Spring Shims

[Jack_440 Savoy]

I have a bit of a problem !!! I am putting a 8 3/4 " rearend housing in my car. I have installed new SS Springs. When I put the housing in place, one of the spring pads did not sit flat. I took out the housing and leveled it and checked the angle. one pad is off by about 2 degree's. When the housing is on the spring, the one pad is about 1/4" off the spring at the back of the pad. Should I put a 2 degree shim under the housing or should I get the pad cut off and rewelded ? Shim $15 Reweld pad $200 My gut tells me $200 but my bank acct. tells me, Shim. Has anyone encountered this problem before. I mean the pad angle, Not the Gut versus Bank acct thing. What would cause this ??? Big Torque and Big Slicks ??? I know down the road I will have to check the pinion angle, so that is on my mind as well. Thanks, Jack

[rumblefish360]

WOW! Thats a good one. Did you at least tighten the U bolts up to see if it mates well? A minor bend can be forced into place. But a 1/4 seems like alot.
Did you look into a BFH for help? (If it could that is.)

[ehostler]

Just use a shim. It is not unusual for them to be off. I've seen a few spring pads that were off.

[Jack_440 Savoy]

Rumble, When you refer to BFH are you refering to a "Large Hammer" I dont mind using that on someone else's car but I dont like using it on mine, But I have to admit that I have !!! I ordered a 2 degree shim and I am going to try that. Thanks for the advice Rumblefish and Ehostler, Jack

[oldguyalso]

Big F Hammer! My dad always said, "Never force anything! Use a bigger hammer!" Yep, he was a character! LOL

[dwc43]

Originally Posted by Jack_440 Savoy

I have a bit of a problem !!! I am putting a 8 3/4 " rearend housing in my car. I have installed new SS Springs. When I put the housing in place, one of the spring pads did not sit flat. I took out the housing and leveled it and checked the angle. one pad is off by about 2 degree's. When the housing is on the spring, the one pad is about 1/4" off the spring at the back of the pad. Should I put a 2 degree shim under the housing or should I get the pad cut off and rewelded ? Shim $15 Reweld pad $200 My gut tells me $200 but my bank acct. tells me, Shim. Has anyone encountered this problem before. I mean the pad angle, Not the Gut versus Bank acct thing. What would cause this ??? Big Torque and Big Slicks ??? I know down the road I will have to check the pinion angle, so that is on my mind as well. Thanks, Jack

First thing, check the axle tubes and make sure it's not bent. It happens in high hp car and/or if it's been wrecked before. Correct it the right with a new axle pad. It will throw the torqure reading off when you retorque the U bolts. Make sure not to over tighten them cause it makes the springs bind. LEarned that the hard way on our race car years ago.

[sundrop_440]

have you checked the weld holes at the carrier housing to identify any cracks in the welds,I' assuming you did that but just checking, I have seen them that far off also, not a big deal to shim, if everything else is sound

[John Kunkel]

Don't shim the gap at the spring pad, just go ahead and tighten the u-bolts to spec. Be sure the proper spring is installed on each side (odd number on left).

The SS springs are designed with a bias that places a preload on one side and that is what causes the gap if the u-bolts on one side only are tightened.

[ehostler]

JK, he has inspected the pads on the tubes. With the housing level, one pad is level. The other pad is off by 2 degrees. This has nothing to do with the springs. It is either a tweaked tube or a miss welded pad. I've seen a few from the factory that were miss welded.

[Jack_440 Savoy]

I dont know all the history of the car. It was a old race car. I bought it as a roller and the rearend that was in it looked like a old piece of junk that they just stuck in. the front spring eye was just jammed into the hanger. When I cleaned it up everything looked ok. It had a 742 center with the clutch type suregrip, so that was a bonus. I tried a 1 degree shim but it was not enough and I think 2 degree will be too much. I'll try it Monday when it comes in. I may draw file it down if it is too much. I'll let you all know Monday. Jack

[Jack_440 Savoy]

Yup, the 2 degree shim works ok. I don't like it, but it will do for the time being. I' ll fix it right after everything else is done. Thanks all, for the advice. Jack