Just cant seem to shake this problem

onenastyz28 · 05-13-2007, 03:29:39 PM

I have a 1980 camaro when I bought the car the leaf springs were beyond sacked out in fact when I removed them they literally broke in half when I was removing them.Anyways I installed a brand new set of leaf springs.Before when the old leaf springs were still in the car it dog tracked pretty bad I figured since the springs were shot that might have been the problem.After I installed my new leaf springs it looked straight I measured each side of the rearend to make sure it was the same distance on both sides before I tightened the u-bolts up and it was I added all new bushings and the rubber pad that goes on under the rear end pads.I was being followed by a friend of mine last night and he mentioned the car was dog tracking when I asked him how bad he said you can notice it I stood behind my car today and it appears it is doing it again.Is there anyway to fix this so I dont have to keep going thru this all the time?I dont wanna keep loosening up the u-bolts and keep straightening it back up all the time.Any opinion's would be appreciated.

Marks71BB · 05-13-2007, 03:35:12 PM

The leafs should have pins (bolt through the spring pack) in em to hold the rear in position. I would suspect maybee the sub-frame may be outta whack in its alignment with the body?

onenastyz28 · 05-13-2007, 09:37:55 PM

They do have the pins but I noticed on the rubber pad that goes in between the leaf spring and rear end the hole is about the size of a dime(trying to picture it in my head)thats on the bottom of the rubber.It just sits but it could slide a little but I went out and measured how far off it is on the driver's side from front of tire to quarter its 2 1/8 inches on the passenger's side it 1 3/4 which when i started they were both at 2 1/8. But if you stand behind the car it looks like it way more off than that.But I understand what your saying about the frame I'm gonna check into it more and I'll let ya know.Thanks for your help if anybody else has ran into this problem any information would help.

m pozzi · 05-13-2007, 10:25:41 PM

If you have any contacts at a body shop, have someone hang frame gauges on your car. My guess is it's been in a previous accident and not repaired properly. If the frame's "diamond," you'll get a lateral feel and someone following the car will also see it.

Good luck,
Mary Pozzi

onenastyz28 · 05-14-2007, 01:42:52 AM

The car was in an accident at one point in time before I got the car but it was hit in the front passenger's side which I discovered when I redid the car my right front frame horn is damaged but it looks like somebody had it repaired somewhat decent cause my front end fits like it should but I wouldnt think it would have effected the rear although I could be wrong I'm just wondering if something like this can be fixed or if I should just start looking for a new body and just start over again.I appreciate all your guys' input so far it's helped me out alot.I'm gonna do some calling around tommorrow and see about getting it looked at.Thank again for your info.

m pozzi · 05-14-2007, 01:54:41 PM

If you get the car up in the air, you can kill two birds with one stone. Check the rear subframe alignment against the body and closely inspect for any additional collision damage. You can also check to ensure that the rear axle assembly is correctly installed on the leaf spring locating pins.

Mark's correct about leaf pin locating in the bracket hole. The pad can take up some of the pin's ability to center due to it's thickness. If the pad shifts, the axle may also shift if the pin can't drop in the spring hole. We took our pads off completely. The pads were almost totally destroyed on one side from axle movement on the leafs. This was expected as I drive the car pretty hard with autocrossing and further torturing with track days.

You also should check pinion angle as this will also cause rear axle problems. Purchase shim wedges to adjust angle if you need to. If you're not sure how to do this, there are threads on this section of the forum that can help or take the car to a good alignment shop.

These cars are not perfectly symmetrical but 3/4's of an inch is pretty far off side-to-side.

Are the rear wheels centered in the wheelwell?? Same size tires being used?? I'm asking the mundane stuff as I've seen some strange things and read some weirder posts. I'm sure you ruled out these basics.

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi