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Hey guys.... brand new C3 owner. had 2 C4s but this is what I've always wanted.
So far so good with her, but it seems like the rear end is sitting high. Maybe I'm over thinking it, but it looks like to level it up it needs to be lowered 2 inches or so....
Any feedback would be appreciated! thanks! al
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
Nice car, and welcome to the madness
Take a look around under the rear and see if you can see whats up. If everything looks good then its likely someone replaced the rear spring with an after market spring. The rear can be lowered with longer spring bolts.
If possible post some pics of the rear and let us have a look
Rear looks to be 2-3 inches higher than stock stance. That would take bolts for the rear of the T/A's about 1.5-2.0" longer than what it has now. It sounds counter-intuitive to lengthen the bolts to get the back end to go down, but the T/A geometry and pivot in front of the rear wheels makes it so. Depending on who made the rear spring, the ends of it may come pretty close to the inside of the rear tires. Be wary of that. If close, it could hit the sidewall of the tire and cut it when going through a deep turn.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Mar 28, 2018 at 12:49 AM.
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Take pics of the bolts on the very outside of the rear spring, the previoius owner may have just tightened them to much to get that look. Maybe he likeds it that way. If there is more thatn an inch below the nut, rune the nut out to the end of the bolt but leave a few threads showing. less threads lowers it
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Originally Posted by 69FASTFUN
Also what size tires are they to me they look small.
Looks like small tires. Do you have the rubber front air dam because the front sits too low, as for the back 255/60/15's are the most popular then get longer bolts and drop it down.
What are the measurements from the ground to the wheel arch on the front an back ?
Hi alw,
Welcome!
First Post!!
NICE looking car!!!
Something is causing the rear of the car to sit so much higher than in the front.
I agree that you should measure the ride height at the center-line of the front and rear wheel arches.
This information will be an indication of how 'low' the front may be, and how 'high' the rear might be.
The size of the tires on the car will affect that height so you need to check that too. The original tires for your car were (I believe) either 225/70/15 or 255/60/15.
When you know all that you'll begin to have a idea what to look at at both the front and rear suspensions that maybe causing what you're seeing.
Regards,
Alan
The 80 AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual) indicates a measurement of about 7-3/4" from the bottom of the rocker trim to the ground in the front of the panel and just a fraction MORE at the rear of the panel.
The wheel arch dimension on earlier cars is just a little less than 28" in both the front and rear. Yours would likely have been close to that when it was first delivered.
Take a look around under the rear and see if you can see whats up. If everything looks good then its likely someone replaced the rear spring with an after market spring. The rear can be lowered with longer spring bolts.
If possible post some pics of the rear and let us have a look
Neal
thank you for the input! having computer issues so trying to reply by phone... the nut was ran up. the bolt has a hole drilled toward end and the nut is notched and theres a carter key. looks obvious to me... wondering if its not that nose is pulled down 🤔
I'll be more interactive when i get puter going. lol
Thank you again!
Looks like small tires. Do you have the rubber front air dam because the front sits too low, as for the back 255/60/15's are the most popular then get longer bolts and drop it down.
What are the measurements from the ground to the wheel arch on the front an back ?
Im gonna try and measure as you suggested tmrw... tires are 255/60s
Welcome to the forum and C3 ownership.
Nice car.
Something is wrong.
Notice the angle of the half shafts in your photo?
They should be level with the ground when the weight of the car is on the suspension.
My vote is that the rear spring has been replaced with an aftermarket.
I don't remember the brand but there is at least one out on the market that tends to do this.
Fix the rear and measure the front.
You may find that the front suspension has been modified as well.
Good luck and let us know what you find.
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Something odd looking with that spring, what's with all that rubber looking stuff in-between each spring? Never saw one like that, that is not stock. I don't think you can lower it that much with that amount of thread left on the bolt. I would do a very detailed inspection under the rear and front, looks like you may have a lot of things to do under there. Good luck and post results.
Last edited by Buccaneer; Mar 29, 2018 at 04:43 AM.
That looks like a stock 6 and a 1/2 inch bolt. It's also new with new hardware. Get the 8" bolt nut should drop you down about an inch and a 1/2 right there. And that bolt has been run a 1/2 inch farther up the shaft and it should so this should get you about 2" lowering the rear right off the bat for about 30 bucks on eBay. Get the bolt kit with rubber instead of polyurethane bushings. Those poly bushings are too hard and don't squish. That's a little bit more height right there also.
Last edited by derekderek; Mar 29, 2018 at 07:10 AM.
Welcome to the forum and C3 ownership.
Nice car.
Something is wrong.
Notice the angle of the half shafts in your photo?
They should be level with the ground when the weight of the car is on the suspension.
My vote is that the rear spring has been replaced with an aftermarket.
I don't remember the brand but there is at least one out on the market that tends to do this.
Fix the rear and measure the front.
You may find that the front suspension has been modified as well.
Good luck and let us know what you find.
🤔 I was told when I bought it they had done work to the rear end and assumed it was the new looking (clean) parts and bushings, but maybe there was more. I'l start digging for pics of others that it's supposed look like. Thank you for the advice and info! ✌😁
That looks like a stock 6 and a 1/2 inch bolt. It's also new with new hardware. Get the 8" bolt nut should drop you down about an inch and a 1/2 right there. And that bolt has been run a 1/2 inch farther up the shaft and it should so this should get you about 2" lowering the rear right off the bat for about 30 bucks on eBay. Get the bolt kit with rubber instead of polyurethane bushings. Those poly bushings are too hard and don't squish. That's a little bit more height right there also.
I think you are right about the bolts because of the hole drilled in the end for a pin and the notched nut. 👍 When I saw that and the nut ran up a little high I was hoping that half inch or so would make a difference. I didn't know if I should just order a longer "bolt" or there was an oem part/kit. Thanks so much for this! Could you shoot me a link to what youd buy if it were yours? (bolts/bushings) Gonna start looking now 😁 thanks again! al
Hi alw,
The spring appears to be an aftermarket spring of some sort. The 'shipping band' is the FIRST clue.
What the 'load' specifications for the spring are will be part of what determines the cars ride height.
The plastic strips between each spring leaf are liners and are used on many steel leaf springs.
The liners look like they MAY be the wrong width for this spring. (Some springs are 2-1/2" wide and some are 2-1/4" wide.)
Regards,
Alan
A typical spring and liners.
No weight on the suspension.
Hi alw,
The spring appears to be an aftermarket spring of some sort. The 'shipping band' is the FIRST clue.
What the 'load' specifications for the spring are will be part of what determines the cars ride height.
The plastic strips between each spring leaf liners and are used on most steel leaf spring,
They look like they may be the wrong width for this spring.
Regards,
Alan
A typical spring and liners.
No weight on the suspension.
Ahh! Thank you for the pic... I can see I have a long way to go. ha!
1. To start with remove the cotter pin and lower the nut so it still fully engages the threads and a notch lines up with the hole in the bolt and reinsert the cotter pin.
2. Remove the shipping clamps.
3. Both these steps may not get you low enough but they are easy to do and cost nothing.
1. To start with remove the cotter pin and lower the nut so it still fully engages the threads and a notch lines up with the hole in the bolt and reinsert the cotter pin.
2. Remove the shipping clamps.
3. Both these steps may not get you low enough but they are easy to do and cost nothing.
All Jacked Up
thanks! al
Looks like small tires. Do you have the rubber front air dam because the front sits too low, as for the back 255/60/15's are the most popular then get longer bolts and drop it down.
I don't think you can lower it that much with that amount of thread left on the bolt. I would do a very detailed inspection under the rear and front, looks like you may have a lot of things to do under there. Good luck and post results. 
