Rear Suspension question

(AUST)Mod · Post by **(AUST)Mod** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:29 pm

My rear suspension rides like poo poo. I feel every bump, cat eye reflector and small child I run over. When I have my old man in the back (80kg), the car completely bottoms out at the slightest imperfection in the road. Dad took a look under it on Sunday, and said that it has about 1" travel until it hits the bump stops. It has 2" lowering blocks. What are my options short of airbags to get it riding nicer while retaining stance? I read in SM that SCK's HD has 7 leaf rear springs. Would these make it better? Are new, reset springs the answer? Oh and we put in EJ Ute heavy duty shockies at xmas time. They were brand new. The suspension is tolerable, but when I am cruising, the bumps really ruin the experience. Our EK is the opposite - crappy front suspension and good rear suspension.

Your help is appreciated.

Andrew

mrs ratbox · Post by **mrs ratbox** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:04 am

from my vast experiance modify the rear chassis rails/floor

or buy a commodore

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:27 am

Cut the bump stops in half so you have 2" travel, and an extra leaf wouldn't hurt, Trev

.

Post by **Blacky** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:56 am

Trev wrote:Cut the bump stops in half so you have 2" travel, and an extra leaf wouldn't hurt, Trev .

........... and when you cut them reshape whats left into the same shape as the bit you cut off - they are shaped that way for a reason.

mrs ratbox · Post by **mrs ratbox** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 12:09 pm

or take them out alltogeather and chuk 'em over yor left shoulder, only problem then is the tailshaft hits the floor over bumps

i wonder how i know that

STANLEY · Post by **STANLEY** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 12:31 pm

The back of my ute rides nice with 3inch blocks.
Maybe heavier springs is the go???

Devilrod · Post by **Devilrod** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 12:50 pm

Wow lucky bastard you've got 1" travel!!!

Trev's tip is the go, I'll be doing the same very soon especially seeing as Trev even gave me the extra leaf to add in

(AUST)Mod · Post by **(AUST)Mod** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:18 pm

Trev wrote:Cut the bump stops in half so you have 2" travel, and an extra leaf wouldn't hurt, Trev .

Ladies and Gentlemen we have a winner

SO I am assuming another "long" spring? or should I just front up to a place like pedders and say give me a spring?

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:39 pm

Wow I actually helped someone

.
I'm sure someone would have a spare pair from over your way, Trev

.

NoMAD · Post by **NoMAD** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:40 pm

What ever you do dont say its an FB with a Torana Rear....

Didn't commercial Leaf springs have an extra 1 or 2 in it or even wagon?, you may simply be able to get those, reset them the 2 inches or however you want and go with those!

Cheers
NoMAD

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 6:12 pm

How old are your shocks?
If you can afford it (I recall mine costing a bundle from Industrial Springs here in Adelaide), get a new set of springs, extra leaf, reversed eyes and lowered, you may not even need the lowering blocks after that.
I have this setup in my FE and it drives fine.

(AUST)Mod · Post by **(AUST)Mod** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 6:39 pm

Willing to spend up to about $700 Shocks are 10 months old, about 3000km old.

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:48 pm

Shocks should be fine then, my springs were $450pair (back in 2004) but that was direct from the manufacturer. They were reset 2 inches lower than standard and with the reversed eyes I can go another inch or two, then you can lowering blocks after that

(if there's any bump stop clearance).

FCOV6 · Post by **FCOV6** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:08 pm

Take your springs to a spring works and get them to reset and add an extra leaf, much cheaper than new springs.

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:27 pm

That's another option, my old springs were beyond help so I had to get new ones.