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Driver's side lower than passenger side
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albjerryg
Posted 2018-11-21 8:58 PM (#573939)
Subject: Driver's side lower than passenger side


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Location: lafayette,La.
I have a 1958 Saratoga and I have 2 question about it and have gone thru the manual and find nothing on them. 1st the driver side of the car sits 1" lower than the passenger side. There are new shocks and the spring look good. Any guess what could cause it???? 2nd The back of the hood sits up about a 1/2" high and I looked at the hinges and the look very good , the rest of the hood fits perfect. Which adjustments would correct only the rear of the hood? Thanks for any help Jerry
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mikes2nd
Posted 2018-11-21 11:01 PM (#573949 - in reply to #573939)
Subject: Re: Driver's side lower than passenger side


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turn the torsion bar screw.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHEX3kDDg5U

Sounds like your hinge is bad, or there is a bend in it somewhere.
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wizard
Posted 2018-11-22 12:55 AM (#573955 - in reply to #573939)
Subject: Re: Driver's side lower than passenger side



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This is very common, if you check out a Forward Look car, on a straight level (Concrete floor, parking lot), you'll see that most tends to sag somewhat on the drivers side.


I went trough a lot of test and effort for to have the same height in the rear ( if you measure in the front end, there will be a difference as well).

Here's what I did;

- check the rear spring height according to the fsm (my car was within specs)
- set the front suspension height according to the fsm (my car was too low)
- compensate with the torsion bars by raise one side and lower the other side (try to stay within the tolerances in the fsm);

1 revolution on the adjusting bolt gives approximately .20" (5mm) at the lower control arm and raise the rear end approximately .10" (2.6mm)

Turning the bolt clockwise will raise the front suspension

Turning the bolt anti clockwise will lower the front suspension.

Mind that the values above is for a '60 Chrysler, but it should be roundabout the same for your car.

Naturally, after you are finished with the adjustment, you need to do a front end alignment, with;

- correct tire pressure
- full tank of gas
- no additional extra load
- bounce all corners good
- with the engine on, search steering wheel center position, turn steering wheel to the left and back to center position - if you end up too far, youre not allowed to turn the steering wheel back to center - just do it once again until the steering wheel is in center. Block the steering wheel in this position.


After the alignment, I use to smear some chalk on the tires, or spray the tires with whatever spray can through a narrow cut window in a piece of cardboard. Then drive the car on a straight road for a short distance (not over 100 yards) and check if the paint/chalk has been evenly removed - this means that you have the proper tire pressure and the correct toe-in
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albjerryg
Posted 2018-11-22 8:32 AM (#573967 - in reply to #573939)
Subject: Re: Driver's side lower than passenger side


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Posts: 112
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Location: lafayette,La.
Ok thanks for the input , I give it a try. Happy Thanksgivings to all>>
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Powerflite
Posted 2018-11-22 11:43 AM (#573984 - in reply to #573939)
Subject: Re: Driver's side lower than passenger side



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With regards to the hood adjustment, you need to loosen the hinge bolts under the dash, and then the hinges can adjust up or down which will make the adjustment you are looking for.
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albjerryg
Posted 2018-11-22 4:07 PM (#573992 - in reply to #573939)
Subject: Re: Driver's side lower than passenger side


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Posts: 112
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Location: lafayette,La.
great I thought they might be an adjustment, now I know where. Again have a great thanksgiving...
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57chizler
Posted 2018-11-22 5:50 PM (#573995 - in reply to #573992)
Subject: Re: Driver's side lower than passenger side



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Try lubing the hood hinge pivots, dry pivots can prevent the hood from closing properly.
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wizard
Posted 2018-11-23 12:58 AM (#574008 - in reply to #573995)
Subject: Re: Driver's side lower than passenger side



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57chizler - 2018-11-22 11:50 PM

Try lubing the hood hinge pivots, dry pivots can prevent the hood from closing properly.


Very true, but lubing up the hood hinges (if the pivots are worn) might case the hood to pop up if the hood lock and/or wind catcher isn't workning properly.

So, it's best to do a full check on all the hood moving components
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60 dart
Posted 2018-11-23 5:43 AM (#574010 - in reply to #573939)
Subject: Re: Driver's side lower than passenger side



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my dart has a hood that aint just right , so i hogged out the firewall mounting holes to let it down some . it's still a tiny bit up but nothin on the cars lines up
anyways . never see the holes either . if your gonna lower or raise you car by torsion bars , do yourself a favor and disconnect the spindle , lower the control arm
by floor jack and do your adjustin from there , then back together . might take a couple of tries but it might save a hernia for future use -----------------------------------------------later
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albjerryg
Posted 2018-11-23 8:23 AM (#574017 - in reply to #573939)
Subject: Re: Driver's side lower than passenger side


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Location: lafayette,La.
Thanks to all for the input. Jerry
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