Topic: New rear spring...sits too high
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
I put the new rear spring in two weeks ago and of course it sits too high. Went to the hardware store and bought some 8" bolts. Put those in and the spring is too close the the wheel and hits the tire. Now I've noticed in looking through vendor catalogs and online that the bolts offered by the vendors are threaded halfway. The store bought ones are only threaded about 2". My thought is get the vendor supplied bolts, install the bolts with the nuts fitted all the way down the thread (this should bring the spring up and away from the tire), then let the car down and set the height? By the way, I am running 275-50-15 on the rear. I have had this size tire on the car for 20 years and never had a problem.....Input?
thanks,
Reid '72 T-top

That will also drop your ride height as it will lessen the tension and arc of the spring. Don't know about the 50 series tires though...
Good luck
Paul
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Yes, I know it will drop the ride height. that is what I'm after. I'm looking to see if anyone else has encountered this problem with the spring hitting the tires ( it's almost hitting the wheel too) and how they overcame this hurdle. But thanks anyway!
Reid '72 T-top
I put the new rear spring in two weeks ago and of course it sits too high. Went to the hardware store and bought some 8" bolts. Put those in and the spring is too close the the wheel and hits the tire. Now I've noticed in looking through vendor catalogs and online that the bolts offered by the vendors are threaded halfway. The store bought ones are only threaded about 2". My thought is get the vendor supplied bolts, install the bolts with the nuts fitted all the way down the thread (this should bring the spring up and away from the tire), then let the car down and set the height? By the way, I am running 275-50-15 on the rear. I have had this size tire on the car for 20 years and never had a problem.....Input?
thanks,
Reid '72 T-top
I replace my rear spring last year with a composite 330# from VBP and the ride height is near perfect. Now, I have stock size tires 225x70x15 and the height at the top of the fender opening is about 28". I beleive as you lower the rear end the spring will flatten out and cause it to be somewhat longer than when it has an arc. This may be causing the closeness to the tire/wheel. Did you replace the cups and bushings at the same time? Measure the fender height and see if it is above 29-30"
To me the spring doesn't look any flatter, just down lower. It was my understanding that the longer bolts moved the trailing arm up higher which brings the car down. This is why I was wondering if I cinched the bolts all the way down, then let the car down and set the preload, I can (or can I?) crawl underneath and bring the nuts lower to set the desired ride height. Like I said, the spring is also way close to the wheel itself too when the 8" bolts are installed. I'm surprised there have not been more replies to this. I'm sure a lot more of you have had the "too high rear end blues" too.....
By the way, did you get to a Pharaohs cruise this year? Only two left!
And thanks for your reply!!!
Reid '72 T-top

