Handling Question

[mgrojor]

Happy Fourth to all of you .
Have a question with reagards to handling, There is a road I travel that has two raised expansion joints about two feet from each other. If I go over these joints while accelerating through the gears there seems to be a noticable sway fronm the rear twoards the drivers side(as if you were turning on real low air pressure in your tires. let of the gas it goes away. Normal bumps and raised expansion joints have no effect other than going over a bump.Is this the beginning of a problem or just a coinsidence on this part of the road?? Could travel a different road (lol). thanks for any help. p.s the car is 70 roadster no od.
Bob J

 

[Bret]

Hey Bob,

That does sound strange. I know there is some natural side to side lateral movement but I can’t think of any one thing that’d cause the rear suspension to act that way only over one section of road.

But to be safe I think you should raise the rear end and do a thorough inspection. Place the car up on jack stands just before the front mounting (hard-points) of the leaf springs. Then allow the rear end to float and start checking for damage, cracks & loose hardware. Check the bushings & pads for cracking and signs of deterioration. I’d also check the condition of the lever shocks & the mounting hardware.

Thinking a little more about it I did have a similar situation once where one side of my car had eerie bounce while going over speed bumps that kind a felt like it was swaying to one side. Upon inspection I discovered that one of the shock links was completely broken in two. That coupled with the general poor condition of the lever shocks is why I converted to tube shocks.

Best of luck!
Bret

 

[mgrojor]

Bret:
thanks I haven't looked at fluid levels in the schocks since I got the car 4 years ago no leak no check , mainly have had no problems with rear suspension at all will check
thank-you
Bob J

 

[jlaird]

Hmmm. If they are empty they would not leak. Sounds like time to do a check.

 

[kennypinkerton]

Do the raised expansion joint parellel the road, or cut across the road? Your tires my just be catching on, and "slot-car"ing on them if they go along with the road. I've had that happen alot in many small cars on the few roads that have joints that run with the road.

 

[mgrojor]

They go across the road. the sensation is really like very low aipressure when you make a turn. will be checking the fluid when the temp drops below 90.
thanks Bob J

 

[Steve_S]

Loose leaf spring bolts. Tighten them up nice and snug. Might want to check your alignment and tire pressures as well.

 

[tony barnhill]

Yep, front bolts on the spring hangers - also check to see if there's any "wobbling" in the bolt hole itself.

 

[mgrojor]

thanks, will check, they apear tight but who knows. shocks are filled and working ok.
Bob J