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Does it look like my rear is too low or is my front too high, first time driving car since it sat and i did a launch or two, its just a little 2.8 though. Just want some opinions before i replace rear shocks, car has 21k
Doesn't matter about "look". Can't tell that way regardless, since shocks don't affect ride height. Just change em out. Total piece o cake. You won't BELIEVE how messed up and useless those factory ones are and have always been, once you put ones on there that actually DO something and aren't just acoupla pounds of dead weight.
Swap the rear springs while you're at it, they'll fall out anyway when you undo the shocks, might as well pick up new ones and put those in as go chase the old ones as they roll down that slope and pick those up instead. They'll make the car sit more level besides. Get Moog CC635.
Put in all new sway bar end links (2¼" or 2½" poly such as Energy Suspension or Prothane) and sway bar bushings. You'll need to measure your bars for bushings to be sure you get the right ones, but they're probably 32mm (1¼") and 22mm (use 13/16" if that's what they measure). Use poly and greasable, NOT stock replacement such as Moog or AZ el cheeeeeepo.
After you do that you WON'T BE ABLE TO WAIT to change out the front struts. They're the equivalent of the shocks on the rear.
Last edited by sofakingdom; Feb 17, 2018 at 05:08 PM.
So what would make the rear sit so much lower after a day of driving?
Wore-out sagging crappy used-up old worthless stock springs. Although I will say, if they sag noticeably more each day, then they're even more wore out than usual. Won't be too long before the body is sitting on the bump stops.
Also my car has rear leaf.
No it doesn't.
Just do what I said. No sense in arguing about it and thereby making yourself look like an idiot. Replace the shocks and springs. You'll be AMAZED at how much difference it makes.
Sorry it appears i just went full retard, never actually paid attention to the rear coils until i did the rear shocks yesterday. We have a 71 and 81 so i was expecting leafs. Embarrassing, but anyone have a clue on what i could've done to make the front end sit higher?
Yes i realized i was wrong as soon as i jacked it up, but anywho, the front wheels have positive camber like the engine is pulled out. The rear shocks were toast tho. But i am starting to think the previous owner may have replaced the front springs with v8 springs and i am just now paying attention to it.
Do the front struts work? I have seem them fail and stick in the out position. Maybe worth a look, just bounce the front and see if it moves or if it's solid.
Do the front struts work? I have seem them fail and stick in the out position. Maybe worth a look, just bounce the front and see if it moves or if it's solid.
The front end will go down if i put my weight on it, but it seems pretty damn stiff.
looks the front has been lifted off the ground and set back without moving it around some to get the wheels back where they need to be.
as the front of the car is moved up and the suspension articulates, the top of the tire wants to swing out. if it's lifted off the ground it will. when it's set back down the suspension stays in this positive camber position until it rolls around some or the friction between the tire and the surface is otherwise overcome.
you'll also notice some deformation in the side wall when this occurs. it's a product of the suspension geometry.
looks the front has been lifted off the ground and set back without moving it around some to get the wheels back where they need to be.
as the front of the car is moved up and the suspension articulates, the top of the tire wants to swing out. if it's lifted off the ground it will. when it's set back down the suspension stays in this positive camber position until it rolls around some or the friction between the tire and the surface is otherwise overcome.
you'll also notice some deformation in the side wall when this occurs. it's a product of the suspension geometry.
After i changed the oil, i drove the car around for atleast 20 minutes and the front height stayed the same.
I'd swap the front struts and see how that goes. Maybe the previous owner told the autozone guy he had a 2.8 and the clerk heard v8.
I have a photo of the car when i picked it up, front end is definitely higher up now than before, so i f*cked something up somehow unless they are stuck up which is very unlikely.
Struts don't change the ride height, at least not very much; maybe 1/8" in extreme cases. Just like shocks.
Springs hold up (or not) the car.
It may take acoupla days for the front to settle back down, but eventually it will ... and then some.
The front actually looks about the right height. The rear is sagged about 1½". Which is usual... you DID change them, right??? Since you saw how EEEEEEEEEEEZZZYYY it is especially? ESPECIALLY when the shocks are already out? Did they physically fall out on their own, like usual?
Struts don't change the ride height, at least not very much; maybe 1/8" in extreme cases. Just like shocks.
Springs hold up (or not) the car.
It may take acoupla days for the front to settle back down, but eventually it will ... and then some.
The front actually looks about the right height. The rear is sagged about 1½". Which is usual... you DID change them, right??? Since you saw how EEEEEEEEEEEZZZYYY it is especially? ESPECIALLY when the shocks are already out? Did they physically fall out on their own, like usual?
I did not replace the rear springs, they did not fall out when i did the shocks, to do the springs i could just take the bottom shock bolt out right? because i do not feel like ripping my carpet up again.
Yup, that's it... might want to unbolt the brake line banjo fitting from the top of the pumpkin also, to give the hose a little slack; that rubber brake line might well have been the only thing holding the rear up and keeping the springs from falling out. Not a healthy thing to do to the rubber hose.
Doesn't matter about "look". Can't tell that way regardless, since shocks don't affect ride height. Just change em out. Total piece o cake. You won't BELIEVE how messed up and useless those factory ones are and have always been, once you put ones on there that actually DO something and aren't just acoupla pounds of dead weight.
Swap the rear springs while you're at it, they'll fall out anyway when you undo the shocks, might as well pick up new ones and put those in as go chase the old ones as they roll down that slope and pick those up instead. They'll make the car sit more level besides. Get Moog CC635.
Put in all new sway bar end links (2¼" or 2½" poly such as Energy Suspension or Prothane) and sway bar bushings. You'll need to measure your bars for bushings to be sure you get the right ones, but they're probably 32mm (1¼") and 22mm (use 13/16" if that's what they measure). Use poly and greasable, NOT stock replacement such as Moog or AZ el cheeeeeepo.
After you do that you WON'T BE ABLE TO WAIT to change out the front struts. They're the equivalent of the shocks on the rear.
Just ordered the rear springs, the moogs you suggested. Will see how much that helps when they arrive.
You'll be happy. 