suspension problems. one side sits higher?
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 52
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From: Tx
suspension problems. one side sits higher?
alright so i started with stock suspension on my 77 corvette. pulled off the rear leaf spring setup. made the main leaf 1 1/2 inches shorter per instructions in the forum here. (took main leaf off. cut only one side, drill one inch hole on cut side, measure and redrill 5/16 centered between two side holes) also installed the 10" bolts for dropping the car. no problems on rubbing.
now on the front i just took the coils out and cut one full coil off.
NOW HERES THE PROBLEM: when i set the car back down the passenger side of the car sits exactly as i like. the drivers side sits about 1 1/2 higher on the front and rear. there are no shocks on the car cause they are all blown and are waiting to be replaced. but that shouldnt matter. the car is not drivable there for can not be driven to settle the suspension.
BUT WHY IS THAT DRIVERS SIDE SITTING HIGHER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE? any insight at all would be greatly appreciated. and i'm not afraid to tear it apart again to fix it. it has to be done .
thanks in advance
now on the front i just took the coils out and cut one full coil off.
NOW HERES THE PROBLEM: when i set the car back down the passenger side of the car sits exactly as i like. the drivers side sits about 1 1/2 higher on the front and rear. there are no shocks on the car cause they are all blown and are waiting to be replaced. but that shouldnt matter. the car is not drivable there for can not be driven to settle the suspension.
BUT WHY IS THAT DRIVERS SIDE SITTING HIGHER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE? any insight at all would be greatly appreciated. and i'm not afraid to tear it apart again to fix it. it has to be done .
thanks in advance
Last edited by tayful86; Jan 11, 2012 at 02:44 AM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 576
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From: Muskegon MI
Longer bolts in the rear to lower the car, you would only shorten the main leaf of the spring to accommodate wider rubber. Let me know if you need a new spring or longer bolts.
Andrew
800-442-0335
http://www.muskegonbrake.com
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
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From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
You shorten the leaf so that you can put wider wheels on the rear without worry of the spring cutting a sidewall. I don't think of this as "Bubba'd".
Be sure that the coil springs are seated properly in the front buckets. You gota get in there with a light and check it.
When I lowered my 72 the first time, I bought a set of new coil springs and cut them. I didn't cut the rear on mine.
When I lowered my friend's 82, we cut his rear spring to clear his tires.
Be sure that the coil springs are seated properly in the front buckets. You gota get in there with a light and check it.
When I lowered my 72 the first time, I bought a set of new coil springs and cut them. I didn't cut the rear on mine.
When I lowered my friend's 82, we cut his rear spring to clear his tires.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
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From: Vero Beach FL
If the front is not seated correctly it will lift the front which I would think might also pull the back up some.I had a problem with one side of my car setting 3/4 of an inch higher than the other in the front. Both springs seated correctly. I thought maybe I had a frame issue
. After replacing all the tires (which were of the same size) the car set level.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Tx
thank you curby for understanding. i dont think modifying a part in the correct way qualifies as pulling a "bubba" haha. i put some 18x9.5 wheels wrapped in 275/40/18 falken tires in the rear of the car. so when i dropped the car with 10" inch bolts the bottom of the leaf spring literally sat on my wheel and would not allow it to roll. a few companies do make and sell shortenend main leafs or shorter complete setups in steel and composite but i didnt have the couple hundred dollars to fix it.
so i will check the front coils again. i set it down once and it was not seated correctly. took it all apart did it again. and maybe i did it wrong AGAIN. so i will get out there tomorrow and check it. and jaydog i'm hoping it doesnt come to that but i weigh about 220 so that should help a little bit.
thanks yall for the help i'll let yall know tomorrow if it is the coil spring not seated correctly or not.
so i will check the front coils again. i set it down once and it was not seated correctly. took it all apart did it again. and maybe i did it wrong AGAIN. so i will get out there tomorrow and check it. and jaydog i'm hoping it doesnt come to that but i weigh about 220 so that should help a little bit.
thanks yall for the help i'll let yall know tomorrow if it is the coil spring not seated correctly or not.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 52
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From: Tx
ok so today i pulled apart the front suspension again. the coils do line up in the control arms. i guess my next question is are the coils built the exact same? identical? are the coils both wound the same way? its still sitting 1 1/2 inch higher on front left side. and about 1 inch higher on rear left?
