Rear ride height

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twayne24365

twayne24365

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So i just changed my rear shocks from kyb gas shocks to comp engineering tripple adjustables, the car is sitting a little lower than i would like, is there an easy way to raise it back up about 1/2" or 1"? And this is on a big block 72 swinger
 
Shock don't set ride height, springs do. So the only way to raise it properly is to change the springs or add length to the shackles.
 
Lonewolf3165 said:
Shock don't set ride height, springs do. So the only way to raise it properly is to change the springs or add length to the shackles.
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The only proper way to raise it is to change the springs. Lengthening the shackles does little to raise the car, and will cause more geometry problems than it's worth.

Are the new shocks long enough? If the shocks were the only thing changed, the ride height shouldn't be different.
 
Sorry im kinda new to the whole suspension thing, add length to the shackles?
 
An yes, the inly thing that i changed was the shocks, and they are the ones made for my car
 
Installing longer rear shackles will raise the back end of the car. But you need to add a lot more length than you'll get in height, and it's not great for the ride.

Was pretty popular in the mid to late seventies, along with air shocks. Neither are a good way to raise your ride height.

But, I'd be more concerned about the change in ride height. Have you driven the car at all? If you haven't, it may settle a little. If you have, I'd be concerned that the shocks are too short and are keeping the springs compressed.

Even if the shocks are correct for a stock car, it doesn't mean they'll fit. If the springs are raising the car higher than stock you may still need longer ones.
 
No i havent driven it yet, its still in working stage, and thanks alot for the info
 
Gas pressurized shocks can certainly raise the height.
Either that or the old ones were toping out (to short)
 
twayne, how does the car sit now.....lower in the rear? level? a little rake? not enough for tire clearance? or you just want more lift for looks?

My opinion, along with a few others, is that if the shocks are dictating ride height, you have or previously had the wrong length shocks for your current set up.

The only true way to adjust ride height, shy of air shocks or really long shackles, is to pull the springs and take them to a local shop to have them re arched or possibly have a leaf added.

I don't know what spring you currently have.....assume stock? But, with the power you'll be sending to that suspension, you need to finalize the ride height and then use a shock that has the proper length/travel for the setup.
 
Yes they are stock springs, and the gas shocks were a bit longer, but its sitting quite low in the back and the passenger side is even a little lower, upon closer inspection i have came to the conclusion that im in need for some new leaf springs, the drivers side has a nice even arch but passenger side is about flat, time for ss springs?
 
twayne24365 said:
Yes they are stock springs, and the gas shocks were a bit longer, but its sitting quite low in the back and the passenger side is even a little lower, upon closer inspection i have came to the conclusion that im in need for some new leaf springs, the drivers side has a nice even arch but passenger side is about flat, time for ss springs?
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Be carefull about deciding this.
It may be that the drivers side torsion bar is adjusted tighter, and it may not be the leafs.
Maybe take the weight off the front end with a floor jack, then see if the passenger side rear still sags.
 
TrailBeast said:
Be carefull about deciding this.
It may be that the drivers side torsion bar is adjusted tighter, and it may not be the leafs.
Maybe take the weight off the front end with a floor jack, then see if the passenger side rear still sags.
Click to expand...

Thanks for tellin me this, i did notice that the drivers side torsion bar adjuster is ran in a good bit further than the pas. Side, ill jack it up and see what it does
 
Well i jacked up the car, and evened out the torsion bar adjustments and even though its still a little low, both sides are even, Thanks Trailbeast, ill post some pics tomorro
 
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