Bob

 

[19_again]

Bob, That was it! I must have given the shock one too many twists when installing them. By turning the shock back a turn, I released some of he pressure on the coils. Result: less pressure on the spring and now it's straight and the coil spacings are exactly the same on both coils. Moral: Never have your shocks too tight, it'll bend your coils!!
Thank you all, including you Tom.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Good call, Bob!

All those years with Spitfires finally paid off!

 

[Tinkerman]

Wow, that WAS a good call Bob, ya gotta love the Forum!

Tinkerman