Rear ride height

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Mon Aug 27, 12 5:55 pm

I fitted new heavy duty rear springs and although I am very happy with the more stable cornering (no longer up on two wheels at 10mph

) the ride height has increased by some 2 - 2 1/2" so I was wondering, can I get longer U-bolts and a spacer to fit between the top of the spring and underside of the axle

Is this safe? or is it more involved than I think? I have also found a receipt from a garage in the USA just before the car came over, it has a small list of bits done and one of them was to reduce the front torsion bars two turns, I'm guessing this would level the car out a bit if I was to turn them back? I get the feeling that the front was adjusted to compensate for how bad the original rear springs were because with no or little air in the dampers the leaves were flat and one bent slightly backwards at rest. Feels like I've gone on a bit here

but if anyone has any ideas please

cheers

Off on a tangent but I saw the Vulcan fly over over us at RAF Henlow today on it's way to Gransden for fly past, very

pete walton · Post by **pete walton** » Mon Aug 27, 12 7:27 pm

You can get longer u bolts ,and lowering blocks,also you can get a two position front hanger,,,,picture of my lowering blocks

Mick70RR · Post by **Mick70RR** » Mon Aug 27, 12 7:37 pm

I would raise the front a little and get some miles on the new springs. You'll probably find they will settle down a bit.

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Mon Aug 27, 12 7:37 pm

Cheers Pete, those look like what I was thinking of. Also, I did wonder if I'de put the front hangers back on upside down

but it appears not since checing my workshop manual. Does anyone know if it would hurt if I turn the front hangers over so the pivot becomes about an inch or so higher, thus lowering the body?

just a thought

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Mon Aug 27, 12 7:39 pm

I'm hoping they do settle a bit Mick, even soften as its all a wee bit skitty compared to what I was used to.

RobTwin · Post by **RobTwin** » Tue Aug 28, 12 12:50 am

Crikey James, I'd be well miffed if we got new springs and they had that effect

We were discussing this sort of thing with Pete at Duxford the other week and concluded it would prob be safer (with regards to getting the desired height) to get an older set re-arched by a specified amount than take a chance on what height difference a new set would give.

We did fit 'new'(ish) springs to the Polara to raise it up a bit but they actually dropped it by another 10mm

so we've still got this to sort out on ours (both cars actually).
So we'll prob go the re-arching route as recommended by Blue, Pete & others.

Re the torsion bars tho - we just adjusted ours up a bit too so yes it's an easy fix if the front's too low. But try and get the back sorted first so it doesnt look too 'monster-truck'

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Aug 28, 12 9:28 am

Nice car that

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Tue Aug 28, 12 10:18 am

Cheers mate, just waiting for the snow cos at it's current angle it has great ploughing potential

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Tue Aug 28, 12 10:53 am

On the other hand you could get some monster wheels in there now!

I'll get me coat...

latil · Post by **latil** » Tue Aug 28, 12 12:21 pm

Teaching to suck eggs time!
I trust you put the weight of the car on the springs before tightening the shackles and eyebolts .

db · Post by db » Tue Aug 28, 12 12:34 pm

I'd wind the fronts back up to level it, then drive it for a week or two.
If the rear settles then it's simple (and free!) to drop the front again to it's new level.
If it doesn't settle, go for the lowering blocks

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Tue Aug 28, 12 1:35 pm

I trust you put the weight of the car on the springs before tightening the shackles and eyebolts .

Yeah I did all up by hand then dropped the car but hey, you must know me cos that is something I am more than qualified to do

BF Goodrich T/A's did cross my mind Ivor

takes me back to my Range Rover trialing days, would help with the local speeed humps too

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Tue Aug 28, 12 2:32 pm

James,
I have a couple of ally lowering blocks that should fit that I never used on my Dart. Made by TrevD so should be good

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Tue Aug 28, 12 5:48 pm

Cheers Miles, I've wound the front up an inch this afternoon and looks soooo much better already so I'll do as Paul suggested above and drive it a bit but expect a pm soon cos I can see me dropping the whoole car down to be honest. I called in to Ade Wormans in the car earlier before adjusting the front and we mulled things over (cheers Ade

lovely chally

and Luke hasn't stopped talking about the Barracuda

he's obsessed with the giant back glass after watching dessert car kings

) Thanks all, I'll post my findings in due course I'm sure

autofetish · Post by **autofetish** » Tue Aug 28, 12 7:11 pm

latil wrote:Teaching to suck eggs time!
I trust you put the weight of the car on the springs before tightening the shackles and eyebolts .

I didnt know that but make sense now i think about it

sorry for the hijack.
Do you think this is the same for rebound clips on rear leaf springs ? eg. drop car then install/tight clips ??

........................................................................................................

Nice car fill the boot with bags of sand then drive about they will soon settle