Hey peeps, I've been registered forever but I've never posted, anyway time to ask a question that's probably been asked 1000 times before.

What is the best way to raise my rear end up?

My '84 Z28 has a '91 IROC Rear end in it, it's a couple inches wider than the original rear end and I also have 275/60/15 Indy 500's sitting on it, my problem is normal driving and small bumps are fine, I recently put new shocks and springs in my car and it handles great BUT when I hit dips in the road my tires rub the fender lip, and it has ruined a pair of tires already.

I figure I only need to come up an inch or 2. I'm looking at coil spring spacers but I'm worried this might over extended my shock travel. I just wanted to see what you guys think.

TL;DR I want to raise my rear end to accommodate my big meat

 

91 & 84 rears should be the exact same width. Speaking strictly as someone who has about a 91 or 92 rear in my 83.

Sounds like you have either have wheels with the wrong offset on it, or the rear isn't what you think.

If it's a 4th gen rear, it'll be wider than a 3rd gen one. In that case, just get 4th gen (or 84-up Vette) wheels.

Don't make the mistake of hacking on the car to "compensate" for an earlier mistake. Instead, fix the first mistake.

 

If that were the case wouldn't the front wheels sit flush with the rears? The front wheels are exactly the same ( well used to be ) and the rears still stuck out. When I look at the diff the axle tubes have about an inch of cleaner surface coming out of the diff. I have no idea if that means anything.

Sorry I'm just pretty convinced this rear end is wider than it should be, maybe I have the rear wrong, I bought the car with this rear end in it.

I forgot to mention I have aftermarket axles, Ten Racing? I can't remember, it's been a few

 

Thirdgens all have the same rear end length, so if there is a difference, the PO probably swapped in a fourthgen rear.

Thirdgen length can be found in the 10-Bolt FAQ.

JamesC

 

^^^ That's what I'm thinking, Because with normal sized tires and the fact I have no brakes sitting on the axle at all ( just a axle and a hub no drum/caliper bracket, nothing ) and matching rims they still stuck out and rubbed the fender lip, but because they were so small it was only when pulling out of say a drive way.

Honestly I like the look of the tires sticking out a little more, but I do understand it can cause problems.

So back to my original question, is lifting the rear end with spring booster blocks/pads 1-2" safe/fine until I either get less offset wheels or a 3rd gen rear end?

 

By raising the rear that much you are gonna run into handling problems. Not to mention with the rear that high youre gonna need a m.u.l.l.e.t. LOL!

 

Lol, I'm gonna go get my hair cut tomorrow then :P .

I already have some handling problems on account of the wider rear end. But I'm trying to not have to break the bank on new tires and wheels/shocks so I'm gonna boost it to get my by for now

I'm 18, I work at OReilly's. Money doesn't come easily heheh.

 

If this was supposed to say shafts instead of tubes, then you got the wrong shafts. If you have drum brakes this seems more likely. Especially since you note you have aftermarket shafts.
If this is the case, then pull a shaft, count the splines, then drive to a salvage yard and get a pair of used but correct-length shafts.

 

Nope, tubes. The shafts do not protrude abnormally from the tubes, but then again the guy who had the car before might have pulled the tubes out a little ( if that's possible ) in order to cover the extra length.

If I'm going to put shafts in it I'm going to buy new. Especially since I have racing axles, and do burnouts on occasion. But again like I said, I do not have alot of money to throw in it right now so I want to boost it up about an inch so I can not cut my tires and be stranded until I can actually afford new axles/wheels/rearend.

I like the rearend that is in it now, I'd like to keep it. If I just got some front wheels with the current offset and some rear wheels with a flush offset it should line everything up and the tires will go up behind the fender like they're supposed too. But the chances of finding a pair like that used is slim to none, so I'll have to buy new. I'll also be limited to drum brakes, which I'd rather have disk brakes. But I don't mind too much, having rear brakes is better than no rear brakes at all like I have now.

 

Burnouts don't break shafts. Hooked-up launches break ring gears. Even Richmond ring gears will fail before a stock 28-spline shaft. Axle info is both stickied and discussed in the transmission and drivetrain section.

 

I'll keep that in mind cosmick.

I solved the problem by getting air shocks, and set them up on separate air lines to prevent body roll.

30 PSI puts her just a hair higher, maybe a 1/4", she rides smooth, and doesn't hit the fender lip.

Monroe Air Shocks are 63.99 for the SET at OReilly's. If you wan't to run separate lines you'll need the hose and attachment kit for 14.99 part#: AK64