Can't figure out ride height!!

[sonynst]

I've just removed, cleaned, blasted, painted and Por 15'd various parts of the rear suspension on my '70. All the original parts were put back in except new Moog rubber leaf spring front and rear bushings and new rubber spring pads. I did also swap out the 20+ year old air shocks in favor of some Edelbrock IAS shocks. I can't for the life of me figure out why after getting everything back together the rear of the car is sitting about 2" higher now. I didn't think just using new rubber spring pads and the fact that the gas tank is still out would account for it. I've seen others post here to make sure everything gets torqued after the car is back down on the ground and I did follow that rule. So what's up? Any ideas what is going on or what else I could try to adjust to bring the rear back down?

 

[Rene Melten]

More info is needed about what you did to the rear, such as new bushings in the shakles? Old ones will bind.

 

[sonynst]

Yep, I replaced the shackle bushings with new rubber ones, also the front spring eye bushings. Not sure if I attached the photobucket link correctly or not but I have some pics (before and after height ).

Steve

http://s922.photobucket.com/albums/ad64/sonynst/70 Camaro Project/

 

[Rene Melten]

Looks like your in the midst of working on the Camaro as we speak. With the added wieght of the tank, fuel and a drive down a bumpyroad remeasure the rear. Funny thing I think I told this today to someone else as well . Let us know how it works out.

 

[sonynst]

Thanks Rene,

I'll give that a shot before I go and re-arch the old springs or shove in some lowering blocks or something.

I love this forum! It's making the build much easier than the last time I did this 20 yrs ago (1973 rs) with no internet! I'm learning a lot from all you guys.

By the way, dig your RS Rene.

Steve

 

[Rene Melten]

Info, read this if you already haven't. http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187171

 

[sonynst]

Thanks,

I guess my rear is not sitting any higher than stock then. Although my 70 is not a z28, its sitting about 28 1/4" from floor to fender lip. But it's still almost a couple inches higher than it was before I messed with the suspension, and I realy liked that height.

When I first started pulling it apart, the old air shocks had zero air in them. Could replacing the shocks have modified the height any? I didn't think they would, but comparing the new Edelbrocks to an old air shock with no air in it, maybe that's what's going on...

 

[Rene Melten]

Shocks don't set the ride hieght the springs do. Thanx for the complement, I've been riding and building various 2'nd genies for 30 + yr's to get this rs the way I like it.

 

[warped]

Be sure that the spring is properly located on the mounts on the rear. If not dropped into the locating hole, the rear might sit higher. Also, if the springs are so far gone that the shocks are fully compressed, the shocks might actually be supporting the weight of the car. If the Edelbrocks are longer than the old air shocks, this might account for the height difference. When sitting on level ground, the shock should be at about halfway between full extension and full compression. good luck.

 

[REARSPROCKET]

Sometimes the rear shackles can hold the back up if they were tightened with the wheels off the ground. After you get it back together lower it onto it's own weight on the ground and looosen up the shackle bolts and retighten with the fuel tank in and filled.