Front suspension uneven

[bart]

I noticed looking at the frontside of the truck that the passenger side (PS) of the truck is about 20mm lower than the driver side (DS).
I found that the DS coil spring has two shims installed, but PS does not have any shims. There is a piece of rubber in the PS coil spring, I guess it could have been an attempt by the previous owner to level the frontside of the truck . I just can not understand why only one side is shimmed.
Just out of experience, does anyone know what could be the reason for this ?
Are these shims easily available, if so where to find ? I saw the pictures of the new shims in following topic; http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... ng#p370670
Do I get problems if I just use round washers underneath the lower spring retainer ? (this due to the poor availability of parts in Europe).

PC230077.JPG

PC230078.JPG

[fordman]

supposedly those shims were to be to keep the spring bucket level. but i don't think so now. i do think they are just leveling shims. so that would be why one side has more than the other. the drivers side to me would be the spring to wear out first i would think . maybe it has a weak sping now. they are pretty old.

[brandon.k]

The drivers side spring was the one that went bad on mine. The left front corner was right at a inch and a half lower than the right front corner.

[bart]

Thanks for your help,

does anyone know where these special shims can be bought ?

spring-shim.jpg

[R.Smith]

The passenger collapsed is collapsed 1" on my 250. I'm just gonna buy new springs for $100. A weak spring is gonna continue to collapse. I don't know about the shims but I bought a parts truck that came with 2 rubber lift bushings the guy was gonna install to give the truck a 4x4 look. You might try something like that.

[fordman]

i think the shims you have to buy used. i don't have any right now. i do have soem spring lifts they go onto of the springs. and are basically just a spacer the spring rides in and is molded to fit in the upper spring tower.

[ToughOldFord]

You could just remove the shims from the driver's side.

[Doug F]

I remember reading that the driver's side spring was greater in length to offset the driver's weight so the truck ran level. Good in theory I guess...

[fordman]

yes the springs are different in length from drivers side to passenger side. but when produced on a production line like they were there is bound to be slight differences int he hieght of the springs. so the shims were probably used to take up that slack. i am guessing but it does seem correct to me.

[Darrman]

When I was rebuilding my front suspension, I found one of those shims was missing, which let the lower coil seat sit crooked on the beam. After asking around I managed to get another, after that and a new set of v8 springs, my truck sits very good, way better than before.
As a side note I cant believe how good those shims shined up after a acid bath and a little wire wheeling, I painted them black after that picture.

[BobbyFord]

Not trying to hijack this thread but I've been checking different sources for new springs and they all list the same part number for both springs. I know that stock, the right and left are different. What gives

[Darrman]

I bought mine from lmc, they listed a v8 set and a I6 set, the v8 having a taller and beefier passenger spring.

[fordman]

well i have heard of that problem bobby. i have also heard that they sell them with different part numebrs and the springs are the same heigh but one spring is larger around(thicker stock) than the other side. so that makes up the height difference in strength. fo rleveling of the front end. i don't know for sure abotu who what and where to get the correct ones. but i wouldn't buy them if they were the same part number. that is wrong and we know it.

[BobbyFord]

well i have heard of that problem bobby. i have also heard that they sell them with different part numebrs and the springs are the same heigh but one spring is larger around(thicker stock) than the other side. so that makes up the height difference in strength. fo rleveling of the front end. i don't know for sure abotu who what and where to get the correct ones. but i wouldn't buy them if they were the same part number. that is wrong and we know it.

I've looked at Moog, Eaton, etc. and they all list the same part number for both sides. I know Ford has a different part # for each side...