Raise car height?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,357
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
The front might be challenging, as you're working with a 16 year old car. In the front, the adjusters are threaded into a sleeve that's bonded into the spring, and if you jam up the adjuster and try to "muscle it", you'll spin the threaded insert, and you in trouble. However, to raise the front of the car, you want to turn the adjusters clockwise, as viewed from the top.
In the rear, the "adjusters" are long bolts, and worst case, you can always replace them, if they jam up. To raise the rear, you'll again turn the bolt clockwise, but this time, as viewed from the bottom. In effect, you're "shortening" the bolt, therefore increasing the tension on the spring.
In the rear, the "adjusters" are long bolts, and worst case, you can always replace them, if they jam up. To raise the rear, you'll again turn the bolt clockwise, but this time, as viewed from the bottom. In effect, you're "shortening" the bolt, therefore increasing the tension on the spring.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 48
From: Nathalie VA
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18
You want less of the threaded section to show above the spring in the front, and more of the threaded portion to show in the rear.
Put a small jack on the front leaf and take a small amount of pressure off the LCA. This will help adjust the bolt.
If you have a ratcheting wrench no disassembly is required other than wheel removal.
Put a small jack on the front leaf and take a small amount of pressure off the LCA. This will help adjust the bolt.
If you have a ratcheting wrench no disassembly is required other than wheel removal.
Last edited by CamminC5; Jan 13, 2016 at 08:29 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 210
From: Huntersville, NC
You know your alignment will be thrown off by these adjustments, it is not just simply raising or lowering the car.
The leaf springs are transverse leaf springs and the spring reaction pushes the car up, or the wheels down if you lift the car by the frame.
So, in both front and rear raising the car means shortening the distance between the lower control arm and the spring. Think about it, the resting spring force is constant, so if you SHORTEN the distance, the car will raise. "tightening the nut" will raise the car.
Be sure to clean the threads on a 16-17 yo car. Busting the tips of the leaf springs will not bring a smile to your face.
The leaf springs are transverse leaf springs and the spring reaction pushes the car up, or the wheels down if you lift the car by the frame.
So, in both front and rear raising the car means shortening the distance between the lower control arm and the spring. Think about it, the resting spring force is constant, so if you SHORTEN the distance, the car will raise. "tightening the nut" will raise the car.
Be sure to clean the threads on a 16-17 yo car. Busting the tips of the leaf springs will not bring a smile to your face.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 886
Likes: 87
From: Largo FL
raise
Finally got my 97 raised back up to stock, bought it about 8 months ago. Some idiot had lowered it about all the way down, ruining the drivability and suspension travel.
Took it into a Corvette mechanic friend of mine and after looking at it, it appeared the front was lowered all the way down and the rear lowered some but not all the way. Took him about 3 minutes to raise the front almost all the way back up. Put up on lift, used a large pry bar to release pressure and used other hand to adjust screw in. Front is now at 27 1/2 and rear 28 1/4".
Now I don't have to worry about every little bump in the road, can just drive and have fun.
Took it into a Corvette mechanic friend of mine and after looking at it, it appeared the front was lowered all the way down and the rear lowered some but not all the way. Took him about 3 minutes to raise the front almost all the way back up. Put up on lift, used a large pry bar to release pressure and used other hand to adjust screw in. Front is now at 27 1/2 and rear 28 1/4".
Now I don't have to worry about every little bump in the road, can just drive and have fun.
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