Quoting W Bell <cbody67tx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
> If the bars do not have enough preload on them, which will result in lower
> ride height in the front, the spring rate will be softer than what it should
> be.
Actually, the spring rate should be the same, its just that you won't have
enough suspension travel, and be hitting the stops. The only way you can
reduce the spring rate is reduce the strength of the T-bar (through cracks I
suppose).
> that contacts it when the suspension is compressed. With torsion bars, the
> less preload they have the softer the spring rate and vice versa.
The spring rate depends only on the thickness of the bar and the moment arm it
has on the lower control arm. These cannot be adjusted. All the adjusting
bolts do is adjust the height of the car. Its like you have a conventioal coil
springed car and add spacers between the coil springs and frame. This does not
change the spring stiffness, just the ride height.
>
> Visually, the rocker panel of the vehicle should be parallel to the flat road
> surface. If you extent an imaginary line from the rocker panel through the
> wheel covers, the front and back should "hit" the center section of the wheel
> cover in the same places. If, per chance, the rear springs have sagged, this
> particular exercise might not be entirely accurate, but you can then use the
> advertising pictures of the day for Chryslers or Impeials for an idea.
Actually, in the 67 and 68 model years, the front of the car typically sits a
bit lower than the rear, so that the rocker is a bit down slopping at the
front. This varies by the rear springs height. At the extreme, you may see
cars like my LeBaron (well, its a bit blare and out of focus, but you get my
point):
http://imperialclub.com/Yr/1967/MikePittinaro/68via67_hood.jpg
In this car, there are extra leafs, and these have indeed increased the stifness
as well as raised the back end. It would not be wise to raise the front here
to match the rear, as the car would get too unstable with cross winds at high
speeds. Anyway, I think my car is at the limits of what I would call
acceptable, but if you see many photoes by Chrysler, the rear ride height
varied a lot from car to car.
D^2
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