Body height
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Body height
Took a picture and noticed that the front end seems a little higher than the rear. To me it looks like the front tires should be higher in the wheel well. The only thing I've done to the suspension is replace the shocks. Any ideas what could cause this?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,172
Likes: 4,250
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi SC,
In the front of the AIM there's a chart with "Ride Heights" in it.
If you have an AIM you can check the specific number for the distance from the ground to the c/l of the wheel arch for your car.
It's ABOUT 28". Tires and some other things affect that #, but it should give you an idea if both the front and back are 'high' or 'low', and by how much.
Rear looks 'low', front looks 'high, to my eye.
Regards,
Alan
In the front of the AIM there's a chart with "Ride Heights" in it.
If you have an AIM you can check the specific number for the distance from the ground to the c/l of the wheel arch for your car.
It's ABOUT 28". Tires and some other things affect that #, but it should give you an idea if both the front and back are 'high' or 'low', and by how much.
Rear looks 'low', front looks 'high, to my eye.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
qwank, she's been off the jack stands for a couple of weeks.
I checked the dimensions from the AIM and the rear is approx 3" lower than it should be. Does that sound like a leaf spring issue?
I checked the dimensions from the AIM and the rear is approx 3" lower than it should be. Does that sound like a leaf spring issue?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,172
Likes: 4,250
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi SC,
Very possibly.
Some pictures of each side of the rear suspension.... spring, shocks, mounting bolts, etc., might give someone a clue as to what's going on under there.
Regards,
Alan
Very possibly.
Some pictures of each side of the rear suspension.... spring, shocks, mounting bolts, etc., might give someone a clue as to what's going on under there.
Regards,
Alan
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,302
Likes: 1,583
From: Western NY
Just my $0.02 worth...the rear height looks OK, but the front is definitely high. You said all you did was change the shocks... Any chance you got the wrong shocks, shocks that are too long, and you're now "bottomed out" on the shocks, causing the car to sit too high?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 121
From: Kernersville NC
Has it been driven since you changed the shocks? I'm guessing it may have been since it looks like the rears are new and the rear is not raised up too. Did you jack the front up again after driving it?
Last edited by flyeri; Jul 20, 2012 at 10:16 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 11
From: No Prov RI
your rear spring is flat. gotta have a frown to get it lower... looks like you need to give the rear of your car more attention.
Hammadown
Hammadown
Last edited by hammadown; Jul 21, 2012 at 09:20 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,302
Likes: 1,583
From: Western NY
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you originally posted, but my take is that the car sat reasonably level, you replaced the shocks, and now the front end sits higher than the rear. I think that it's safe to assume that you rear shocks weren't malfunctioning to the point that they were binding, and keeping the rear of the car artificially high. Therefore, I maintain that something changed up front.
However, if nothing more, the spring bushings in the rear look pretty well dried out. I'd suggest that you replace them, and if you really want to change the spring, try one of the composite springs. I put one of them in a C-3 that my wife used to own, and the difference in ride quality was flat out amazing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
Let me reiterate...I don't think the back end of the car is your problem. To me, the front looks way too high. I'd look for something binding in the front end.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you originally posted, but my take is that the car sat reasonably level, you replaced the shocks, and now the front end sits higher than the rear. I think that it's safe to assume that you rear shocks weren't malfunctioning to the point that they were binding, and keeping the rear of the car artificially high. Therefore, I maintain that something changed up front.
However, if nothing more, the spring bushings in the rear look pretty well dried out. I'd suggest that you replace them, and if you really want to change the spring, try one of the composite springs. I put one of them in a C-3 that my wife used to own, and the difference in ride quality was flat out amazing.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you originally posted, but my take is that the car sat reasonably level, you replaced the shocks, and now the front end sits higher than the rear. I think that it's safe to assume that you rear shocks weren't malfunctioning to the point that they were binding, and keeping the rear of the car artificially high. Therefore, I maintain that something changed up front.
However, if nothing more, the spring bushings in the rear look pretty well dried out. I'd suggest that you replace them, and if you really want to change the spring, try one of the composite springs. I put one of them in a C-3 that my wife used to own, and the difference in ride quality was flat out amazing.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
The body is sitting much more evenly now. Replaced the leaf spring, strut rods, bushing and hardware. While I was in there I replaced the differential fluid. The rear end feels tight and smooth. No more scraping the ground with the extra clearance. Very happy. 
