When replacing rear leaf springs I always leave the eyelet and shackle bolts loose, then drive the car onto a lift ramp (where the wheels support the weight of the car even when the car is in the air) - and then do the final eyelet and shackle bolt torque. That will give a starting point closer to the finished ride height, then I put a few miles on the car for the final settling just like you are going to do.
Mr. B. Here ! 🍩☕️👀😎👍. I missed this Episode, any way I many’s ago my dads 1958 Olds had leaks rebuilt, it looked so bad , but after the springs settled in it came back to the correct height ! Today my 58 Olds sits waiting for me to get going ! Your Falcon looks like my dad’s car did so long ago ! 🍩☕️👀😎👍🇺🇸
I do like that Falcon although she's a bit rusty underneath. You brought back memories of replacing both leaf springs in my mk1 Capri many years ago, in my carport with axle stands it took me two hours due to rusted front bolts.
Gotta love unexpected easy jobs especially when it comes to leaf spring bolts !!! Good ness they can really suck ! I’m of a 70 vintage and so is my Nova and I’m a fan of the gasser style so I think it looks awesome but I’m sure those will settle down after some miles and driving. Wish I was able to post a pic in this comment section but I’m sure you can imagine what I mean. And totally not the goal with this little sweetie you have here for sure ! Take care Chris 🍺🍺 cheers mate
Alright, Falcon's back on the road! Fitzgerald took a direct hit from Helene, the town's a real mess. 3 trees uprooted on my property, 2 took out my power lines, bent the riser 90°. The other is on my house. My neighborhood got power back this morning. They cut my power lines before turning the power back on. I'm waiting on the electrician to fix my riser and s tree company to get the tree off of my house. Spent all weekend cutting up the other 2 trees and cleaning up my property. The pond overflowed in a hundred yard swath behind my house for about 36 hours. Little bit of roof damage, but doing ok. 👍
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 The guy with the Falcon wagon just called, he sold it. Oh well, I've got bigger fish to fry. Danm, I've always wanted a 2 door wagon.
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160that's an "approved" modification to an all original car - it's easy to change back! I was thinking some old school Cragars and white letters though!😉
Maybe someone never seized that spring hardwear when it was apart decades ago? I know the only springs I ever go back unbolted were ones I had installed with never seize 20-30 years ago. Most all the time its a blue wrench job. I just did shackles on a 98 Dakota and it was all a cut it apart job the corrosion had wiped it all out and froze it up where the bushings were seized to the bolts and you could not beat them out.
Hey Kiwi, Tim here, I may be wrong, but ur ride height shud come down a little, if the weights on it, and THEN u tighten the springs......also, time will bring it down properly....but if it was me, I'd have all 4 eye bolts loose, push down a few times, and then tighten the eye bolts for good.....just a thought...PEACE to you sir!!
I've only seen a leaf spring break once and it was on a MGB. My dad's 66 Coronet has it's original leaf springs with 207k miles. I added shackles to restore its ride height but in the future I'll replace them.
HA 😂 !! Spring time , good one !! But seriously , it's rather odd , where the old spring failed . Plus , the replacement one has 4 leafs . Pleasantly surprised , everything came apart well for you
If I remember the ford shop manual instructions correctly for when I replaced the leaf springs on my Maverick (same system as Mustang & Falcon with only slight details different) the final tightening of the shackles and/or the front eye bushing had to be done with the car's weight on the wheels. I did this and the ride height didn't change much at all. I had wanted it to come up a inch or so but it didn't. Practically right where it was with the old springs even though I bought the HD ones with the extra leaf. Probably only the thickness of the leaf higher.
Fill it up with gasoline and see what the liquid weight does. Kiwi, may I suggest that you release your new videos at the same time of the day for each new release. I've watch Mark Dice for 14 years and every morning at 8 am, he releases his newest video and I really think that's brilliant and I look forward to eating my Lucky Charms cereal while watching Mark's videos. It's consistent and smart way to grow a channel. I really enjoy your working videos on how you conquer tasks. Best regards from Dean
It will settle. Keep the gas tank full and put a tool box in the trunk, drive it and forget about it. In a couple of months you will be glad you did not take a leaf out.
Spent a week getting the chassis etc apart on my Canada sourced galaxie. Everything was fused. The U bolts on 63 are also unique have machined stops for the leaf. Lucky they in fine condition, unobtainable now.
Hopefully it settles and comes down a bit. If not, I'm sure you have a few different ways to make it look right. So if it doesn't fix itself, you've got another Falcon video to do.😊
Put your tool box in the boot or 2 bags of cement may help it settle . Being level is always best . Maybe a 351 Windsor and FMX with a 9 inch rear may help . 🙀🤣.👍🏻🇦🇺✌️.
The leaf ends should have the nylon spacers in between them on the ends. This stops them from undercutting the top longer leaf and causing it to notch it and create a weak spot. If they don’t have them they also roll or chamfered the ends and radius too.
Yeah, those one piece units do work a little better than the two piece style, or so I've heard anyway. Ride height is nothing a couple of bags of concrete won't fix 😁 Although, that's probably the height they came out of the factory with, and we've just got used to them all sagging over their lifetimes.
Yes you were correct with what you said about Mustang forward spring bolts seizing. I had to make a special tool to remove the old bolts on my 1966 as I didn't have the facility to grind/cut them. The next guy won't have that problem as I put plenty of never seize on them when I reassembled. I also waited until the car was back down off the jacks before I tightened them as I didn't want the rubber in the bush to be under unnecessary twisting stress when the spring took up the load. Will you be cleaning/painting the undeside to get rid of the rust? Cheers Ian
Rear is a little high... put 4 bags of cement in the trunk and drive around town for a week to get it well settled? I have a sneaking suspicion a leaf is coming out if a stock square stance is in the cards.
A proper spring shop can correct that ride height without removing a leaf. Not cheap really. Drive it and we will all get to see the results. Cheers 🇨🇦
Well it kinda had the same result as nothing was left controlling the left rear wheel. Just pulling her into the shop the wheel was going backwards and forwards about 3" Happy I was just pulling out of my driveway when it happened !!😳
Could be the new springs are a bit higher because you torqued down on the shackle bushings with the car in the air. Might want to loosen them & reset w/ the car's weight on them. I wonder how much the front springs have settled over the years?
The old girl should drive and ride a lot better once it settles. The original springs were terrible LOL. When you replace the rear leaf spring on C2 and C3 Corvettes, they always sit a lot higher, especially with the F41 spring, but it doesn't take long for them to settle. I'm kinda surprised you didn't replace the U-Bolts. I never reuse them, but I tend to be overly cautious about things, especially suspension.
The old springs probably sagged so it was sitting lower than stock. The new springs just need to settle in a bit and it will be pretty close to stock height.
Seems like some bolts always come out, if they've never been out before. I'm guessing that car wasn't exposed to the salt/moisture long enough for the bolts to rust to the bushing sleeves.
I remember hearing that you shouldn't tighten the leaf spring shackles until the vehicle is on the ground. Would this help prevent any binding or misalignment issues? ☮️ on 🌎
I've put lowering block in Large Marge, dropped her 2". I'm not typically a fan either as they create problems for performance handling and braking but Marge is such a cruiser I went with it. In saying that I'll probably go to a suitably arched spring and get rid of the blocks in the long run. 😎👍
@@johnkelly8525 the Falcon will be my daily until I can get a few more creature comforts into Marge like carpets and headliner. She a bit like driving a 55 gallon drum at the moment .....😬
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160Start with a fullish fuel tank ,if it looks like you need 2 inch lowering blocks, maybe go with 1 3/4 inch blocks ( maybe one and a half) .I reckoned on 2 inch for my VH Val , but in reality it was a bit too much , so I cut them down and re welded them to 1 1/2 inch . It's that situation of ' it's easy to take a bit off if needed.
Hi Chris, Is that a Sunbeam Alpine or a Sunbeam Tiger that I see in the background of the garage? I have one of each and they're both basket cases. I'm currently trying to sell them. ☮️ on 🌎
@@BeatniksVids I'm sure the fronts dropped a little and now the rear is a bit higher than new. 100 miles or so should see the back settle down some. 😎👍
Kiwi you know better then to reuse old rusty u-bolts when replacing leaf springs, as that will be the next thing that breaks is those old used u-bolts. If you can spring for new leaf springs, you can spring for new u-bolts to hold that axle to the leaf springs properly. Come on man.
Yea you're right, I was cringing a bit putting them back in. I was wanting to wait and see how the ride height looked and if any changes will be needed. Also they're only just long enough now with the extra leaf. 😬
@@mongo64071 If it'll clean up OK or still actually has the plating on it I almost always reuse chassis hardware over whatever usually worse fitting chinesium the part comes with. Castle nuts are the worst offender in my experience.
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
Love that car i had a green one years ago... one of the most reliable cars I ever had
Simplicity at is finest!!
I like a bit of a rake. At least that’s what we called it when the rear was raised higher than the front. Cheers🥃
Bit of a rake indeed! Looks a bit off with little 195x14's on her 😬
Or you could drop a couple of sand bags in the trunk. 😂
Mad respect for everyone that saves these old cars.
Thankyou sir!! 😎👍
When replacing rear leaf springs I always leave the eyelet and shackle bolts loose, then drive the car onto a lift ramp (where the wheels support the weight of the car even when the car is in the air) - and then do the final eyelet and shackle bolt torque. That will give a starting point closer to the finished ride height, then I put a few miles on the car for the final settling just like you are going to do.
Good point. We used to do that on the rally cars 🤔
Mr. B. Here ! 🍩☕️👀😎👍. I missed this Episode, any way I many’s ago my dads 1958 Olds had leaks rebuilt, it looked so bad , but after the springs settled in it came back to the correct height ! Today my 58 Olds sits waiting for me to get going ! Your Falcon looks like my dad’s car did so long ago ! 🍩☕️👀😎👍🇺🇸
Nice car. I had a 1967 Sports Coupe. Bucket seat car as my first car.
I do like that Falcon although she's a bit rusty underneath. You brought back memories of replacing both leaf springs in my mk1 Capri many years ago, in my carport with axle stands it took me two hours due to rusted front bolts.
I'd like a Mk1 Capri!! Ideal small block swap cars !!
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 Yes, and they were fairly quick with the 3 litre.
Good bit of supplies for your local blacksmith
Nice work Kiwi!
Gotta love unexpected easy jobs especially when it comes to leaf spring bolts !!! Good ness they can really suck ! I’m of a 70 vintage and so is my Nova and I’m a fan of the gasser style so I think it looks awesome but I’m sure those will settle down after some miles and driving. Wish I was able to post a pic in this comment section but I’m sure you can imagine what I mean. And totally not the goal with this little sweetie you have here for sure ! Take care Chris 🍺🍺 cheers mate
I find on the trucks it takes about a year or 5000miles for the leaf springs to quit settling
Alright, Falcon's back on the road! Fitzgerald took a direct hit from Helene, the town's a real mess. 3 trees uprooted on my property, 2 took out my power lines, bent the riser 90°. The other is on my house. My neighborhood got power back this morning. They cut my power lines before turning the power back on. I'm waiting on the electrician to fix my riser and s tree company to get the tree off of my house. Spent all weekend cutting up the other 2 trees and cleaning up my property. The pond overflowed in a hundred yard swath behind my house for about 36 hours. Little bit of roof damage, but doing ok. 👍
Wow sorry to hear that bud. You've got a lot work ahead of you🙁
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 The guy with the Falcon wagon just called, he sold it. Oh well, I've got bigger fish to fry. Danm, I've always wanted a 2 door wagon.
The old girl is looking good 😊!!!
Cheers mate 😎👍
We would have loved that stance up Queen Street in Auckland back in the day , if you add some slotted mags that would look cool as !
Can't help but picture that ol girl with some rally wheels & plain center caps with some wider tires. 😎
(and a small block + 4 speed too 😁)
I can see it too.....
Keep the 6, 200 was one of the best engines ever made.
@@genehart261 The 200 is perfectly...
'adequate'.
With that rake now you need slotted aluminum wheels...
My stock and modified demons are wrestling with that as we speak....
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160that's an "approved" modification to an all original car - it's easy to change back! I was thinking some old school Cragars and white letters though!😉
Maybe someone never seized that spring hardwear when it was apart decades ago? I know the only springs I ever go back unbolted were ones I had installed with never seize 20-30 years ago. Most all the time its a blue wrench job. I just did shackles on a 98 Dakota and it was all a cut it apart job the corrosion had wiped it all out and froze it up where the bushings were seized to the bolts and you could not beat them out.
They're usually frozen on the old Mustangs!!
Good video
Nice one M8
I'm glad to see you got your leaf springs
Interesting timing , I have the same issue on my newly acquired Dodge Durango (2000). Same break and everything . I hope mine goes as smoothly .🤔😎
Good luck man!! Start soaking down all the nuts and bolts ahead of time and as often if you can
Hey Kiwi,
Tim here, I may be wrong, but ur ride height shud come down a little, if the weights on it, and THEN u tighten the springs......also, time will bring it down properly....but if it was me, I'd have all 4 eye bolts loose, push down a few times, and then tighten the eye bolts for good.....just a thought...PEACE to you sir!!
I've only seen a leaf spring break once and it was on a MGB. My dad's 66 Coronet has it's original leaf springs with 207k miles. I added shackles to restore its ride height but in the future I'll replace them.
HA 😂 !! Spring time , good one !!
But seriously , it's rather odd , where the old spring failed .
Plus , the replacement one has 4 leafs . Pleasantly surprised , everything came apart well for you
I reckon there was a manufacturing defect in that leaf.
😁 it is odd, I've seen them break at the center pin before but not halfway up their length like that......🤔🤔
If I remember the ford shop manual instructions correctly for when I replaced the leaf springs on my Maverick (same system as Mustang & Falcon with only slight details different) the final tightening of the shackles and/or the front eye bushing had to be done with the car's weight on the wheels. I did this and the ride height didn't change much at all. I had wanted it to come up a inch or so but it didn't. Practically right where it was with the old springs even though I bought the HD ones with the extra leaf. Probably only the thickness of the leaf higher.
Fill it up with gasoline and see what the liquid weight does.
Kiwi, may I suggest that you release your new videos at the same time of the day for each new release.
I've watch Mark Dice for 14 years and every morning at 8 am, he releases his newest video and I really think that's brilliant and I look forward to eating my Lucky Charms cereal while watching Mark's videos. It's consistent and smart way to grow a channel.
I really enjoy your working videos on how you conquer tasks.
Best regards from Dean
I watch while I have my frosty flakes and Budweiser...
Hmm, that's a thought. It's easy to schedule a release time on YT
Dion, frosty flakes and Budweiser 🤢🤣😂
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 well it got me thru my young days,ha ha 😆
Gas shocks add a little lift too.
Yes they do, think I need to carry a few bags of cement around for a week to settle her down 😬😎👍
It will settle. Keep the gas tank full and put a tool box in the trunk, drive it and forget about it. In a couple of months you will be glad you did not take a leaf out.
Straight out of the '70's with the height in the rear.
All sorted, no Falcon about 😂
😁 Exactly !! 😁😎👍
Spent a week getting the chassis etc apart on my Canada sourced galaxie. Everything was fused. The U bolts on 63 are also unique have machined stops for the leaf. Lucky they in fine condition, unobtainable now.
It sucks when every nut and bolt fights you!! I haven't seen those U bolts, sounds interesting....! 😁😎👍
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 yea slight taper to flat surface then thread begins. Aussie falcons never had such.
Hopefully it settles and comes down a bit. If not, I'm sure you have a few different ways to make it look right. So if it doesn't fix itself, you've got another Falcon video to do.😊
Always a silver lining right😁😎👍
I loved Falcons, just about everything was easy on these cars. I could change oil and filter without getting underneath.
Put your tool box in the boot or 2 bags of cement may help it settle . Being level is always best . Maybe a 351 Windsor and FMX with a 9 inch rear may help . 🙀🤣.👍🏻🇦🇺✌️.
The leaf ends should have the nylon spacers in between them on the ends.
This stops them from undercutting the top longer leaf and causing it to notch it and create a weak spot.
If they don’t have them they also roll or chamfered the ends and radius too.
Thanks for the fast forward....instead of making long boring conversation videos....
It's a tricky balance bud ......
its springtime in kiwi land brother
Yes it is !!😁. It's finally cooling down into Autumn here👍👍
Just put a couple 80lb bags of quickrete cement in the trunk to help settle down the new leaf springs.
Yeah, those one piece units do work a little better than the two piece style, or so I've heard anyway. Ride height is nothing a couple of bags of concrete won't fix 😁
Although, that's probably the height they came out of the factory with, and we've just got used to them all sagging over their lifetimes.
You will enjoy the falcon as daily driver lovely original looking car not sure if colour is but who cares
Yes you were correct with what you said about Mustang forward spring bolts seizing. I had to make a special tool to remove the old bolts on my 1966 as I didn't have the facility to grind/cut them. The next guy won't have that problem as I put plenty of never seize on them when I reassembled. I also waited until the car was back down off the jacks before I tightened them as I didn't want the rubber in the bush to be under unnecessary twisting stress when the spring took up the load. Will you be cleaning/painting the undeside to get rid of the rust? Cheers Ian
Rear is a little high... put 4 bags of cement in the trunk and drive around town for a week to get it well settled? I have a sneaking suspicion a leaf is coming out if a stock square stance is in the cards.
lol, I just replied to another comment that I need to put some bags of cement in the trunk and drive it. Great minds think alike 👍👍😎😁
Fancy that someone lied to you --- me too
👌🏼⛽️
Nick, your responses are just a bit too wordy....😜😂😎👍
A proper spring shop can correct that ride height without removing a leaf. Not cheap really. Drive it and we will all get to see the results. Cheers 🇨🇦
You're correct I just don't have one anywhere near me 😕. 😎👍
what is happening wiyh the sunbeam kiwi?
Not a lot unfortunately but soon!!!
SOUNDS MORE LIKE SPRING BREAK TO ME KIWI. 😁 JNKYRDGEO JUNK YARD GEO
Just raise up the front end now. LoL
It's not a Donk......🤮. 😁😎👍
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160😄
At least it wasn't a GM monoleaf. Break that while driving and enjoy the slide!😆
Well it kinda had the same result as nothing was left controlling the left rear wheel. Just pulling her into the shop the wheel was going backwards and forwards about 3" Happy I was just pulling out of my driveway when it happened !!😳
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 Kinda like when you lose a shackle in a Ford truck!😆
The KYBs would be holding it high with their gas pressure vs oil shocks.
It'll settle a bit. The front springs might be a bit weak adding to the rake.
As already mentioned, put some slots and Coker old school looking white letter tires on it.
Hmm, very tempting!!🤔😎👍
Could be the new springs are a bit higher because you torqued down on the shackle bushings with the car in the air. Might want to loosen them & reset w/ the car's weight on them.
I wonder how much the front springs have settled over the years?
She'll settle down in time..
The old girl should drive and ride a lot better once it settles. The original springs were terrible LOL.
When you replace the rear leaf spring on C2 and C3 Corvettes, they always sit a lot higher,
especially with the F41 spring, but it doesn't take long for them to settle.
I'm kinda surprised you didn't replace the U-Bolts. I never reuse them, but I tend to be overly cautious
about things, especially suspension.
I did cringe a bit at the condition of them but as I maybe adding a lowering block or removing a leaf I just put them back in for now.
🤔 hmmm Fastback Falcon? ⚡👍🏁
Kiwi chanting to himself " I must leave it stock I must leave it stock" You're not helping!!! 😂🤣😎👍
Well, with the ride height now you’re going to get a nosebleed.
🤣😂😜
The old springs probably sagged so it was sitting lower than stock.
The new springs just need to settle in a bit and it will be pretty close to stock height.
It definately looks higher. Hopefully it'll settle out some. Im wondering if the front is sagging some from the years? Great video Kiwi.
Seems like some bolts always come out, if they've never been out before.
I'm guessing that car wasn't exposed to the salt/moisture long enough for the bolts to rust to the bushing sleeves.
🥝
Dang that was quick !!!
I know this is a survivor sort of car but the raised stance is begging for larger rims and low profile rubber 😉
I have to ageee!! 😎👍
I bet the old springs sat higher also when they were new.
The original Mustangs, Falcons, and Mavericks up through 70s all sat low behind right off the assembly line.
Go by home Depot and buy about 6 bags of sackret and ride around a few days, that should do it.
A few people have suggested that 😁😎😎
I'm betting it will not settle those springs... BTDT
Depends on the roads 😅...
Should have gotten the correct spings from Eaton Detroit.
Will probably settle .25". Will need lowering blocks.
I remember hearing that you shouldn't tighten the leaf spring shackles until the vehicle is on the ground. Would this help prevent any binding or misalignment issues?
☮️ on 🌎
What do you think of lowering blocks , they were big when I was a kid ,but lm not a fan
I've put lowering block in Large Marge, dropped her 2". I'm not typically a fan either as they create problems for performance handling and braking but Marge is such a cruiser I went with it. In saying that I'll probably go to a suitably arched spring and get rid of the blocks in the long run. 😎👍
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 thats cool ,so driving Marge or the far out falcon
@@johnkelly8525 the Falcon will be my daily until I can get a few more creature comforts into Marge like carpets and headliner. She a bit like driving a 55 gallon drum at the moment .....😬
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 yep know what you are saying
I wonder if that spring had a tiny flaw from day 1.
Lowering blocks.
That's crossed my mind. But how thick🤔🤔
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160Start with a fullish fuel tank ,if it looks like you need 2 inch lowering blocks, maybe go with 1 3/4 inch blocks ( maybe one and a half) .I reckoned on 2 inch for my VH Val , but in reality it was a bit too much , so I cut them down and re welded them to 1 1/2 inch . It's that situation of ' it's easy to take a bit off if needed.
Hi Chris,
Is that a Sunbeam Alpine or a Sunbeam Tiger that I see in the background of the garage? I have one of each and they're both basket cases. I'm currently trying to sell them.
☮️ on 🌎
I forgot witch left woul you remove for height
Probably the 3rd or 4th leaf😎👍
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 short one is for strength long ones for height correct
2 bags of cement will help lower the rear
Nothing 600lbs. of concrete won't fix
Could throw a V8 in the trunk ......🤔😎👍
Drive it,should settle a bit. You Ford guys seem to like dragging your bumpers. 😂
No Carolina squatting for this Ford guy 😁😎👍
No need to restore that car…. Looks Best as it is now
Old fronts new rears ?
Springs?
Saggy fronts could (coils ?) Cause the rake. I wonder what the original spec height was ?
@@BeatniksVids I'm sure the fronts dropped a little and now the rear is a bit higher than new. 100 miles or so should see the back settle down some. 😎👍
Kiwi you know better then to reuse old rusty u-bolts when replacing leaf springs, as that will be the next thing that breaks is those old used u-bolts. If you can spring for new leaf springs, you can spring for new u-bolts to hold that axle to the leaf springs properly. Come on man.
Yea you're right, I was cringing a bit putting them back in. I was wanting to wait and see how the ride height looked and if any changes will be needed. Also they're only just long enough now with the extra leaf. 😬
In Australia we think kiwis are a bit shiffty😂😂😂😂
I would trust the old rusty stuff more than new Chinesium pot metal.
@@mongo64071 If it'll clean up OK or still actually has the plating on it I almost always reuse chassis hardware over whatever usually worse fitting chinesium the part comes with. Castle nuts are the worst offender in my experience.
You reused those nasty old u bolts with new springs and shocks?
The rusty u bolts go with the rest of the underside if it was in Australia it wouldn't be on the road but who cares about other road users
Spring time?? Maybe Leaf the puns to the pros so your viewers don't recoil in horror😅
😂🤣😂. That's funny !!!!! 😎👍