Rear Ride Height
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
Don't mean to highjack this thread but I read once about the ride hight not being the same on the rear for Left and Right? Does anyone remember the title since I can't seem to find it in a search?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Brinnon Washington
Having the same problem and scraping the exhaust on my driveway I am awaiting my new rear spring. As odd as it sounds longer spring bolts will lower the car. Must be less tension on spring. Shorter bolts compress the spring more and raise the car. Also C3s have a tendency to be lower on drivers side than passenger side.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Duvall, WA
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,350
Likes: 654
From: Tampa, Florida
If oyu loosen the nut it takes tension off the spring allowing the car to lower because the spring in a certain sense has lower rate. The hweel/trailing arm pulls up on the bolt...a longer bolt allows the wheel/trailing arm to travel higher up into wheel well before it puts tension on the spring.
A shorter bolt catches the spring sooner resulting in the chassis being suspended sooner.
A longer bolt takes longer to catch the spring resulting in the chassis being suspened later.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,312
Likes: 70
From: Clearwater FL
I would look at your spring 1st with the car on the ground. If it's a steel spring and it's flat, than it should be replaced. Measure the bolts also. On a steel spring car, the bolt should be 6" long.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
you'd think that but....
If oyu loosen the nut it takes tension off the spring allowing the car to lower because the spring in a certain sense has lower rate. The hweel/trailing arm pulls up on the bolt...a longer bolt allows the wheel/trailing arm to travel higher up into wheel well before it puts tension on the spring.
A shorter bolt catches the spring sooner resulting in the chassis being suspended sooner.
A longer bolt takes longer to catch the spring resulting in the chassis being suspened later.
If oyu loosen the nut it takes tension off the spring allowing the car to lower because the spring in a certain sense has lower rate. The hweel/trailing arm pulls up on the bolt...a longer bolt allows the wheel/trailing arm to travel higher up into wheel well before it puts tension on the spring.
A shorter bolt catches the spring sooner resulting in the chassis being suspended sooner.
A longer bolt takes longer to catch the spring resulting in the chassis being suspened later.
Glenn
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 547
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From: Carlstadt NJ
Danny
Last edited by hicswa; Mar 12, 2008 at 08:22 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Illinois
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Instructor
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
Stock bolts are 6 1/4 in long, 9/16, fine thread grade 8 bolts, the shaft of which is actually 1/2" with a larger end that is threaded. replace with a 9/16" fine thead Grade 8 bolt with more threaded shaft, a nylock nut and a thin lock nut above it, if desired- nylocks shouldn't walk , you can then fully adjust the ride height by simply jacking the car up, takint the presure off the spring with a jack and adjusting the nut up for higher ride height, and down for lower.
Last edited by RunningMan373; Mar 17, 2008 at 03:47 AM.