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Topic: Adjusting rear ride hight

in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


Adjusting rear ride hight

Posted: 5/15/05 10:36am Message 1 of 6
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Savannah, GA - USA
Joined: 1/20/2005
Posts: 936
Vette(s): 1982CE,32,000 and counting. (fast!!) 1981 Vette, black on black. ZZ4 (quick!!)
I have heard that this can be done by screwing the bolts somewhere on the spring.I have an 82CE with the Gymkhana option.I only want maybe 1/2-3/4 inch lift.Is this much possiable?and what is the correct sequence?Do I have to jack the car up to get thr rear wheels off the ground ect.Was  this something that the factory built into the design?


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Adjusting rear ride hight

Posted: 5/15/05 3:56pm Message 2 of 6
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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA
Joined: 12/2/2003
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Vette(s): 1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!

You can change the ride height by adjusting the nut on the bolt.  You may need to use a different lenght bolt, but for what you are after probably not.

Just don't go too far or you wil not be able to get the rear alignment in specs. And any change in ride height will affect the rear alignment.  After raising, the alignment should be rechecked/adjusted.




Adjusting rear ride hight

Posted: 5/15/05 7:18pm Message 3 of 6
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
You can tighten the nuts on the rear spring mounts, at the end by the tires, BUT......If you have the 'correct',fact-o-ry bolts, you're out-o-luck. The factory bolts have a shoulder on them so the nut will not tighten down too far, crushing the rubber cushions. If you have these bolts, you'll have to replace them in order to raise or lower the rear of the 'Vette. All of the 'Vette vendors offer replacement bolts (w/out the shoulder), and they're pretty cheap. To change the bolts, you need to SAFELY support the ends of the spring by the bolt(s), and then take the weight off of the bolt. If you have a rear sway bar (and you should), you'll have to remove the bracket that attatches the end of the bar to the trailing arm in order to get the bolt out of the arm. The only real problem you'll run into on this job is making sure the spring is not supported by the bolt while you're loosening the nut. Use a floor jack as close to the end of the spring as you can get, and jack it up slowly. You're not trying to get the wheels off the ground here, just taking the weight off the spring. If you have an automatic trans, then you should also have the 'glass spring, in which case you need something to put on the spring to make sure it does'nt get scratched or damaged by the jack. That will create a strees point on the spring, leading to early failure . Use a block of wood, or hard rubber to put between the jack & spring. Measure the height of the car before you start, and then you'll have a reference to go by. The tighter you get the nut, the higher the car, and versa-vices!


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Adjusting rear ride hight

Posted: 5/16/05 4:49am Message 4 of 6
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Savannah, GA - USA
Joined: 1/20/2005
Posts: 936
Vette(s): 1982CE,32,000 and counting. (fast!!) 1981 Vette, black on black. ZZ4 (quick!!)
Thanks for the info.Very well explained.I'm sure I have the factory set up.I do not have the glass spring because I have the Gymkhana option.And those vettes got the steel spring.I've been thinking about getting a glass one but the car is so original right down to the paint that I'm not sure I want to change anything.I've seen the bolt set that you are takling about so I know what I need to buy.Do you have to pay attention to how many turns you make on each bolt so it sets leval?I guess that isn't too important as long as you take a referece point measure before you start.Once again thanks.


Adjusting rear ride hight

Posted: 5/16/05 10:24am Message 5 of 6
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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA
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Vette(s): 1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!
Also keep in mind, if you lift the wheels off the ground to do the adjustment, you will need to roll the car back and forth a bit to repostion the suspension before taking a height reading.  If the tires never leave the ground or slide, this won't make a difference.


Adjusting rear ride hight

Posted: 5/16/05 8:46pm Message 6 of 6
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Clearwater, FL - USA
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[QUOTE=zgator]Do you have to pay attention to how many turns you make on each bolt so it sets leval?[/QUOTE]

Yes you should. Just count threads not turns. It's easier.

Van Steel38488.8658217593


in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


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