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Topic: Rear suspesnion...a little clarity please

in Forum: C3 Handling Components


Rear suspesnion...a little clarity please

Posted: 10/22/11 4:07pm Message 1 of 25
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Pittsburgh, PA - USA
Joined: 12/4/2002
Posts: 600
Vette(s): 1979 L-82, 3 spd auto, car was originally Lt. Beige currently painted Sportsman Red, Doeskin leather interior, 103,000 miles......
OK in an effort to get a jump on my rear spring project, tonight I went down and put the Rook-mobile up on jackstands and crawled under to have a peek.
 
So as I understood (or not) the bolts that attach to the rear springs through the trailing arm are to be about 8 inches stock......
 
Mine measure just over 6 1/2 long with about a half inch of thread below the castle nut.
 
So my question is why the heck is my rear end so low (another one for your book Marshall)?
 
I thought shorter bolts meant higher rear stance......My front wheel wells measure 29" center at the higest  point, and the rears are 27" .........
 
Input please...............
 



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Re: Rear suspesnion...a little clarity please

Posted: 10/22/11 6:02pm Message 2 of 25
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Sykesville, MD - USA
Joined: 4/27/2008
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Vette(s): 1979 Corvette Coupe Corvette Light Blue Midnight Blue interior Mirrored Glass T-tops
If your current springs are sagging, that could be a big part of the problem.
 
Barry
 
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Re: Rear suspesnion...a little clarity please

Posted: 10/23/11 8:12am Message 3 of 25
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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
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The rear spring may indeed be saggin a little, as we all do with age. Longer spring bolts give you more adjustment for raising/lowering the rear ride height. Stock, factory style bolts have a shoulder on them that will not allow much adjustment. Aftermarket, longer bolts will allow adjusting the height up/down some.If you have the original bolts, and the rear sits too low, your spring itself is likely sagging. Using a shorter bolt, or one that allows more adjustment will only cover up the problem, but not correct it.
btw...the cars usually have a little reverse "wedge" to begin with...the front sits a little higher than the rear, even when new.


Joel Adams
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Re: Rear suspesnion...a little clarity please

Posted: 10/23/11 9:12am Message 4 of 25
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HOWELL, NJ - USA
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Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Yep, more than likely time for some new rebounding energy in the back end. Composite monoleaf is the way to go!! Thumbs Up


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Re: Rear suspesnion...a little clarity please

Posted: 10/23/11 10:53am Message 5 of 25
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Sykesville, MD - USA
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Hey, Joel, I can be right every once in a while! (write it down, though, it doesn't happen often).
 
Barry
 
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Re: Rear suspesnion...a little clarity please

Posted: 10/23/11 7:25pm Message 6 of 25
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Duncanville, TX - USA
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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
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Joel Adams
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Re: Rear suspesnion...a little clarity please

Posted: 10/24/11 8:43am Message 7 of 25
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Manteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
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Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold 1975 L48 4 speed
The Rook said: OK in an effort to get a jump on my rear spring project, tonight I went down and put the Rook-mobile up on jackstands and crawled under to have a peek.
 
So as I understood (or not) the bolts that attach to the rear springs through the trailing arm are to be about 8 inches stock......
 
Mine measure just over 6 1/2 long with about a half inch of thread below the castle nut.
 
So my question is why the heck is my rear end so low (another one for your book Marshall)?
 
I thought shorter bolts meant higher rear stance......My front wheel wells measure 29" center at the higest  point, and the rears are 27" .........
 
Input please...............
 

Actually on all the rear springs I've changed out, the stock springs were 6 1/2" in length and the aftermarket bolts were 8", supposedly allowing you a little adjustment. Like Joel Says , your sittin low in the back. My cars average 27-28" in front and 29-30" in the rear. Sounds like time to change springs.


Re: Rear suspesnion...a little clarity please

Posted: 10/24/11 11:53am Message 8 of 25
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Dan, A pertinent question I need to ask: Did ebo ride in your car before the suspension started sagging?................or what?Wink


corvette440hp

Re: Rear suspesnion...a little clarity please

Posted: 10/24/11 3:04pm Message 9 of 25
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Pittsburgh, PA - USA
Joined: 12/4/2002
Posts: 600
Vette(s): 1979 L-82, 3 spd auto, car was originally Lt. Beige currently painted Sportsman Red, Doeskin leather interior, 103,000 miles......
corvette440hp said: Dan, A pertinent question I need to ask: Did ebo ride in your car before the suspension started sagging?................or what?Wink



He did indeed ride in it, but the sag was already there.........


Re: Rear suspesnion...a little clarity please

Posted: 10/24/11 3:33pm Message 10 of 25
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The Rook said:
corvette440hp said: Dan, A pertinent question I need to ask: Did ebo ride in your car before the suspension started sagging?................or what?Wink



He did indeed ride in it, but the sag was already there.........


Darn...............I kind-a thought ebo had something to do with it? Maybe it's sagging more post ebo than pre ebo. And you would let ebo ride in it.............That's like bad karma.........Wink You, really never know..............could have been even good karma..........(now I'm confusing myself.........I can easily do that to myself.............)


corvette440hp

in Forum: C3 Handling Components


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