Super stiff rear suspension
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 166
Likes: 6
Super stiff rear suspension
I just reinstalled my rear 9 leaf spring that is used and new hangers (poly) and put in brand new ac delco shocks. The front suspension it good but the rear doesn't move with 2 guys bouncing on the frame... is this right? Or is there something wrong?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
I believe that is normal. The reason is the single spring for both rear wheels. When you push down on the body at the rear your force spreads to both sides and you are deflecting the entire spring. When a single rear wheel rolls into or over something it deflects only its' half of the spring. With separate coil springs at the front it's easy to push down on the body such that only one of the springs resists most of the force. I hope that makes sense.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 1,588
From: los altos hills california
Do the math - two 180 guys jumping on a (say) 360#/ inch (each side I assume) won't deflect a spring very much. I just lowered my entire car on the rear spring. At say 1600#'s entire deflection was 1". So expect maybe 1/4" deflection at most.
Thread Starter
Instructor
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Huntsville AL
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,287
Likes: 4,375
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi yvh,
Here's an example of the rear suspension on a complete chassis with running gear in place, but no body.
How does this spring's arch compare to what you're seeing on your chassis?
Regards,
Alan
Here's an example of the rear suspension on a complete chassis with running gear in place, but no body.
How does this spring's arch compare to what you're seeing on your chassis?
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Mar 21, 2017 at 04:04 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,287
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi yvh,
The fuel supply elbow in the sending unit shouldn't turn at all.
The rear spring is a replacement spring of some sort.
It's difficult to guess what the ride height will be without knowing this spring's specifications.
The two shipping bands should be removed.
The four bolts that hold the spring in place should not be torqued until the body is in place and ALL of the car's weight is on the spring.
Note arrows:
Why this difference?
Something bent? Frame rail twisted?
Regards,
Alan
The fuel supply elbow in the sending unit shouldn't turn at all.
The rear spring is a replacement spring of some sort.
It's difficult to guess what the ride height will be without knowing this spring's specifications.
The two shipping bands should be removed.
The four bolts that hold the spring in place should not be torqued until the body is in place and ALL of the car's weight is on the spring.
Note arrows:
Why this difference?
Something bent? Frame rail twisted?
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Mar 21, 2017 at 05:12 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 166
Likes: 6
Hi yvh,
The fuel supply elbow in the sending unit shouldn't turn at all.
The rear spring is a replacement spring of some sort.
It's difficult to guess what the ride height will be without knowing this spring's specifications.
The two shipping bands should be removed.
The four bolts that hold the spring in place should not be torqued until the body is in place and ALL of the car's weight is on the spring.
Note arrows:
Why this difference?
Something bent? Frame rail twisted?
Regards,
Alan
The fuel supply elbow in the sending unit shouldn't turn at all.
The rear spring is a replacement spring of some sort.
It's difficult to guess what the ride height will be without knowing this spring's specifications.
The two shipping bands should be removed.
The four bolts that hold the spring in place should not be torqued until the body is in place and ALL of the car's weight is on the spring.
Note arrows:
Why this difference?
Something bent? Frame rail twisted?
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,287
Likes: 4,375
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi yvh,
Rear springs that were used for standard production and those used as part of suspension options are well known.
They have certain physical configurations that often make them readily identifiable. Aftermarket springs lack these configurations.
After market springs are often designed to be part of a performance suspension and thus have different specifications that change their deflection rates from those of the springs used in production.
Regards,
Alan
Rear springs that were used for standard production and those used as part of suspension options are well known.
They have certain physical configurations that often make them readily identifiable. Aftermarket springs lack these configurations.
After market springs are often designed to be part of a performance suspension and thus have different specifications that change their deflection rates from those of the springs used in production.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 166
Likes: 6
Hi yvh,
Rear springs that were used for standard production and those used as part of suspension options are well known.
They have certain physical configurations that often make them readily identifiable. Aftermarket springs lack these configurations.
After market springs are often designed to be part of a performance suspension and thus have different specifications that change their deflection rates from those of the springs used in production.
Regards,
Alan
Rear springs that were used for standard production and those used as part of suspension options are well known.
They have certain physical configurations that often make them readily identifiable. Aftermarket springs lack these configurations.
After market springs are often designed to be part of a performance suspension and thus have different specifications that change their deflection rates from those of the springs used in production.
Regards,
Alan