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Hi 69,
I agree with m350.
The longer bolt is a solution... but doesn't address the actual cause of the problem.
In fact, as he describes, it can cause it's own problems.
Have you made some changes to the rear suspension that have resulted in the need for a bolt that is that long?
Regards,
Alan
I put a new rear mono spring in, replaced the U joints, KYB gas shocks as well as 17" rims and tires. The tire height is 27" but the wheel opening looks to be about 2" too high.
Hi 69 C,
27" is very close to the height of the original wheel/tire used on your 71.
The original dimension from the ground to the center of the wheel arch was just a hair below 28" with the 27" wheel/tire combination.
If that dimension is greater than that on your car, it's the result of the specifications/rating of the spring you chose.
The longer bolt is really the only option at this point.
Regards,
Alan
69: Do you have spacers between the spring and differential? If so you can swap those top to bottom to lower things a bit. You need to be pretty careful with longer bolts that you don't create interference under load somewhere you don't want it.
69: Do you have spacers between the spring and differential? If so you can swap those top to bottom to lower things a bit. You need to be pretty careful with longer bolts that you don't create interference under load somewhere you don't want it.
I'll check that tomorrow night when I can get it up on a lift. As I recall they come with a series of spacers which were taped together. So if I remove one or two off the top that should bring the back down ?
Is there any other things I should be aware of if I remove the spacers ?
I found it strange that the local Bolt suppliers couldn't get 10" Bolts. VB&P has them. Your car doesn't look all that high to me. Once You have the car at the height you want you can always cut off the extra threads on the bolts.
Hi 69 C,
27" is very close to the height of the original wheel/tire used on your 71.
The original dimension from the ground to the center of the wheel arch was just a hair below 28" with the 27" wheel/tire combination.
If that dimension is greater than that on your car, it's the result of the specifications/rating of the spring you chose.
The longer bolt is really the only option at this point.
Regards,
Alan
Checked my wheel arch height and it's 29-3/8" so according to your stats I'm an 1-3/8" high.
69: Do you have spacers between the spring and differential? If so you can swap those top to bottom to lower things a bit. You need to be pretty careful with longer bolts that you don't create interference under load somewhere you don't want it.
Hot Dog! I never thought about doing this! After I put on rebuilt trailing arms, new shocks, half shafts, and strut rods, I was sitting about an inch too high. I already have 8 " bolts and didn't want to go any longer, and was just going to live with how it looked. Now you have furnished another solution! Yea! Many thanks!
Found a photo of my setup. Looks to be about an inch of stuff under the spring.
This brings up another point, some heat shielding from the exhaust as a precautionary measure. My spring is easily 20+ years old and doing fine.
My memory seems to have been wrong about the bolts bottoming out. These look to be through holes. Still without proper spacing, you could run out of thread.
Kinda glad I asked the question now. Lots of good info came out of this and appears to help more than just me. Sure do appreciate all the expert help you get on this site. I won't have my car on the lift until Wednesday now but will post pictures of the spring spacers before and after as well as measuring the height change.
he used the TRW spring... and that is the problem...
Also... FYI,,, The KYB shocks will NOT be able to handle the responsiveness of the fiberglass spring, thus you will have wheel hop ....
my advise... ditch the TRW, and get a correct spring for hight, and ditch the KYB's and get some good Bilstin SPORT shocks... all problems solved.
And no, any other fix regardless of what you are told is nothing short of a bandaid fix.
I have to agree with you about the TRW spring if that is what the picture of the end plates is telling you. However I remember the ends as being rounded and kind of fat, though that was long ago. Anyway I had one and tossed it as well. Even so I still had to arrange my shims as shown to get to my desired ride height.
Many thanks!
