i just put in new control arm bushings, ball joints, tie rods and cut my springs a half coil. how much should i drive it around before it's settled? because right now it's higher than when i started lol.

 

Sounds like you didn't get the springs seated in the frame correctly.

 

no, they're in there properly. i've heard of several other people having their car sit high after a front end rebuild so it's not like my case is isolated.

 

Normally, springs are the only thing that will affect ride height. However, did you tighten the control arm bolts when the car was on the ground with full weight?

 

Uhh, you cut your springs. There's no way the car should be sitting higher than it did before you started. I'd be willing to bet the springs are not sitting up in the frame pocket correctly.

Did you put the spring up in the frame first, then raise the A-arm up to the spring? Or did you place the spring on the A-arm first, then swing the whole assembly up into the frame?

If it was the latter, the springs aren't seated correctly. It can't hurt to double check.

 

If its not sittin much higher then when you started and you check the springs and there fine..also you didnt tighten the bolts before you got it on the ground it may take a couple of days or a few weeks depending on driving habits. a lot of people say the car shouldnt have to settle but after my complete rebuild it took my car a few weeks to sit all the way down becuase i dont drive it much. so give it some time and see what happens.. thats what i did and it worked out fine. hope this helps

 

I measured my ride height because I was going to attempt to change my stock springs with my lowering springs. Neadless to say I was held up by a bas**** of a balljoint (stuck) and lots of rusty bolts. So I didnt really get anything done and I decided to forget it and pay someone to do it,,,the -20c temp in my un heated garage didnt help any! So after I let my car down off the jack I noticed it higher,,,,,a lot. so I measured it and it was almost over 1" higher then before I started to try to work on it,,,,so to make a long story short I didnt do anything to my suspension and it was over 1" higher after I let it off the jack,,,so I say your car is going to settle atleast 1", I dont know how long it will take, but it will.

 

Roll the car about 5 feet and it will be back to normal.

One thing you guys have to remember – when you raise the front of the car the front wheels angle in as the suspension unloads. When you put the car back on the ground, the wheels are still angled in because the tires can't slide across the pavement as the car is lowered. So, the front end will sit slightly higher. As soon as you roll the car the suspension and wheels will be able to return to their normal position.

If Ukraine Train has driven his car at all and it stills sits higher than before he worked on it, then something is wrong.

 

i haven't driven it yet because i had to leave town and ran out of time to torque everything down, i haven't even rolled it since i took it off the stands. when i get home i'll drive it around and see what happens. thanks all.

 

It takes about 3 months (IMO) for the front end to get to where it will be.

If you cut the springs and you're still higher than you were, then somethin' ain't right in there.

Ed