Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

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Every 53 except the commercial body uses the exact same leaf springs. For this photo where the ride height is "perfect", I suspect they just stuck some sandbags in the trunk to get the car stanced nicer for the photoshoot.

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I was primarily looking at Cavalier's and Patricians when looking for the correct ride height of my car. I hadn't noticed that other models were different, but makes sense, particularly for the 2 doors to have a bit lower stance when it comes to styling.

Maybe it was a styling choice that the senior sedans had a bit higher ride, or maybe it was more expected that they would have rear passengers, which my car rarely had given the lack of wear and tear in the back.

Either way, it's 2025 and we should accept that all ride heights are okay, even if cars that sit a bit higher are better.

Considering that all those cars used the same frame, rear axle, springs, and skirts, I think the ride height would all be the same. Only if the fender stampings were different, but I doubt that.

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That's my kind of "fix"!

"Longer, lower, wider" was a common ad theme.

Mercury: "The big M: Looks big, feels big, IS BIG!"

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That's essentially how I "fixed" the driver's side lean on my '54. I just put my tool bag and a few other heavy items in the rear passenger corner of the trunk. Problem solved. Rides great as is so I have no desire to replace springs.

Is that in addition to the factory spare? The spare balances the weight of the gas.

Springs can appear identical yet have different rates.

I hesitate to do a lot with the springs themselves first becaue, thinking abou it (always dangerous) the car handles very well and stops straight the way it is. It just looks funny canted over like that. Weight shifting in the trunk first step, I think. It mingt look good woth the back down a little more.

It will ride and handle and look better with the list corrected and ride height near stock.