Cdawg9413

Hello, I have an issue with my rear suspension and I have run out of ideas to find the solution. The problem is my ride height is off from left to right by about 2” The back story is I have an 82 Z28 that I swapped a 1999 Camaro rear axle. I replaced every rear suspension component except the track bar. I’ve checked the wheel and tire size. I’ve swapped the coils from side to side. I’ve tried rotating the coils to where they are mounted in the same orientation (kinda like indexing how they seat on the axle). I’ve tried putting the old coils back and the problem still exists. The strangest thing I have found so far is that swapping the springs from side to side or just putting the old coils back, the problem does not follow one coil over the other. The left side is always higher than the left side. I have also noticed that the rearend seems like it is not centered square under the car. I say that because the left tire looks like the sidewall sucks outside of the body and the right tire sidewall is tucked underneath of the body. Currently I have the old springs installed and the ride height on the left side is 28 5/8” and the ride height on the right side is 26 1/2” any help would be greatly appreciated.

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

Lowering the car will shift the rear more towards one side. You need an adjustment panhard rod to recenter it. These cars are known for having different heights on both sides. Are you using the upper spring bushing mount? If you dont have them on both, your height will be off.

Cdawg9413

Thank you for your reply! I wasn’t trying to lower the car but i guess I could try an adjustable panhard bar. It kinda sucks I bought all fixed tubular stuff from BMR and the factory replacement coils from Moog. I am wondering if going from the third to fourth gen rear end if the mounting point on the axle is in a slightly different location. As for the coil spring insulators I have both the sock ones installed. One other thing I currently don’t have the rear sway bar installed but I didn’t think that would affect the height.

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

The rears are identical in regards to spring locations. Make sure your spring insulators are indexed correctly. Im sure you did, as its pretty obvious when doing it.

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

Being 2" off wouldn't be a lowering issue. ....Put the frame on stands and a jack under the rear. Get everything lined up and take out the springs. Does everything appear centered? Does the car appear level? Using the jack, check that the rear suspension moves up and down as it should. ....if it does.....put springs back in and see what happens. The cars are known to be off, but 2" is crazy! Something else has to be going on.

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

If you're still stuck, then I'd suggest taking measurement of the spring length compressed in car. If springs are similar in length then the springs are probably not to blame and it's a geometry problem somewhere in the car. If the springs are near 2" different then the springs maybe are not a matched pair.

If maybe not a matched pair, then remove the springs and bear down your weight on them and feel for a difference to confirm. With 2" difference you don't need scientific instruments and data, it will be obvious by feel.

This is assuming you don't have some crazy weight difference side to side in the car. And keep in mind, front suspension side to side differences can cause opposite corners in rear to raise or compress too.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

What is your front heights left and right?

obeymybird

iTrader: (4)

Frame shop.

NWGuy

Disconnect the sway bars and the rear shocks, check ride height, blown gas bag or loss of pressure in one shock can do that. Also, if you believe that the rear end isn't centered, drop the panhard bar and center the rear end with ratchet straps and see what that does.