there is about an inch difference in wheel clearance on the rear of my car, i have checked the new springs i installed and both appear to be fine.. they are both seated in the upper buckets the same with the insolator installed the same and as far as i can tell i have both shocks installed with the coils facing the same way.. my front suspension is old and worn but im not sure if that would effect rear ride height.. any suggestions please? im about ready to take a bat to this pos..

 

Here's another thought. Have you compared the spring heights when they're off the car? Maybe you have a "sprung" spring if all else looks good. Also, did you loosen any parts of the suspension and tighten them up when the car was still in the air? Maybe binding something up? I'm running out of ideas...

Ed

 

yes i retightened the panhardbar/track bar hehe whatever ya call it while it was still in the air.. should i have done that when it was on the ground?

 

Yep...you should tighten up things when the car is back on the ground, with the springs and all at ride height. Otherwise the bushings could get in a bind and twist up when you set it back down. I'm not saying this will definitely fix it, but it could be your culprit.

Ed

 

least that gives me somethin to try.. lol i'll go give it a shot right now..

 

another question for ya.. both sides are pretty close to the same height yet only one tires rubs... the easy solution would probably be to simply get lower profile tires......buuuuut that costs money...hehe anyway could messed up front suspension be causing this? the front end bottoms out on anything and everything.. the struts look pretty old as do the springs.. could that cause one side to take a harsher hit in the back then the other?

 

The only thing (besides a bent chassis) that can make a car sit uneven, is the springs.

Replace them, all 4, then see where you are. If your car has more than 20,000 miles or so on it, then they're worn out. Factory ones are terrible. It amuses me greatly to see all teh sagging cars on the road, and then see people on here talk about trying to find old springs with some magic code or other on them... IMHO not the best way to get usable parts, since those springs are all 10 years old or more now, and most have lots and lots of miles on them.

 

Im having the same problem and I got the drivers side to sit about a 1/4" higher than the passenger's side. It was as high as 3/4 of an inch but I tried indexing the springs every which way minus swapping the springs on the other side so I either tweaked the frame slightly with my 1.77 60fts or its a defective spring maybe?? When I have time Im switching the stock springs back in the rear since its so easy, to see how the car sits and then Ill go from there, good luck with yours and keep us updated if you find out what was wrong...

 

The rear springs will pop out of the car when the rear end is free hanging without removal of the panhard bar. switch them and if it still sags to the same side then look to the front springs for a possible cause of the problem. Remeber to align it too after changing the ride height.

 

The rear of my car sits uneven as well. About 1/4" higher on the passenger side. I dont know what it is. I tried adjusting my panhard rod but that didnt seem to fix the problem. Im not too concerned alongs the car rides fine.

 

Some fat bastard must have drove my car for years, it sits about an inch lower on the drivers side front and rear.

 

Anybody come up with a solution to this? Ive been struggling with my TA that sits higher on the drivers side. Its in the neighborhood of 1/2 inch higher (or maybe the other side is too low) at the fender lip.

 

I'd change the springs out if you can. If not interested in Eibachs or other lowering springs, Moog makes a great replacement spring but I don't have the P/N handy.

Ed

 

Actually, I just put in Moog springs all the way around. I now have front springs out of car and the front "frame rails" sitting on jackstands and it is still higher on left rear (or lower on right). I keep taking things apart and putting back together, but to no avail. Its a little odd, because pushing down on the back seems to push both sides down equally. When the front was together, I could adjust by pushing on the front and the opposite corner would even out. The axle seems to be level, its the body thats driving me nuts. Im going to replace the front spring isolators and put it all back together and drive it around some to see if something "settles". I appreciate any and all input.
Luke

 

Here's a shot of both types of rear isolators we can use on our 3rd gens. Those on the left are new GM "4th gen" types and will cause the rear to sit way too high. Those on the right are the stock 3rd gen pieces. The 4th gens are clearly defined as to where the end of the coil spring shoud go, the 3rd gens are not. The 3rd gens have a small step molded into them where the end of the coil should go...make sure that's where yours is.

I don't know what else to tell ya, other than get it done and on the ground and see how it is. Mine appeared to sit funny until I got it back on 4 wheels. Make sure you get the front springs indexed right also, otherwise the front end will sit wrong also.


Ed

 

Thanks Ed,
I have noticed the indents. The isolators that Im replacing are on the front springs. I took them out because I was afraid they might be binding on one side causing the spring to not seat fully. I put 'em in without isolators and same problem. I am going to put new ones in anyway. The front ones dont have the metal backing and get pretty distorted. Im wondering if my body could be distorted. Is that possible?
Thanks!
Luke

 

Yep, the fronts don't do a whole lot, and they'll mold to fit. NO biggie there. Some guys take them out to get the car to sit a bit lower but I'd use them.


Ed