76 C3 Ride Height
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 62
From: Houston Tx
76 C3 Ride Height
Hi all, I been searching for a consistent answer on this one.
I put new Bilstein (stock replacement), poly control arm bushings and poly end link bushings on my 76. I kept my original springs installed. I have not had the car aligned yet. The front end is sitting much higher than it used to. Is it normal for a car to sit higher after a refresh like this? Is it just a matter of it settling over time? Thanks.
I put new Bilstein (stock replacement), poly control arm bushings and poly end link bushings on my 76. I kept my original springs installed. I have not had the car aligned yet. The front end is sitting much higher than it used to. Is it normal for a car to sit higher after a refresh like this? Is it just a matter of it settling over time? Thanks.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 62
From: Houston Tx
Yes, springs are aligned. Control arms were tightened before the car was put on the ground; I read that would be ok since I used poly bushings? Should I go back and loosen the lower and upper control arms with the tires on the ground? Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
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From: Virginia
The poly bushings do no twist like the rubber bushings. They allow the arms to pivot freely. So it shouldn't be that (but I could be wrong). If you have a set of RaceRamps or a 4-wheel lift, go ahead and try that.
However, the Bilsteins are gas shocks, and do have a slight positive pressure to them. The ride height difference should be barely noticable, but measurable.
Are you 100% sure the upper pockets are aligned with the spring ends? @interpon has a nice tutorial on this.
However, the Bilsteins are gas shocks, and do have a slight positive pressure to them. The ride height difference should be barely noticable, but measurable.
Are you 100% sure the upper pockets are aligned with the spring ends? @interpon has a nice tutorial on this.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 2,328
From: Central UT
Good idea on the possibility of the spring not being properly seated in the top perch. If the shocks are already installed and are aligned right in the middle of the spring, you're probably okay. If the shock sits cockeyed in the spring, the spring is not seated in the top of the perch - it's off to the side. Another possibility could be the spring not rotated properly in the bottom perch - seated in the right spot in the lower control arm. There is an indentation in the bottom control arm that clearly shows where the 'end' of the spring should sit. If the spring is rotated away from that indentation, it might be sitting higher? Just a thought.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,658
Likes: 2,470
From: Indiana
The poly bushings do no twist like the rubber bushings. They allow the arms to pivot freely. So it shouldn't be that (but I could be wrong). If you have a set of RaceRamps or a 4-wheel lift, go ahead and try that.
However, the Bilsteins are gas shocks, and do have a slight positive pressure to them. The ride height difference should be barely noticable, but measurable.
Are you 100% sure the upper pockets are aligned with the spring ends? @interpon has a nice tutorial on this.
However, the Bilsteins are gas shocks, and do have a slight positive pressure to them. The ride height difference should be barely noticable, but measurable.
Are you 100% sure the upper pockets are aligned with the spring ends? @interpon has a nice tutorial on this.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-method-2.html
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 62
From: Houston Tx
Ok, the height between the fender and top of tire is about 5 inches. Totally unacceptable. I will check interpon's tutorial and go back and check the springs but I will say I checked and checked the spring setup before I installed them. Totally confused. What is the correct orientation of the sway bar? Maybe I have a problem there. Ends oriented down or up?
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Nice 4 wheel drive you have there.
But this is a corvette forum.
Yes that's bloody high. Something is definitely wrong.
arch of wheel well to ground should be about 27 1/2 inches.
But this is a corvette forum.
Yes that's bloody high. Something is definitely wrong.
arch of wheel well to ground should be about 27 1/2 inches.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Virginia
So how do poly bushings work at all? They should pivot freely, and not impart a "set" of any kind.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,809
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From: Denver CO
Locked is prob the wrong word but they dont twist like rubber.There is resistance they dont rotate freely when tightened down.Thats why there is "teeth"
Last edited by gjohnson; May 29, 2022 at 10:05 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 62
From: Houston Tx
Yeah, c3 4wheelin - it's driving me nuts, too lol
Ok, I will loosen the shaft bolts on the control arms and retorque them while the car is on the ground. I will post when done. Thanks everyone.
Ok, I will loosen the shaft bolts on the control arms and retorque them while the car is on the ground. I will post when done. Thanks everyone.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 62
From: Houston Tx
I'm seeing in the work by interpon and Lar that the spring should not cover the hole but be set right up against it. Based on that, seems that I need to go back and set the springs so that the ends are sitting right up to the drain holes (ugggggh!) and that probably means I do not have a problem with the Poly bushings being torqued down with the car off the ground. Correct?
The other thing I will mention is that I have a GM service manual for a 74 (I'm told it's the same one for 76). So far, I have not seen it say a word about aligning the springs to holes in the upper or lower control arms. SMH!
Last edited by hgoodwiniii; May 29, 2022 at 07:31 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,809
Likes: 441
From: Denver CO
IMO I would say you still have issues w/bushings.If you are covering the hole the coil is still down in the pocket.I would raise the car, loosen all CA bushings then set it down to settle it.Also the flat part of the coil is on top.If you have them flipped it will raise front
Last edited by gjohnson; May 29, 2022 at 07:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 62
From: Houston Tx
Hi gjohnson, that's probably the easiest place to start. I may as well start there and see what happens. I will pull the tires off and recheck to make sure the springs are not bottom side up. My shocks are sitting perfect in the middle of the springs. Thanks.
Last edited by hgoodwiniii; May 29, 2022 at 07:35 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Virginia
Absolutely, get it up on ramps, loosen the bushings, bounce the nose, and see what happens.
That won't be the problem, it is almost certainly the springs, but then we can end the speculation.
And perhaps there is something wrong with the bushings. They should just pivot, though.
That won't be the problem, it is almost certainly the springs, but then we can end the speculation.
And perhaps there is something wrong with the bushings. They should just pivot, though.