e Leaning Sprite

[ABfish]

My (new to me) 1965 Sprite has a decided lean to the driver's side.

Is there any way to correct the lean short of installing new rear springs?

 

[Morris]

Make friends with someone who weighs more than you and invite him to ride around with you everywhere you go.

 

[JPSmit]

My (new to me) 1965 Sprite has a decided lean to the driver's side.

Is there any way to correct the lean short of installing new rear springs?

Most of them do - called the bachelor's lean. you could try swapping the springs

 

[DrEntropy]

Short of new springs, not much. Swapping front and rear side-to-side will help handling (marginally) with just a driver aboard.

Welcome to the forum, BTW. This place is highly responsive, so don't be a stranger!

...and more than a few of us here have spent time in Fayetteville. :wink:

 

[ABfish]

Short of new springs, not much. Swapping front and rear side-to-side will help handling (marginally) with just a driver aboard.

Welcome to the forum, BTW. This place is highly responsive, so don't be a stranger!

...and more than a few of us here have spent time in Fayetteville. :wink:

Thanks, Doc. I've spent 25 years in construction/site work, and out-of-level really tweaks my OCD tendencies. Guess it's time to order some springs.

I'm guessing your time in Fayetteville was courtesy of Uncle Sam. I'm the rare native who never left.

 

[Sarastro]

Yes, I understand the OCD thing. My bugeye does this too, and SOME DAY I'll do something about it. But I'm having too much fun with it to take it off the road. Gotta put those priorities in order.

 

[Pythias]

Just to save you some time and effort, swapping the springs from side to side won't cure the lean. Many have tried this and stared in wonderment after going to all the effort to no effect.....

Many times, not even new springs fixes the lean as the car has taken a "set",

BUT........ ..

look at the car from the passenger side. Look especially at the front and compare it to the driver's side. If you see that the right front is higher than the left front, then go the back of the car and lift the driver's side. See how it goes down on the passenger side front?... The trick is to lower the passenger side front, which will level out the driver side rear!... get some spacers--- I used 3/8" washers, each 1/8" thick, and put them under the right side front spring pan, installing longer bolts as needed. ... VOILA!

This fix also helps the steering geometry, odd as it may seem.

 

[bthompson]

Hooray! That means I can fix the bachelor's lean AND the RB nose-high stance in one go! Boy, I'm glad to know that. :hammer: