The driver side of my 1979 sits approximately 1 inch lower both front and rear. Looking through the archives, there seem to be a few other owners that have this same problem. There must have been some very large previous owners driving our cars. VBP sells coil spring spacers (in sets) that are 1" high and made of hard rubber. The spacer is round and sits in the lower control arm spring pocket. I plan to put a spacer in the driver side front only.

http://www.vbandp.com/detail.aspx?id=348

In theory, at the same time the front driver side is raised, the passenger rear should lower. The end result should get me driver and passenger ride height about equal both front and rear. Has anyone tried this yet? Should I do this?

Thanks,
Pat

 

You could try and turn the nut on the rear leaf spring. Maybe raise the left rear, lower right rear, or a combnation of the two. Set the rear and see what the front is like.

 

If you're going to take the front apart anyway, I'd just buy a set of new front springs, and adjust the back as necessary. Don't forget to align it afterward.

 

Probably does make more sense to just go ahead and install new front springs, and then see if I need need to make any additional adjustments. If so, I'll then see what I can get by adjusting the rear spring.

Thanks

 

you might want to look at your frame and body mounts first,and make sure they arn,t rusted and sagging

 

Measure ground clearance on the frame and suspension, see if you can figure out what is sagging. New springs would be a lot better option that spacers, you have no idea what the spring rates have worn to on the old ones.

 

I agree, and note the spacing between the tops of the tires and the wheel openings, it may be rotted body mounts. Or maybe GORDO (latin=fat) used to own your car.

 

Does it really make a difference? Can anyone tell without a tape measure? Sounds like a lot of work to fix. Oh, crap. Now I'll have to go measure mine. I hope it's close to equal because I don't want to fix it now.

 

Pat...

Before you make a lot of adjustments, it would be best to determine where exactly the 1" difference is coming from.

Find a relatively level surface and take some measurements from the frame to the ground both front and rear. Pick a spot on the frame preferably near the front suspension attachment points and in the rear, just in front of the rear tires where the frame kicks up over the rear suspension. Pick the exact same spot left and right. Compare the numbers, left and right...

Then take some measurements from the body to the ground (exact same spots left and right side) close to the suspension centerlines. Compare these numbers left and right...

If the extra 1" (or at least most of it) is in the frame, you are looking at either suspension sag or possibly accident damage. If you suspect accident damage, take some more measurements along the frame and you'll probably verify this. If there is no damage to the frame focus on rebuilding the suspension.

If the frame is relatively level, and the difference is in the body, look first at body mounts and then for possible body damage that wasn't properly repaired.

You might even find that the difference is due to a little of both... however, if you start adjusting the suspension only to find later the problem is body mounts, you'll just have to reverse any adjustments you make, so try this first and then come up with a game plan.

Good luck... GUSTO

 

Gusto,

Thanks for the advice....Looks like I'll now be putting my tape measure to good use this weekend.

Pat