Rear suspension question, er, help!!
#2534418
08/11/18 12:16 AM
08/11/18 12:16 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,247 Newfoundland
codfish
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,247
Newfoundland
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When I got my 37 Dodge coupe, it came with what I was told is a rear out of a 95 Camaro. It has coil springs. It is a project.
Problem is, the coil springs are NOT holding the frame high enough from the rear. Looks like a mis measure by previous owner.
Anyhow I need to correct it. How much clearance should I aim for between frame and rear axle housing? I will not get into notching the frame or anything like that. I will first try spacers between spring mounts and frame I guess. 2" and go from there. I don't want to have the rear sitting too high.
Not sure what my question is, but any advice ideas would be appreciated. Can coil springs be reworked to achieve extra height? Perhaps air shocks as well?
Pic attached of current ride height.
Also, the frame isn't touching the rear itself, but some added "rubber bumpers", which are about 2" thick. Also, if I lay under the rear of the car I can actually raise it by bench pressing it, so the springs must be helping quite a bit. I'm not that strong lol
Thanks codfish
Last edited by codfish; 08/11/18 12:20 AM.
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Re: Rear suspension question, er, help!!
[Re: codfish]
#2534664
08/11/18 05:24 PM
08/11/18 05:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,747 Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,747
Rio Linda, CA
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Put air bags in the coil springs.
The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
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Re: Rear suspension question, er, help!!
[Re: codfish]
#2535271
08/12/18 08:29 PM
08/12/18 08:29 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
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Posts: 14,889
up yours
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My advice? Put a new rear suspension in it.
Looking at the shock placement, they are virtually useless.
The panhard rod should be parallel to the ground at ride height.
It looks like a 5 link without any upper links. Am I missing the upper links?
The cross member is "interesting". If you drop the cross member down to increase ride height you will mess up the LCA angles.
I am not a real big fan of 5 links but whomever did this had no clue.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: Rear suspension question, er, help!!
[Re: codfish]
#2535401
08/13/18 12:46 AM
08/13/18 12:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,538 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Posts: 10,538
Freeport IL USA
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Supercuda, did you miss the trailing arm that is attached to the side of the axle housing running forward to the center of the trans crossmember ( presume)? Looks like a late model Camero rear axle assembly through under the car, but someone tried to lower it by cutting off about 1/2 of each coil spring. The coil springs are a definite problem, but they may not be the only problem.
No doubt the shocks are worthless as installed, they might even be bottomed out, and the rear sway bar is useless. The lower bars might be too short as well.
I think I would start out by getting the frame up on jackstands until you get 3"-4" of clearance between the top of the axle and the frame, then see what will need to go, or what can stay. You might get lucky and get away with a set of new springs (or air bags), or you may want to start all over. The rear suspension may have been installed correctly, but they hacked the springs too much and then added rubber between stuff to get the height needed to pass the car on. Gene
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Re: Rear suspension question, er, help!!
[Re: codfish]
#2535410
08/13/18 12:59 AM
08/13/18 12:59 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
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Posts: 14,889
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Yes I did, till you pointed it out. Which is why I saw no upper links, none used in this type suspension. I had 4/5 link in my head not torque arm. Thanks
that forward pivot point on that trailing arm should be aligned with the front U joint center line. If I am not mistaken it is substantially further aft of that point. Make for an interesting bind
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: Rear suspension question, er, help!!
[Re: earlymopar]
#2535538
08/13/18 11:24 AM
08/13/18 11:24 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,342 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,342
north of coder
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that deal is a mess, and i'm just not sure how much you can re-use. if it were me, i would think seriously about coil overs and ladder bars. might be the easiest and cheapest to do. now for the million dollar question. don't get hurt feelings, but if the rear is screwed up like it is, what about the front suspension and steering ? also, how is the chassis as a whole ? looking at the rear installation, it brings real concerns about the rest of the build. the paint looks very nice however.
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Re: Rear suspension question, er, help!!
[Re: codfish]
#2537759
08/17/18 06:06 PM
08/17/18 06:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,247 Newfoundland
codfish
OP
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,247
Newfoundland
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Anyone with a similar car have any idea as to what the rear of these cars would weight. I know it depends on any mods and what not, just looking for ballpark for when I start looking for springs and what not. Battery is in trunk.
Internet search shows 2900 lbs total.
Thanks codfish
Last edited by codfish; 08/17/18 06:09 PM.
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Re: Rear suspension question, er, help!!
[Re: codfish]
#2537802
08/17/18 07:12 PM
08/17/18 07:12 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
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Posts: 14,889
up yours
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You could probably weigh yours and get a better idea. Got to be a scale somewhere nearby you could put just the rear tires on.
I had a 38 Plymouth years ago, but I've no idea what the rear weight was and it was bone stock in the back.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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