Re-Spring or not?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Wentzville Missouri
Re-Spring or not?
82 C3 CE with 84K original miles. Completely stock ,no Gymkhana. Car pancakes at 50 mph when I hit a small dip in road. Replaced rear shocks, but no change. I am getting conflicting recommendations for a fix. One side says it is the front suspension that controls ride height and I need to re do front. Other side says replace composite rear leaf. How can I tell which way to go?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,820
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
82 C3 CE with 84K original miles. Completely stock ,no Gymkhana. Car pancakes at 50 mph when I hit a small dip in road. Replaced rear shocks, but no change. I am getting conflicting recommendations for a fix. One side says it is the front suspension that controls ride height and I need to re do front. Other side says replace composite rear leaf. How can I tell which way to go?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,335
Likes: 4,451
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi tng,
Have you checked the ride height on your car to see what you're starting with?
Do you have the AIM for your car so you can see what the dimensions typically were for the 82 model year?
Regards,
Alan
Have you checked the ride height on your car to see what you're starting with?
Do you have the AIM for your car so you can see what the dimensions typically were for the 82 model year?
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Wentzville Missouri
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82 C3 CE with 84K original miles. Completely stock ,no Gymkhana. Car pancakes at 50 mph when I hit a small dip in road. Replaced rear shocks, but no change. I am getting conflicting recommendations for a fix. One side says it is the front suspension that controls ride height and I need to re do front. Other side says replace composite rear leaf. How can I tell which way to go?
I try the least expensive repair first. You have already changed to new shocks.
As Alan said...measure the rear ride height to see how close it is to factory ride height (take tire diameter into consideration).
Can you post a pic of the rear spring to show the arch/lack of arch? That would help forum members give you better advice.
Also measure the front ride height to see if the coil springs are collapsed (take into consideration your tire diameter versus factory tire diameter).
Decide on how smooth/firm/harsh the suspension should feel to you before buying springs (I preferred a smooth ride on long trips so I bought stock coil springs and Sensa-trac shocks to fit my needs).
I also replaced all the bushings. I also adjusted the front and rear tire to fender-lip clearances to suit my tastes.
