I just replaced my entire suspension front to back. I've had some odd clunking and when I took a closer look, I noticed the Hotchkis springs are not 'loaded' when jacked up by the differential. When I let down the center jack and had the rear off the ground with just the body supported, the springs barely touch the bottom spring perches. What could I have done wrong???

I doubt I mixed up the front to rear set and the rear spring upper rubber isolaters were installed. I added an UMI torque arm setup, and Hotchkis boxed LCA & Panhard bar. The shox are Red Koni's. I'm tired and not thinking of a possible answer. Nitro-Nick

 

Wait, so are you saying that the rear springs are not loaded at all, with weight on the car?? That doesent make sense!

Here, I will try and give you a comparison. If I jack the rear way up by the meatball, then throw stands under the rear subframes, and let the jack down, the rear end will drop untill the shocks are fully extended. When it is like this, the STOCK WS6 springs are just barely in there. Like, I can almost wiggle them out using 2 hands.

If you put in springs shorter than stock, then I would understand if they were real loose back there. I wouldnt expect them to be short enough to fall out or anything, though. That would be totally unsafe!

 

With the weight of the car sitting on the springs and the springs are not loaded, something else is holding up the car. First guess would be that the shocks are too long and they've bottomed out. Unbolt the shocks and try again.

If you jack the car up and support the body then let the differential down, without disconnecting the shocks, the springs should not fall out. That could be a little dangerous if the suspension unloaded while driving. Maximum extension on the shocks should hold the diff up enough to keep the springs in.

 

Yes, I was surprised and concerned when I found this. Initially I had the car jack under the pumpkin and was taping areas to see if I could hear metallic resonation noises. When I lightly taped the passenger rear spring it viabrated like it was rattling against something and when I grabbed it by hand to try and shake it, I could feel it move just a bit. That's when I threw the jackstands to support the sides of the car. When I then released the floor jack and the suspension unloaded, I could actually turn the springs in their perches. They don't come completely off the spring perch; the back edge still touches.

Initially, I was hearing a loud 'clunk' when I put the tranny in drive or reverse and I could hear rattling coming from around the wheelwells as I drove over bumps. I had the 9-bolt just rebuilt for the second time so everything is absolutely to specs. I see no sign of movement from the UMI torque arm, and am thinking that the hard clunk might be the pinion moving up and down due to it not being loaded enough by the new Hotchkis springs.

I havn't checked it further yet as I'm getting ready to leave for the track. I'm lucky enough to have won 3 out of the last three local Wed night races at my local track and need to get out there to see if I can make it 4 for 4!!!

Nitro-Nicky

 

The weight of the car sits on the springs.

The only way for the springs "not being loaded" is for something else to be holding up the car.

The only thing that could possibly do that, is the shocks.

Regardless, it's not the springs' "fault". You can't blame the springs if some other part is interfering, and you can't make it stop by doing anything to the springs. What you are describing, as far as them being VERY loose when the rear hangs free, is COMPLETELY normal. Stock ones aren't a whole lot different from that.

Doesn't seem to me like there's a problem, really.

 

But there is still his weird noise...

And, if you do get the issue taken care of, would you be willing to post a good side-on shot of the springs? I wanna see how their fender gap compares to the Eibach's.